Benjy Davis Project
{{Short description|American musical group}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2011}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Benjy Davis Project
| image =
| years_active = 2001–present
| origin = Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
| genre = Alternative Rock
Rock
Southern Rock
| label = Rock Ridge Music
| current_members = Benjy Davis
Mic Capdevielle
}}
Benjy Davis Project was formed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2001 as a simple folk-rock duo, but quickly grew into a popular regional band. Eventually expanding into a six-piece group, the Benjy Davis Project has recorded four albums and two EPs. They have played across the country as headliners and support act on shows with John Mayer, Better Than Ezra, Sister Hazel, North Mississippi All-Stars and others, as well as events like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. In 2009 and 2010, the band performed at Hotel Carolina, an annual two-day singer-songwriter festival held in South Carolina.
History
=The Early Years (2001-2007)=
Louisiana singer/songwriter Benjy Davis formed the Benjy Davis Project as a folk-rock duo in Baton Rouge in 2001. Originally, the group members were Davis and drummer Mic Capdevielle. Eventually, the outfit expanded into a six-piece with the addition of Anthony Rushing (violin, mandolin, vocals), Jonathan Lawhun (guitar, banjo), Brett Bolden (bass) (later replaced by Matt Rusnak), and Michael Galasso (harmonica, keyboards, vocals). The group self-released its first album More Than Local on June 11, 2002 and an EP The Practice Sessions, on May 4, 2004. Bogalusa issued their second full-length album, The Angie House, on September 27, 2005. The song "Sweet Southern Moon" was featured in a 2007 advertisement campaign for Louisiana-based Abita Brewing Company.{{cite news|last1=Keith|first1=Spera|title=Benjy Davis Project to go on hiatus after final slate of shows|url=http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2011/01/benjy_davis_project_to_go_on_h.html|accessdate=19 October 2015|work=The Times-Picayune|date=27 January 2011|location=New Orleans}}
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=Dust (2007-2010)=
Real Records stepped in to handle their third full-length release, Dust, released on September 18, 2007. Benjy Davis Project was soon signed to Rock Ridge Music in August 2008, and re-released Dust on November 4, 2008. The new release was remixed and included three new songs. Dust was produced by David Z (Prince, Fine Young Cannibals, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Big Head Todd & the Monsters) and was the culmination of all the best creative parts from the band's past. “These sessions were more raw, more real,” Davis said. “David wanted to record us where we were and how we played at that moment in time. And we were introduced to more elements of the arrangement process, the architecture. And we did it in four days, so there was more pressure to perform, in a good way.”
In January 2009, The Benjy Davis Project appeared on The Rock Boat, the live music Caribbean cruise founded and headlined by Rock Ridge Music labelmates Sister Hazel.The Rock Boat#Rock Boat IX In July 2009 labelmate Tony Lucca joined their tour as their supporting act.{{Cite web |url=http://www.theroundtableonline.com/2009/07/benjy-davis-project-at-the-evening-muse/ |title=The Round Table, Benjy Davis Project at the Evening Muse, July 6 2009 |access-date=2011-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319172623/http://www.theroundtableonline.com/2009/07/benjy-davis-project-at-the-evening-muse/ |archive-date=2012-03-19 |url-status=dead }}
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=Lost Souls Like Us (2010-2013)=
Benjy Davis Project released their fourth studio album, Lost Souls Like Us, on March 2, 2010. Lost Souls Like Us was recorded at Rivergate Studios in Hendersonville, TN and was co-produced by Bobby Capps (38 Special) and Jason Spiewak. The album featured the current band line-up of Benjy Davis and Mic Capdevielle. In addition to Davis and Capdevielle, the album featured a cast of seasoned studio musicians: Mark "Sparky" Matejka of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Danny Chauncey of 38 Special and Jason "Slim" Gambill of Lady Antebellum all contributed guitar parts; Ethan Pilzer (Jewel, Big & Rich) played bass; Spiewak and Capps played piano and organ; and Sara Jean Kelley sang background vocals.
Benjy Davis Project toured extensively over the next year in support of Lost Souls Like Us. In January 2011 they released a digital-only album called Sincerely featuring acoustic renditions of several songs from previous albums, as well as a new track called "Crashes".{{cite web|url=http://rockridgemusic.com/benjydavis/news/?itemId%3D174 |title=The Benjy Davis Project | the Official Site of the Benjy Davis Project |accessdate=2011-06-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723150011/http://rockridgemusic.com/benjydavis/news/?itemId=174 |archivedate=2011-07-23 }} Since February 2011 the band has been on hiatus, citing the need to "clear their heads, re-energize and to allow Davis some time to write new songs".
=Solo album (2014-present)=
On January 21, 2014, Benjy Davis released a 10-track, self-titled debut solo album.{{cite news|last1=Brasted|first1=Chelsea|title=Benjy Davis to release debut solo album on Jan. 21|url=http://www.nola.com/music/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2014/01/benjy_davis_to_release_debut_s.html|accessdate=19 October 2015|work=The Times-Picayune|date=16 January 2014|location=New Orleans}} In 2018, Davis signed a songwriting deal with Big Machine Records.{{cite news|title=The 10th Annual Home For The Holidays|url=https://downtownbatonrouge.org/discover-downtown/events/the-10th-annual-home-for-the-holidays.|accessdate=22 April 2021|work=Baton Rouge Downtown Development District|location=Baton Rouge|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026035706/https://downtownbatonrouge.org/discover-downtown/events/the-10th-annual-home-for-the-holidays.|archive-date=2020-10-26}} Some of his songs have been recorded by country music artists Rascal Flatts, Chris Young, Jake Owen and Cody Johnson.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details ! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="30"| US ! width="30"| US Rock ! width="30"| US Indie ! width="30"| US Heat |
| 2002
| align="left"| More Than Local
| — | — | — | — | |
| 2005
| align="left"| The Angie House
| — | — | — | — | |
| 2007
| align="left"| Dust
| — | — | — | — | |
| 2010
| align="left"| Lost Souls Like Us
| — | — | — | — | |
| colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |
=Extended plays (EPs)=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details ! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="30"| US ! width="30"| US Rock ! width="30"| US Indie ! width="30"| US Heat |
| 2004
| align="left"| The Practice Sessions
| — | — | — | — | |
| 2007
| align="left"| Limited Edition
| — | — | — | — | |
| colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |
=Compilations=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Year
! Album details |
|---|
| 2010
| align="left"| Paper Trails
|
Members
=Current members=
- Benjy Davis - vocals, guitar
- Mic Capdevielle - drums, percussion, vocals
=Former Members=
- Anthony Rushing - violin, mandolin, vocals
- Brett Bolden - bass
- Jonathan Lawhun - lead guitar, banjo
- Matt Rusnak - bass
- Michael Galasso - piano, B3 organ, wurlitzer, harmonica, vocals
- Patrick Hernandez - guitar, vocals
- Will Leblanc - bass
{{Clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.benjydavisproject.com Official Site]
{{Benjy Davis Project}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups from Louisiana