First Listen: Ben Stalets “Lost Songs”

As often will happen a songwriter or musician I dig will make a suggestion (be it direct or indirect) of someone I should be listening to. Good pal of the Red Line, Ian Fitzgerald, indirectly made that suggestion by playing a host of New England shows with Ben Stalets this weekend. You can see these two great songwriters Friday night in Providence at a house show; Saturday night in Milford, NH at the Union Coffee Co.; and at Rick Walker’s Boot Shop in Boston on Sunday.

Stalets has a grit and a rumble to his voice. It’s authentic, he has a story to tell and isn’t putting any polish or embellishments. You get Ben when he sings and that is something I find incredible refreshing and have a great deal of respect for. There are hints of Texas songwriters like Townes, Guy Clark, and Steve Earle wrapped up into the being of his songs.

Musically “Lost Songs” is driven by interesting guitar arrangements. Ben ups the “folk progressions” with intricacies and little runs here and there that flourish the songs without detracting from the music. This is particularly displayed in the tune “Lady Devine”, where other tracks on teh 6 tune collection are a bit more robust with “Lost” adding some electric guitar, drums, bass, and an explosion of keys at about 1:22 in the song.

Give this gent a listen, I know I will continue to do so and if you can head out to catch Ben and Ian this weekend in New England. It will be well worth it: that’s my direct suggestion to you.