‘Vintage California Soul’
With a throwback mix of classic rock and harmonic soul, The Bennett Cale Project (BCP) comes to Logan’s White Owl Tavern Thursday for a night of vintage style rock ‘n’ roll.
The California-based group is more of an experiment than a band.
Led by singer/songwriter Bennet Cale, 30, and a combination of a 10-person core group of musicians and friends, BCP attempts to create and build-on the kind of “organic, harmonious, rock,” found in Southern California in the ’60s and ’70s.
“Ultimately, we’re all building on what’s come before us,” Cale said. “We respect the singers and songwriters from that era – all the good they accomplished – and want to further that.”
BCP’s music has been labeled by critics as “vintage California soul” and is reminiscent of “The Eagles” and “Crosby Stills and Nash,” both of whom began playing in Hollywood Hills’ Laurel Canyon, where BCP hails from.
“The canyon has a rich legacy of real people playing real music,” Cale said. “George Harrison wrote ‘Blue Jay Way’ after getting lost on the windy streets in Laurel canyon. Graham Nash wrote ‘Our House’ while living here with Joni Mitchell. The environment in the canyon fosters a spirit of innovation, creativity and community.”
In order to maintain the “realistic intimacy” of Laurel Canyon’s long tradition of “acoustic, melody-driven” sounds, Cale made some changes to his home for the recording of their debut album, “Goodbye to Kirkwood Drive.”
“The music back then [’60s and ’70s] was so real and organic, we didn’t want our recording to sound like it was done in a studio,” Cale said, “so we cleared all the furniture out of my house, mic’d the entire place and just played. We wanted it to just happen and if mistakes were in it, we’d leave them in, like if someone dropped a tambourine or something, which actually happened, we would keep playing.”
Cale said the project consisted of close friends coming to his house and creating music on the spot.
“I’ll have some friends come over and ask what song should we play, and I’ll say, “I don’t know lets write one.” And will go out to the patio and make it happen,” he said. “We try to create an atmosphere where we can continually do that.”
BCP contributors include Yogi, a once lead guitarist for The Wallflowers, drummer Jen Lowe, who toured with Jason Mraz, bass player Albi Dunbar (Lapdog) and many more.
Cale said he loves to collaborate with friends and feels “blessed to have such talented people” in his life.
Cale, who’s never been to Logan before, said he’s excited to play here.
“We play the kind of songs everyone can enjoy,” he said. “The kind of stuff that’s fun to sing along to.”
-jrsaunders@cc.usu