By Stephen Smoot
As one area municipality seeks to tax performers, the growth of Shinnston’s arts scene without such burdens demonstrates its commitment to the growth and prosperity of music and the arts.
That commitment comes from deep traditions across the state, but particularly in North Central West Virginia where early radio stations created the careers of legendary performers, such as “Little” Jimmy Dickens. Today, open air concerts have helped to forge a new generation of singer-songwriter artists who have stories to share – artists such as Shinnston’s own Andy Benson.
“I always had an affinity for music,” the founder, manager and booker of the podcast Songs and Stories West Virginia shared. His first musical influence came from the 80s parodist (and creator of the highly underrated movie UHF) “Weird” Al Yankovic. As a small child of four or five, he’d belt out his favorite tunes from the beloved singer.
Benson lived a childhood filled to the gills with music. “I’ve always been around classic country my whole life,” he shared. The definition of “classic” country often depends on the ear of the beholder. Benson sees singer-songwriters – or singer-poets – like Merle Haggard as his ideal of classic. The former convict Haggard used an exceptionally artistic mind to tell the stories of a hard country upbringing, a criminal past, and even of historical figures like Pancho Villa.
Benson recalled that when he got his first car, he also bought a Highwaymen compact disc. The Highwaymen combined the talents of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. All artists in the group brought beloved voices and songwriting talent, producing hits like The Highwayman.
Another heavy influence came from a man sometimes called the fifth Highwayman, Guy Clark. Clark released 20 albums over his Country Music Hall of Fame career.
Also, Benson shared that “my mother’s favorite band was Journey,” so he drank deep from the 70s and 80s classic rock well that often combined great storytelling with exceptional production.
Although these early influences shaped Benson’s style, he sees that as an ever-evolving concept, saying “it’s something I’m still working on.”
Growing up through his teen years, as many young men do, Benson pursued other interests, then around the age of 18 “I picked it back up again.” He jokingly explained that he did so “because I thought I looked cool with a guitar in my hand,” but quickly elaborated that “I love music. I figured that I could be playing music instead of just listening to it.”
And, of course, Benson has entertained audiences for years with music that he creates as well.
His path to today even from then was not a straight and direct one. Benson took up boxing competitively, then coached the sport, before returning to a full commitment as a musician and artist.
Of course every such diversion in a performer’s life serves as fodder for his or her art.
Some artists, such as Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen and Walter Becker (almost infamously in their case,) exercise enormous control and precision in creating their music. They lay out a plan and force every detail to conform to their vision. Others, such as Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and Eric Clapton, allow the music to flow from within them as it will, tweaking it along the way until they feel the song works.
“I use the word organic a lot,” Benson explained when talking about his process. “I always like to fake my way through stuff and put my spin on it,” a style of composing and writing much closer to many folk, country, and Americana artists over the decades.
Benson has served as one of the catalysts in the Shinnston music renaissance driven by Brendan Gallagher and Maria Cusack of Black and Teal Concepts. The pair led a team who organized the first annual Shindy Music Festival last year to add to other outdoor draws such as Wind Down Wednesday. Benson’s return to performing came last year when they booked him for that event.
He observed that Shinnston’s music scene and community are “bigger in the last five years than I’ve seen in Shinnston.
Benson, however, has not remained content to just perform. He has a vision that he implements through the Traveling Songwriter Series to promote, encourage, and inspire West Virginia songwriters and musical poets. “There are a lot of pure folk artists,” he shared, “carrying on the old time stuff.”
He shared the example of folk and labor anthem singer-songwriter Emmy of the Mountains as one of a rising group of artists forging ahead, using traditional techniques to tell today’s stories in song.
To those who want to follow the dream of growing into a singer with a songwriting voice, he simply advised “do it. That’s the only thing. There’s nothing to it but to do it.”
To others, he said that “West Virginia should be in every musical conversation,” due to the unique currents and artists rising in the Mountain State.
Also, “if you’re not going to local shows and consuming local music, you’re missing out.”