Ben Brandt
Solid Ground
Nashville guitarist/singer-songwriter Ben Brandt unveils his debut album, Solid Ground, an exploration of the confluence of indie elements and the pulverizing muscularity of blues rock.
Brandt calls the album “rock-based with touches of blues and prog — somewhere between Queens of the Stone Age and Robin Trower — but filtered through my own lens.”
He goes on, adding, “I had more creative control over the direction of this album and could finally capture my own vision, since all the ideas were mine. It’s my sound done my way — not chasing trends.”
Produced by J.D. Simo (Bruce Springsteen, Jack White, Phil Lesh), the album was recorded in Nashville at Greasy Time Studio. Along with Brandt (vocals, lead guitar), the album features the talents of Simo (rhythm guitar, vocals), Ted Pecchio (bass), and Adam Abrashoff (drums). Vintage gear gives the album a spontaneous sound that’s raw, organic, and alive.
Talking about the title, Solid Ground, Brandt explains, “It’s about clawing for a sense of balance in life and in a music industry that can feel like it’s working against you.”
Brandt began performing early on, opening shows for blues notables like Savoy brown with Kim Simmons and Billy Hector, as well as Jimmy Thackery. Later, he moved to Central Pennsylvania, where he toured regionally with his band, Soul Miners Union, sharing the stage with Blackberry Smoke and Shemekia Copeland, as well as joining Joe Bonamassa on stage at the Hershey Theatre, where the Central Pennsylvania Musicians Hall of Fame awarded Brandt Blues Rock Artist of 2024.
Of the 11 tracks on the album, suggested entry points include the title track, which begins the album. There’s a visceral griminess to the song’s guitar textures and tight, crunchy percussion, akin to merging grunge with blues rock. Brandt’s vocals reveal high, dog-eared tones highlighted by a delicious, tattered edge.
Drenched in funky, sleazy blues savors, “Burning Bridges” offers listeners a stripped-down, skintight tune that features sizzling licks from Brandt’s guitar. “Fine Line,” a personal favorite, conjures up suggestions of Joe Walsh’s “Funk 49” – nasty guitars riding over a funk dowsed rhythm. Abrashoff’s drumming gives this song crusty heft.
“Parasite Blues” rides a deep, fat bassline and brittle drums while a skiffing, grinding guitar, vaguely reminiscent of Robin Trower, snarls and growls overhead. Together, the bass and drums deliver a funked-out rhythm worthy of Grand Funk Railroad in their heyday.
Another favorite because of its funky Mississippi blues down-and-dirty flow, recalling ZZ Top, only much muddier, “Under The Weight Of Us” finds Pecchio strutting a wonderfully finessed bassline and Brandt making his guitar moan and groan with dazzling effect.
“Scramlin (The Well)” ties the album off with easy, shimmering guitars that summon up memories of The Allman Brothers Band – smooth and psychedelic and bluesy, all at the same time.
Ben Brandt’s debut album spells out the truth – that he’s been hiding in plain sight all along. Solid Ground does listeners the favor of making him visible.
