We just got out of a two-week bout of extended sub-freezing temperatures, ice, and snow here in Texas. The Superbowl was happening in Dallas at the same time, and during prep week, some giant sheets of ice slid off the dome of Cowboys Stadium and injured a few workers. It was a big to-do. Luckily the sun was shining and the snow was melting on the actual day of Superbowl, and they cleared all the ice off the dome!

Then last Wednesday, I had a show at Doc's in Muenster, TX. It snowed that day, and stayed around 11 degrees. I was concerned no one would come out to the show, but low and behold, the place was packed! My musician friends, Tom McElvain, Shayne Whimmer, and Lenzie Barthold showed up, and all got up and played. It was a fun night for sure!

The next day, I became an uncle! My oldest brother Aaron and his wife, Sydne had a baby girl, Elizabeth Grace, and we call her Izzie G. She is a cutie, and my mom is happy to finally be a grama ha!

Over the past few days, the weather did a 360 and it has been sunny and around 75 degrees here in good ol' North Texas, and that gave me the just the opportuntiy I needed to catch up on some tree trimming & removal jobs the weather had been keeping me away from. You can't beat working outdoors in conditions like that, especially when everyone around has to break out their grills and smokers, make BBQ, and let it's smoke disperse in the sunny, 75 degree air.

I get a ton of satisfaction from working my tree jobs. I love making music, don't get me wrong... but my other job title is "Arborist." I have a degree in "urban forestry" and am a tree doctor so to speak. I simply go by "The Tree Smith" in that profession, and though the biology, ecology, entomology, soil science and botany that go into it can be complex, the job also requires a lot of just very simple and honest work... like removing, trimming, or planting a tree.

A lot of times when I load my chainsaws, climbing gear and other tools in my truck, as corny as it may sound, the old John Denver tune comes to mind:

"I wouldn’t trade my life for diamonds or jewels; I never was one of those money-hungry fools. I'd rather have my fiddle and my farmin' tools. Thank God I'm a country boy."

My guitar is my "fiddle" and my pieces of tree gear are my "farmin' tools," and the work itself is so basic and honest compared to the highly political job environment a lot of my urbanite friends work in, I feel blessed.

In late July, NBC 5 in DFW came and filmed us playing a show at Adair’s Saloon, and this week they let us know that they will be airing a bit about us on the 10 pm news this Sunday night, Aug 29th. So tune in and check it out! If you are not in the area, www.nbcdfw.com will have it on their website at some point

Thanks!

Ben Smith Band

Spread the word to all your Dallas area friends, and get ready to make some noise!

Ben

Thanks!

Ben

YOU can help make Ben Smith Radio into a better station!

On your laptop, mac, or pc, you can click on the "Add Variety" Tab and add music from the artists you want to hear on the Ben Smith Radio Station. SO FANS.... GO DO THIS on a REGULAR basis!! HELP BUILD THE MOMENTUM!

Add artists like Eli Young Band, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Corey Smith, and other artists that share a lot of Common ground with Ben Smith.

Also, ADD BEN SMITH to THOSE ARTISTS Stations!! All of this will help spread Ben's Music to new fans, and make Ben Smith Radio filled with music from good and fitting artists! 

If you are not set up on Pandora Radio yet, go to www.pandora.com and get on it!

http://www.countrychart.com/2009/07/review-ben-smith-pendulum.html