Visionary lyricist and outstanding acoustic finger-style guitar wizard, Ben Schmidt has released two self-produced Cd's; "Write it down" 2002, and "While you were Sleeping" 2005 His warm, versatile voice, alternately sweet and dark, colors compositions from ballads to blues. Called "an extraordinary talent" and "the total package" by music critic Jim Musser (No Depression), Ben is influenced by a vast range of musicians and musical genres, most prominently folk and Mississippi delta blues. Of Write It Down, Musser says, "You'll hear elements of John Gorka, Jesse Winchester, Kelly Joe Phelps and, on the slipped-rhythm fun-house 'Dance That Dance,' doses of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen." He call's While You Were Sleeping "a pillar to post gem".
Schmidt's latest CD, While You Were Sleeping, was released in July of 2005. Cohesive and musically intricate, While You Were Sleeping speaks to contemporary issues in our culture, and gives a mature voice to classic themes of love and loss.
A prolific songwriter, Ben has two other CDs in the works. The first is a collection of solos for guitar interspersed with works for guitar and voice, the other a continuation of the work started in the first two discs.
Self-taught, thirty-three year-old Schmidt has been playing guitar for over 20 years and writing songs since he was fifteen. The landscapes of his songs draw equally from his upbringing in Chicago, as well as his current home in Iowa City, Iowa. Ben is a favorite of Eastern Iowa public radio stations and is a featured artist on WSUI's Java Blend compilation CD, as well as KUNI's Best of Live from Studio One compilation disc.
In addition to enjoying national radio airplay, Ben plays regularly throughout the Midwest and has opened for and performed with a variety of other artists, including Kelly Joe Phelps, Peter Mulvey, Edie Carey and Alistair Moock.
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
Hey Ben Schmidt! We totally want to hang out with you at our upcoming show this Saturday, April 4th at Flipside in Downtown Ottumwa. We're going to have our new T-shirts available, too!
We're making a deal for all our fans, If you join us in not wearing pants at the show, You'll get $1 OFF of your admission to the show! You know you're just looking for an excuse to not wear pants. :D
We will see you at the show. Bring all your friends!
Hosted By: Flipside When: Friday Nov 21, 2008 at 6:00 PM Where Bridge View Center 102 Church Street Ottumwa, IA 52501 United States Description: Flipside
Amazing job on Adam's songs, Ben. I had no idea you were that good on every instrument, recording, mixing, etc. I am but a humble saint, but I really hate you for being so damn talented.
Hey there. Glad to have your friendship. How's life? Do you know about the Better Than A Dream festival in Clear Lake this Fri-Mon? We still have a couple slots open. It's going to be amazing. Would love to see ya there. Peace, sarah
You guys were wonderful at Uptown Bill's last night. The songs were grooving and you guys were tight. The best show I have seen in the IC in a long time.
Hey, Ben. Just wanted to say that it was great seeing you the other week. You put on a great show, and I'm glad I got a chance to pick up your last CD. Your songs are stuck in my head, and I'm loving it. Good luck with everything.
holy smokes you aint gunna believe it...i tried this deal to receive an AUTHENTIC designer handbag through Coach totally FREE and it surprisingly came in the mail!! since i KNOW its not a hoax now, i'm gunna go real quick and get more to send out as a present..you really should go snag one or two too HA HA! isn't this one that came awesome?
