Music Videos | Directory | Search | Top Artists | Shows | Music Forums | Music Classifieds | Artist Signup 

the northernness
Indie / Folk / Pop

"recording a record"

Gainesville, Florida
United States

Profile Views:  8199




Last Login:  7/18/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting the northernness

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/thenorthernness  

   the northernness: General Info
Member Since1/19/2006
Band Websitethenorthernness.com
Band Members

The band includes:

Ben Hofer:
Vocals, Guitars, Banjo

Andy Garcia:
Guitars, Bass, Banjo, Mandolin, Piano, Keyboards

Danny Garcia:
Drums, Glockenspiel, Vocals

Joel Parker:
Bass

InfluencesBob Dylan, Damien Jurado, Denison Witmer, The Innocence Mission, Neil Young, Neutral Milk Hotel, Wilco, Sufjan Stevens, Danielson, Belle and Sebastian, Camera Obscura, Stereolab, The Decemberists, Songs: Ohia, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, The Mountain Goats, Joanna Newsom, John Fahey, M. Ward, The Pixies, Low, Great Lake Swimmers, Frank Black, etc.
Sounds LikeHeartbreaking lyrics articulated to carefully-crafted pop melodies over brushed and banged drums, with banjo, glockenspiel and guitars that range from folk-style finger-picking to overdriven noise.
Type of LabelNone





   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Sep 1 2008 8:00P
Finish up recording, start playing shows again Gainesville, Florida

the northernness's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

EP Reviewed in February 2008 Satellite  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About the northernness

C.S. Lewis described a feeling he called "the northernness” as “a vision of huge, clear spaces hanging above the Atlantic in the endless twilight of northern summer; remoteness, severity…” It was a longing for something so unattainable that the desire, sadly, became an end in itself. Later in life, Lewis came to believe that this “northernness” he had experienced was a taste of something so perfect and complete that it would never be fully realized in this lifetime.

After graduating from art school at Florida State University in 2003, Ben Hofer moved home to Gainesville, Florida. Scrapping all his old paintings and songs, and now armed with a four-track cassette recorder, two guitars and two cheap microphones, he began writing songs with a focus and intensity he had never known before. Inevitably the songs began to call for other musicians, and soon the band was formed out of a crew of friends and family members. The band has gone through many changes, with members including Greg Willson of the Orlando-based band the OaKs, but the current lineup is Ben Hofer, founding member and drummer Danny Garcia, guitarist Andy Garcia (member of the band for two years), and founding member and bass player Joel Parker.

The hope is that, like Lewis’s “northernness,” these songs are not the end in themselves, but signposts on the way to something greater.


   the northernness's Friend Space (Top 20)
the northernness has 401 friends.
 Greg Willson 


 Hydrogen Arm 


 Dubbio Nil 


 the deep and holy sea 


 Daniel Linton 


 The Impossible Shoelace 


 Oh Sanders 


 Andy Matchett 


 Wye Oak 


 cloudbuster 


 the illiterati 


 The OaKs 


 Tortoise and the Hair 


 The Woods (on itunes) 


 Gillian Welch 


 James Barnes Illustration & Design 


 Gingergreen 


 Cobweb Lawns 


 Denison Witmer 


 DANIELSON 





the northernness's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 90 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Здравствулте! земля





Jul 8 2008 3:49 PM

BEN! i'm coming into town this saturday...any hope for hearing you sing anywhere?
Elisabeth





Jul 4 2008 8:22 AM

Hey bro. I see you online.
:) Hope your summer is rockin'
Sleeping, Dreaming





Jun 9 2008 3:48 PM

thanks, northernness friends!
Oh Sanders





Jun 5 2008 11:38 AM

WOOP WOOP party time saturday!
The Jim Crozier Band





Jun 4 2008 1:41 PM


Now, ya'll really just got the good stuff here! and I am glad to be your friend.

And, just in case you need some more spice...

New Orleans Blues and Americana Country
At CDBaby
and on iTunes


Dan Dickhaus





May 6 2008 6:49 AM

Thanks for coming out to play the other night. I still want to see the band if they do a show before my curfew.
Andy Matchett





Apr 4 2008 9:44 PM

we are up so late!
Здравствулте! земля





Mar 19 2008 6:44 PM

hey ben, just wanted to tell you i don't think i'm going to to far from the ville until the fall, so i approve of a summer show! -keep me posted! lol
also, i have some videos to post of last time at satchels.
hope all well!
Loren





Feb 18 2008 3:20 PM

A cut from Sunday's practice has been posted up.
Greg Willson





Feb 4 2008 10:53 AM

i like my aminals.
Hydrogen Arm





Jan 17 2008 6:42 AM

Hey, sorry we missed your gig. We've been pretty slammed with school and stuff and have had little time to take out for shows.
Dubbio Nil





Jan 16 2008 6:40 PM

How did your show go? Sorry I was unable to make it.
Roger Hunt Music





Jan 11 2008 6:18 PM

Hey! Hope your gig went well. Your music rocks! Keep it goin'!
Snow Child





Jan 11 2008 10:20 AM

We're looking forward to the show as well! Those are some mighty fine tunes you're sporting. Mighty fine.
Oh Fortuna





Jan 9 2008 1:43 PM

This. Is. Wonderful.

I'm not even going to thank you for adding us, just thanks for making your music. We'll have to play a show sometime.
Здравствулте! земля





Jan 9 2008 7:32 AM

thanks! I'll definately be there on 2/1.
Bombadil





Dec 24 2007 7:51 AM

hey hey northernnes--

thank you for tracking us down. we're really looking forward to the show on feb 1! any ideas for ways to help get the word out?

cheers,
bryan
Daniel Linton





Dec 22 2007 2:35 PM

when was that january show your playing at satchels?
RAY





Dec 19 2007 6:42 PM

I'm glad to see the northernness is together again! even if the brotherly figure isn't present.
e d


Is Online


Dec 12 2007 12:45 PM

Hey, Cristina told me that you moved back to Gainsville.

How is everything working for you?
Здравствулте! земля





Dec 12 2007 7:31 AM

Yes,hey! We'll definately be there.
Здравствулте! земля





Dec 11 2007 6:04 PM

I'll definately be at Satchels on the 2nd. Actually, thats where I heard about you guys, I met you (if this is Ben) at the last new songwriters night.
Здравствулте! земля





Dec 11 2007 12:15 PM

i wish i could've made it to the show last night, i had been planning on it with a group of friends and everything. i need to get a cd!
Loren





Dec 10 2007 11:04 PM

Photos from the show tonight:
http://www.wholegrainstudios.com/galleries/shows/northernness
Andy Matchett





Nov 16 2007 8:50 PM

thanks a lot, man. it's just been chaos down here. how was the rest of the night? i was kicking myself all the way back home.... just means we have to do it again that much sooner, don't you think?
Robert





Nov 13 2007 10:55 PM

It's nice to have the northernness back.
Elisabeth





Nov 13 2007 10:44 AM

Hey bubbu. Wish I could click my heals together and be home for the show tuesday night.
Tim The Enchanter





Nov 12 2007 7:20 PM

what time do you guys go on tomorrow? Are you opening or what order are you in?
Tim The Enchanter





Nov 7 2007 5:15 AM

WOO7!! I can't wait 'till Tuesday man....you see I've been recruiting on facebook? I got you 2 confirmed and 8 maybes....Oh yea...I should be paid.
Andy Matchett





Nov 5 2007 10:36 PM

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
KRISTIN!!!





Nov 5 2007 6:49 PM

yeah i am, i went to pbu with her
Tim The Enchanter





Aug 12 2007 11:48 PM

I shan't be able to wait much longer for the next Northernness show...
Jay Stewart (Electronic)





May 7 2007 5:52 PM

Hey thanks for checking out my new music site. Things are going well, just finished up the semester, so only one more year left. Hopefully this summer I will get more time to record. How is DC? You doing any music at the moment?

-Jay Stewart
covered dish concert





Apr 11 2007 2:59 PM

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
illations cafe





Apr 9 2007 1:04 PM

so in the past week i had two - three requests for the northernness to play the cafe... are you planning a florida tour anytime soon??
Christina





Apr 2 2007 8:55 PM

Its GREAT to be a Florida Gator!!
illations cafe





Apr 1 2007 8:59 PM

how was the radio show? give a girl a shout!
Greg Willson





Mar 29 2007 7:34 PM

Looking forward to the radio show! very awesome.