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Ben Robinson Appearing At Blues Train Cafe On Aug. 14


Ben Robinson
Ben Robinson, 22-year-old singer/songwriter and accomplished guitarist will appear Aug. 14 at the Blues Train Cafe at 312 South Hamilton Street in Dalton.

Ben Robinson has been booked on such shows as “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Donny and Marie” and “Martin Short Live,” and he even pulled a stint with superdrummer Tony Royster, Jr. in the Nickelodeon band produced by Paul Shafer. 

Of Ben’s performance on the Letterman show Paul stated privately, “Of all the guests that have ever sat in with the band, no one has ever done it like Ben.”

Commenting on a recent performance, Legendary guitarist Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top fame had this to say about Ben: “I have seen a lot of smokin’ hot blues guitar players in my day, but I ain’t never heard anyone like Ben. I’ve had the honor to work with the worlds greatest guitar players and Ben Robinson is on that list.”


Drawing from such diverse influences as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tony Suraci, Jeff Buckley, Chris Cornell, Gavin DeGraw, John Mayer, Maroon 5, and “the ’80s as a whole,” Robinson creates a whole-package spectacle that features expert showmanship, professional technique, and down-to-earth songwriting that has garnered accolades from every crowd he’s played for. Backed by Vincent Abelende on drums and backing vocals, Hunter Robinson on bass, and keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Robert Willis, Robinson delivers emotive originals with the feeling you’d expect from someone three times his age.

To hear samples of his tunes, go to: www.benrobinson.com




T.J. Royal interview
Jacksonville, Fla.'s Ben Robinson has been stoking fires as a blues guitarist since his tweens, dropping jaws at open mike nights and basking in many a spotlight from an early age.


Now 22, Robinson's playing has earned raves from pros and the industry's for a decade, from the likes of ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons to David Letterman's orchestra leader Paul Shaffer. David Letterman you say? Oh yes, Robinson was showing the world his virtuosity on The Late Show when he was only 12.


As you check out tracks with face-melting solos, like "Armageddon Express," or smooth blues solemnity, like "Heart of Stone," on www. myspace. com/thebenrobinsonband, it's clear the man's early success has turned into a potent, wholly enjoyable sound years later, on his self-titled album.


Ben took a break from making his Laguna guitars cry uncle to fill in The Village Idiot about his latest songs, how he got to this point and also about something he might just add to his live act.



VI: How long have you been performing, not just professionally?

Robinson: My first actual live performance was when I was 10. The first legitimate one was at a place called Rafters, in Saint Simon's Island, Ga., for an open mike night. (It was the) first time I'd ever played in front of anybody besides my parents. Everybody kind of looked around like, 'why's this kid here.' I played, and they asked me to come back every time they had a jam night, which was a lot of fun.


VI: How does it feel recording your first "adult" album after playing professionally for so long?

Robinson: I really didn't know what to expect. When we started writing, nobody knew what to expect, so it was a really cool experience recording this album, because of how free flowing everything was. Everything you hear on the (record) is what we did. It's really cool recording this record, just because of the free flowing, 'let's see what happens' kind of mentality that went along with it.


VI: What was the inspiration behind the song "Heart of Stone?"

Robinson: It was actually a collaborative effort, each person had a part in writing that song. They took an experience (they had) from their life, within that certain context of "Heart of Stone." ... My personal experience on it, I felt a need for a great song that was honest, the lyric of "heart of stone" is a very straight, honest written lyric, about a guy who screws up and realizes it. ... It was a girl, there was a girl, and that's all I think needs to be said about it.


VI: You've been able to do things musically that others didn't when you were younger.
How do you think back on those experiences now that you're pushing forward and trying to make a buck as a blues performer?

Robinson: All that cool stuff, it's a great learning experience. It's a great personality builder, it really helped me to (prepare) at such a young age. Paul Shaffer, he's a killer player. To have you on at 12 years old, for lack of a better term, it's like being thrown into the fire, because it can change at any point. That cool stuff I was able to do when I was younger, it wasn't all quite highlights, it really helped mold me as the performer that I am today. It was definitely a big booster. If I tried to get into it at this point, it would be a totally different deal.


VI: What's been something crazy that's happened out in the road in the past year, or more recently?

Robinson: This was really cool. We were in Daytona Beach, towards the beginning of last year. Me and my band, the band playing with for that night, we go and we check out the club, gearing up to play that night. We go to get something to eat right around the corner where we're playing. There was all these people at the club (when we got back), when we walked in the door, they went crazy. I hadn't been to Daytona Beach, I didn't know any of these people. This was about the hour before the show started, spent that time going around talking to everyone. That set the precedent for a good show. It was a really fun experience. To have people just appreciate what you're getting ready to do, that was great.


VI: Apparently, you're not the only Ben Robinson to appear on David Letterman. You're a hell of a guitar player, but this other Ben Robinson apparently caught a bullet between his teeth like, five times, and even wrote a book about how to do

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Bill Valyo: 'Light Up Your Grill Night'
More Sebastian Sun
The Sebastian Chamber of Commerce has a winner in it’s Light Up Night event presented every year, and now it’s sponsoring a new program for the summertime called “Light Up Your Grill Night” to encourage community spirit in the dog days of summer.
Although it won’t take place until Friday, Aug. 7, the project will be a big one and businesses are urged to sign up now to get into the fun.
As with Light Up Night, members of the community will be invited to visit local businesses and enjoy free food, beverages, prizes, giveaways and coupons.
There will even be a contest for the best watermelon, whether it’s grown and presented, carved in a sculpture to cakes shaped from the juicy fruit. There will be a list of participating retailers published here in the column. Entry forms are available at the Chamber office or you can e-mail them at info@sebastianchamber.com. There is a $25 fee for advertising costs and materials.
Members of the Chamber will enjoy a get together Thursday, June 18 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Inlet Wines 13401 U.S. 1, Riverwalk Plaza. Members of the active organization meet once a month at various member businesses in the area.
It was National Tourism month last month, and if you think that the business of getting tourists to visit this area is not important then you will have to notice the figures. According to figures released by the local Chamber, there were 82.5 million visitors that came to Florida in 1998; and more than 1 million Floridians are employed because of tourism. The payroll generated is 13.3 billion and the sales tax is close to 4 billion dollars.
Now that’s important.
Here is another important project that our Chamber is involved in..the extension of the Scenic Highway that will include a 27-mile loop which would encompass Fellsmere.
Called the AIA Scenic and Coastal Byway, it is an adventure of travel which explores wildlife refuges seashores, historic districts, and even the intricacies of the NASA Space Program along the Indian River Lagoon. You will find yourself in the most biologically diverse estuary in North America.
The Lagoon is home to more than 4,000 species of plants and animals and it allows you to visit the McLarty Treasure Museum and it’s many examples of Spanish treasure lost in shipwrecks just off the Florida coast.
A special musical treat comes to the Riverview Park on Friday, June 19, when the Ben Robinson Band will be performing starting at 5:30 p.m. for the popular Concert in the Park series.
Young Ben Robinson brings in a plethora of credits to the old bandstand that evening with bookings on the David Letterman Show, the Donny and Marie Osmond Show and Martin Short’s Show, still ringing with rave reviews. Legendary guitarist Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top fame, had this to say about Ben, “I have seen a lot of smokin hot blues guitar players in my day, but I ain’t never heard anyone like Ben”.
Ben and his band continues the fine series at the Park, and of course Mad Dogs, Paul’s Port-A -Pit and Sunside Fun will be selling food and refreshments. The local Lions Club will be offering their famous popcorn to munch on.
During intermission, the crowd will have a chance to win giveaways from the local business community. Bring a comfortable lawn chair, a flash light and enjoy listening to Ben and the Band play songs from their album “Heart of Stone”. It will be a great night.
Bill Valyo writes the Sebastian Column every Friday. If you have items you wish to be published please submit them 10 days before the event. You can reach Bill at (772) 770-0598 or on the internet at catcherwjv@bellsouth.net

Ben Robinson Band to perform Friday in Sebastian

SEBASTIAN — The public is invited to come out and enjoy the last concert of the 2009 Concert in the Park Series from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at Riverview Park on U.S. 1.
The Ben Robinson Band will perform rock, blues and indie. Robinson has performed on regional and national stages including the “Late Show with David Letterman.”
Mad Dogs, Paul’s Port-A-Pit and Sunside Fun will be selling food and refreshments and the Lions Club will be selling popcorn. During intermission, the crowd will have a chance to win giveaways from the local business community.
Bring a lawn chair and blanket, and enjoy the local talent and river breezes! For more information, call (772) 589-5969.
This event is sponsored by the City of Sebastian, the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, Melbourne International Airport and RBC Bank.