Posted: 02/14/07

Band of brothers
Matt and John Beninghof take their music on the road in the Old Silver Band

Ryan Lowell | fact checker
rlowell@smcvt.edu

The Old Silver Band: (from left) John Beninghof, 23, and Matt Beninghof, 25. John plays guitar and Matt plays Mandolin. The two share vocal duties. (photo courtesy of Kevin Tully)

During their four years at St.Michael’s College, students hope to learn skills that will help them make a living after they graduate, and class of 2004 alum Matt Beninghof, professional musician, has done just that.

“My junior year I got my first mandolin,” Matt says. “[At St. Michael’s] there were always cool kids I got to jam with. If I hadn’t gone to St. Mike’s I wouldn’t have started playing mandolin, and I wouldn’t be doing this today.”

Matt recently returned to the area with his brother, John, to play a string of Monday night shows at Nectar’s in Burlington, which ended on Feb. 5th.

A family affair

The Beninghof brothers have been playing in various musical projects for several years now, but it wasn’t until about a year and a half ago that they actually formed a band together, Matt says.

John says they have both worked on various projects, as he was in a punk-ska band in high school, and Matt briefly toured with a friend from St. Michael’s. But the brothers got such a positive response from an open mic night they played together in Cape Cod, that Matt moved to Colorado where John was attending college.

“I’ve played with a lot of different ensembles,” John says,“but there’s something about playing with siblings that you can’t really find anywhere else. People always ask us how we met, and we tell them, ‘we’re brothers!’”

Band Manager Kevin Tully says the relationship the brothers have translates into an excellent live show.

“Right now the live show is the best way to understand what the group is,” Tully says. “A big part of the show is the comedic banter that goes on between them. The other part is the musicianship. They’re pretty versatile, and for the most part they learned their instruments on their own.”

Although brothers are often known to quarrel, Tully says their close relationship actually strengthens the band, as the brothers feel comfortable expressing their feelings toward each other.

“They get along really well,” Tully says. “Like anyone who works with someone else, there will be disagreements. But the benefit of being brothers is that they’re not afraid to say what’s on their mind, so things never build to an explosion where people’s feelings are hurt. Everyone gets their opinions and ideas out on the table.”

Matt says he appreciates being able to speak his mind openly with his brother.

“What’s nice is that you can express yourself,” Matt says. “You can say ‘F you’ and then wake up the next morning with no hard feelings.”

Life on the road

Cover art for the band's debut EP, which was released on June 15, 2006. (photo courtesy of Kevin Tully)

As a developing band, Matt and John have been touring almost constantly in order to build a fan base. John says they have a particularly strong following in their home state of Massachusetts, but they have to make a name for themselves in every new location where they play.

“In Boston we sold out Harper’s Ferry over Thanksgiving,” John says,“but every market you go into, you have to pay your dues.”

Tully says Harper’s Ferry holds about 350 people, and selling the venue out was a big accomplishment for an acoustic duo.

“For two guys they make a lot of noise,” Tully says.

The brothers are trying to repeat their hometown success in the Burlington area, and according to John, their residence at Nectar’s has helped them build up a local fan base.

“Over our four-week residency, we’ve seen more and more fresh faces every week,” John says. “I think a lot of that is due to word of mouth.”

Matt says the band has also received support from fellow musicians at the Nectar’s shows.

“Sean Kelly from the Samples sat in with us one night, so did Gordon Stone, and guys from Japhy Rider and Lucy Vincent,” Matt says. “Every Monday we had new friends and acquaintances coming in. In Vermont, musicians just want to play with other musicians.”

But life on the road does not come without its share of hardships, as Matt says it is difficult to book shows as an acoustic duo.

“It’s harder booking gigs as a two-man band, because most people think we're like a coffee house kind of band,” Matt says. “But once we get on stage it’s almost better, because there aren’t any drums or bass, and it’s easier to interact with the crowd.”

John says there are downsides to traveling constantly, but that the overall experience makes it all worthwhile.

“There are a lot of sacrifices that come along with pursuing this career,” John says. “Last night we drove from New York City at four a.m., and got to Philly at six. But regardless of where this goes, or how far we go with it, it’s worth it.”

John says he is satisfied with life on the road, and would like to keep touring for a long time.

“We’re realistic about it,” John says. “I’m not saying we need to be huge, but I think I could do this for the rest of my life. It’s more rewarding than anything else. Granted, at 55 I don’t still want to be sleeping in a van and eating Taco Bell.”

Getting by with a little help from their friends

Matt and John are returning to Vermont on March 10th. They will be playing at Nectar's in Burlington with Domestic Blend and Spiritual Rez. (photo courtesy of Kevin Tully)

Touring has been a big part of building a fan base

for the Old Silver Band, but they have also needed help from friends to get in the public eye.

Tully says he left his job as a representative for Atlantic Records in order to manage the band full time.

“We all take on a lot of responsibility,” Tully says. “We try to get as much content on the Web site as possible. We have all kinds of videos that we’re in the process of uploading.”

Tully says that although it is not the typical office job, it is most certainly a full-time commitment, as he spends at least 50 hours a week working for the band.

“Recently, we’re trying to build up our press kit,” Tully says. “Any type of press we can get is huge. We’re a band, a label, and a booking agency all rolled into one. The days are busy, but it’s a lot of fun.”

The brothers have also helped their cause by performing with local acts like Lucy Vincent and Domestic Blend, bands that already have a good following.

“March 10th we’re playing in Burlington again with Domestic Blend,” John says. “[In the past] it was great playing with those kids. Our crowd and their crowd meshed really well. The response was fantastic.”

On a recent tour with Lucy Vincent, they even stayed in band member Jordan Lee Berger’s parent’s house.

“We’ve been playing a lot together,” Berger says. “We promote each other a lot. Touring with them has been saucy; it’s always better with your friends.”

Matt has also kept in touch with his St. Michael’s friends, such as senior Sheila Regan, who has had the Old Silver Band play in her townhouse before. Matt hopes to return to campus for a show.

Regan says the show at her townhouse was great, and that Old Silver Band concerts are always fun and interesting.

“You never know what you’re going to get when you go [to a show],” Regan says. “They definitely keep you on your toes. They’re great entertainers. You could go to their live show not even liking their music and still have a great time.”