Anyone lucky enough to catch the great documentary, Austin to Boston, would have noticed standout British folk singer, Ben Howard for his unique vocal style, finger-picking acoustic proficiency. and overall onstage charisma.
5 old VW camper vans. 4 bands. 3 thousand miles. 2 weeks. 1 gloriously backward tour. The adventure starts after a fire-fuelled final night at Austin’s SXSW Music Festival, where the bands (Ben Howard, The Staves, Nathaniel Rateliff, Bear’s Den) pile into their rides and head northeast. They play everywhere from bars to barns, rooms to rooftops, packing out tiny venues and wowing crowds with their unique sounds.
But heavy rainstorms, multiple breakdowns, and cramped conditions remind them that to push through sometimes you need to pull together. Featuring Mumford & Sons’ Ben Lovett and narrated by Gill Landry this documentary is about a modern tour, done the old fashioned way.
I include the following video mostly for the crowd, response not for the audio quality. Whoever did his EQ needs an audio Otolaryngologist visit ASAP.
Ben Howard – Only Love (Glastonbury 2013)
114,489 views
Here is a better live EQ for Ben and India, et al.
[Chorus 1] While the faithful dispose of a generation
And all of the mountains rumble knowingly
I order a colada and sit to count my dollars
And watch eagles soar in circles
Perpetually [Bridge] Forever, forever
Such a beautiful thing [Chorus 2] Now I am older, I don’t look over my shoulder
I know what is there in front of me
Ten Marlboro cigarettes I’ve rolled the butts into the bottle tops
Today I will stare at the sea
Till my eyes have had enough [Outro] Enough, enough
Is that enough?
Black flies on the windowsill
That we are
That we are
That we are to know
Winter stole summer’s thrill
And the river’s cracked and cold
See the sky is no man’s land
A darkened plume to stay
Hope here needs a humble hand
Not a fox found in your place
No man is an island, this I know
But can’t you see?
Maybe you were the ocean when I was just a stone
Black flies on the windowsill
That we are
That we are
That we are to hold
Comfort came against my will
And every story must grow old
Still, I’ll be a traveler
A gypsy’s reins to face
But the road is wearier
With that fool found in your place
No man is an island, this I know
But can’t you see?
Maybe you were the ocean when I was just a stone
No man is an island, this I know
But can’t you see?
Maybe you were the ocean when I was just a stone
So here we are
And I don’t wanna beg your pardon
And I don’t wanna ask you why
But if I was to go my own way
Would I have to pass you by?
And I don’t wanna beg your pardon
And I don’t wanna ask you why
But if I was to go my own way
Would I have to pass you by?
Ben Howard covers Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” tune.
Howard received his first acoustic guitar when he was an 8-year-old lad. When he turned 12, he received an electric guitar.
Howard has stated that he prefers the acoustic guitar. He’s a left-handed guitarist and is infamous for his strumming style.
His debut EP ‘Games in the Dark’ was self-released in 2008. He followed up with two more EPs titled ‘These Waters’ (2009) and ‘Old Pine’ (2010). He signed with Island records with his debut studio album ‘Every Kingdom’ being released in 2011.
He followed up with two more EP releases titled ‘Ben Howard Live’ (2011) and ‘The Burgh Island E.P’ (2012).
If you want to learn to play guitar like Ben Howard, check out Infinite Guitar here – they have some great free lessons.
Howards Primary Guitar – Martin D-28
Martin D-28 (2017) Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
Martin D-28 (2017) Dreadnought Sitka Spruce/East Indian Rosewood LEFTY w/Hardshell Case
