New Ben Franklins
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | David DeVoe |
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado , United States |
| Products | Rock, Americana, Alternative Country music |
New Ben Franklins is a Rock’n’Roll/Americana/Alternative Country ensemble based in Denver, Colorado, USA. Established in 1992 around the core songwriter David DeVoe, the group continues to be an active presence within the Colorado music community, consistently producing new recordings and performing live.
Formation and Early Period
In the autumn of 1991, David DeVoe came back from California accompanied by his childhood companion Malcolm Tent with the intention of creating a band in Denver. They brought on Andy Harris as bassist and initially performed as a trio supported by a drum machine, crafting a sound influenced by The Sisters of Mercy and Red Lorry Yellow Lorry. The group started playing local gigs and released their debut cassette, Blake, which featured a cover of Adam And The Ants' “Ants Invasion.” This track became a regular part of their early live repertoire along with covers from Love & Rockets, Ricky Nelson, and The Rolling Stones.
Soon after, the drum machine was replaced by drummer George Edwards, and the band self-produced their second cassette, No Songs For Christine (1993), showcasing shared vocal duties between Tent and DeVoe. Tent left the group late that year. Operating as a trio, they explored new sonic directions and songwriting approaches, culminating in their third cassette, Deaf Child Blind (1994), recorded at DeVoe's Dingo's Kidney Studios with Michael Smith from Fiction 8.
Developments in the Late 1990s and 2000s
By 1996, New Ben Franklins reduced their live performances due to changes in personnel. DeVoe remained active in writing and recording, collaborating mainly with George Edwards and other musicians from the Denver scene. In 1997, DeVoe relocated to Alaska, which resulted in a hiatus for the band lasting several years.
Returning to Colorado in the mid-2000s, DeVoe resumed writing for New Ben Franklins after touring as a supporting guitarist with various friends’ bands. He enlisted drummer Mark Kosta and bassist David Meyer, quickly reestablishing live performances throughout the Colorado Front Range.
Embracing Americana
In 2008, steel guitarist Tom Oberheide joined the lineup, refining DeVoe’s vision of “shoegazer noise rock with twang.” Oberheide’s steel guitar enriched the band’s classic country influence. That same period marked the beginning of their annual tribute show dedicated to Waylon Jennings, held each February.
The band released their first CD of the new millennium in 2009, titled EP. Their 2011 album Miserable featured Benjamin Williams stepping in for David Meyer on bass. That year was marked by extensive touring and culminated in the recording of a 14-track album titled [peter gabriel], which was released in April 2012. Following this release, Oberheide departed and guitarist Graham Armer took his place.
Throughout subsequent years, the band experienced multiple lineup changes and contributed tracks to various compilation projects. In early 2014, they became members of Rainless Records, a nonprofit music cooperative.
March 2017 saw the release of What Happens When Things Fall Apart, an album composed and recorded by DeVoe with contributions from five bassists and eight drummers. This record revisited the darker tones characteristic of their early work.
In November 2023, they unveiled Existential Dread Capricious Joy, a project spanning six years that reflects themes emerging during the pandemic era. The 15-song collection blends material written both before and during the pandemic period, exploring topics such as personal loss and new beginnings. Additional unreleased songs are anticipated to appear on forthcoming EP releases.
Discography
Blake EP (1992) Iota Records No Songs For Christine (1993) Iota Records Deaf Child Blind (1994) Dingo's Kidney EP (2009) Dingo's Kidney Miserable (2011) Dingo's Kidney [peter gabriel] (2012) Dingo's Kidney Something Old Something New (2015) Dingo's Kidney Something Borrowed Something Blue (2015) Dingo's Kidney What Happens When Things Fall Apart (2017) Dingo's Kidney Existential Dread Capricious Joy (2023) Dingo's Kidney
Appearances on Compilations
Catherine Wheel Tribute Compilation (“Something Strange” and “Salt”) This Ain’t No Cowtown Vol. 1 (2011) Kings Of The Queen City Vol. 1 (2013) Rainless Records Volume 1 (2014)
Soundtrack Contributions
The Creep Behind The Camera ("Whatever Happened To What's His Name?") (2015) Derby Baby ("Miserable") (2012)