Jody Benjamin is a lead singer in the Toasted
Westerns, Ottawa's favorite singing sandwich.
Together since 1988, they recorded their album
'Out to Lunch' in 1995 and are still going
strong. Her driving Cajun triangle can be heard
on several recordings including albums by Keith
Glass (Prairie Oyster), Jennifer Noxon,
Zydeco
Loco and Shelley Posen. She sings harmony and
plays guitar and triangle on Michael Jerome
Browne's 2004 album released on Borealis Records.
Michael Ball's first exposure to Cajun and Zydeco
music was when he joined Danielle Martineau's
band, Rockabayou in 1992. The band toured
Europe, Canada and the U.S. and recorded three
albums between 1992 and 1997. Visiting Louisiana
since 1996, Michael has been learning from such
great players as David Greely, Edward Poulard and
Mitchell Reed to name just a few. He got picked
up by Prairie Oyster for the summer of 2003 and
continues to play and record with such artists as
Jennifer Noxon, Keith Glass, Finest Kind and
Michael Jerome Browne.
'Trouble All the Time', recorded in January 2003,
is the follow-up album to their 2000 release
'Bare Bones'.
Ball and Chain have taken their
sound a step further by adding performances from
some great musicians. Jordan Officer (Montreal's
Suzie Arioli Swing Band) plays guitar and fiddle
and Danny Artuso (Dario Domingues, Lonesome Paul
and the Valley Ramblers) plays pedal steel.
Here, they play in the mature, restrained style
that was popular in the 40's and 50's making them
the perfect compliment to the rootsy sound that
Michael and Jody have.
Ball and Chain choose their material from an
unusual and diverse pool of music. Jody has been
a fan of old-time country for many years and has
twenty years experience as a dancer and
choreographer. Her exercise dance class is well
known in Ottawa for her excellent choice of music
and fun fitness program. Michael comes from the
Montreal music scene and Danielle Martineau's
band, Rockabayou...the Cajun connection!
Together Michael and Jody have nurtured a growing
interest in the music of Southwest Louisiana and
made many trips there to study, play and dance in
the music halls and houses of Cajun country.
Country music and Cajun music are related. Like
hillbilly cousins that look alike and finish each
other's sentences. Remember the Louisiana Hayride
of the 50's? The combination of tunes and styles
that become Ball and Chain's repertoire make
sense together. At any live show you could hear
songs by Hank Williams next to Denis McGee next
to John Hiatt or June Carter.
Their five-piece version of the band is called
Ball and Chain and the Wreckers and they play
regularly around Ottawa. Michael and Jody give
Cajun dance lessons as part of the evening's fun.
The band includes Wayne Ford-Robicheau on drums,
Don Evans on bass and Daniel Artuso on electric
guitar and pedal steel.
Here's what Country Music News says about 'Trouble All the Time' !
(www.countrymusicnews.ca)
"Ball and Chain is an Ottawa-based duo featuring
the talents of Michael Ball and Jody Benjamin,
and they create all kinds of magic with this
homespun album; thanks largely to Jody Benjamin's
interpretations of hardcore traditional country
music. She can sing a Hank Williams or a Webb
Pierce song like few female voices before her
have been able to capture. It's gutsy stuff,
with all kinds of hurtin' heartbreak in the vocal
delivery. The barebones, living room recording
actually comes off sounding as if Hank's Drifting
Cowboys Band were in the room ... but it's really
Michael Ball kicking in his acoustic bass and
scorching fiddle and Benjamin twangin' away on
her six-string."
Larry Delaney,
June 2003
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FOR INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS:
Michael Ball, Jody Benjamin
186 Bradley Ave.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1L 7E2
Phone: 613-741-0721
E-mail: mj@ballandchain.ca
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Printable flyers for Ball and Chain. You can choose PDF posters which
are immediately printable, or high resolution posters if required.
If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader and cannot view the PDF files, download
HERE
When printing PDF files, ensure that you print on LEGAL (8.5" X 14") paper.
BALL AND CHAIN
Colour poster
8 1/2 X 14
PDF |
high res
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BALL AND CHAIN
B&W poster
8 1/2 X 14
PDF |
high res
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BALL AND CHAIN
4 UP colour flyers
8 1/2 X 14
PDF |
high res
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BALL AND CHAIN
4 UP B&W flyers
8 1/2 X 14
PDF |
high res
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BALL AND CHAIN
and the WRECKERS
Colour poster
8 1/2 X 14
PDF |
high res
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BALL AND CHAIN
and the WRECKERS
B&W poster
8 1/2 X 14
PDF |
high res
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BALL AND CHAIN
and the WRECKERS
4 UP colour flyers
8 1/2 X 14
PDF |
high res
|
BALL AND CHAIN
and the WRECKERS
4 UP B&W flyers
8 1/2 X 14
PDF |
high res
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BALL AND CHAIN
Colour promo photograph
8 1/2 X 11
PDF |
high res
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BALL AND CHAIN
B&W promo photograph
8 1/2 X 11
PDF |
high res
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BALL AND CHAIN
B&W promo photograph
8 1/2 X 11
PDF |
high res
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Poster Designs and photos by Lorraine Gilbert
Find below technical requirements for Ball and Chain and Ball and Chain with the
Wreckers. Please contact Jody and Michael for inquiries regarding requirements or
if only minimal requirements are available.
BALL AND CHAIN (duo only)
Jody: Vocal mic SM58 or equivalent, 1 direct line
Michael: Vocal mic SM58 or equivalent, 1 direct line
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BALL AND CHAIN AND THE WRECKERS
Concert Setting
Jody: Vocal mic SM58 or equivalent, 1 direct line
Michael: Vocal mic SM58 or equivalent, 1 SM57 or equivalent (for amplifier)
Triangle: 1 SM58 mic or equivalent, 1 SM57 mic or equivalent
Pedal Steel: 1 SM58 mic or equivalent, SM57 or equivalent (for amplifier), chair
Bass: 1 bass amplifier (300W), chair or stool
Drums: kick - D112 or equivalent, snare - 1 SM57 mic or equivalent,
2 toms - 2 senn 421 mics, hi-hat - 1 SN81 mics or equivalent, overhead - 2 SN81 mics or equivalent
Minimum Requirements
Jody: Vocal mic SM58 or equivalent, 1 direct line
Michael: Vocal mic SM58 or equivalent, 1 SM57 or equivalent (for amplifier)
Triangle: 1 SM58 mic or equivalent, 1 SM57 mic or equivalent
Pedal Steel: 1 SM58 mic or equivalent, SM57 or equivalent (for amplifier), chair
Bass: 1 bass amplifier (100W minimum), chair or stool
Drums: kick - D112 or equivalent, snare - 1 SM57 mic or equivalent, overhead - 2 SN81 mics or equivalent
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