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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




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




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

BALL AND CHAIN
B&W poster
8 1/2 X 14
PDF | high res

BALL AND CHAIN
4 UP colour flyers
8 1/2 X 14
PDF | high res

BALL AND CHAIN
4 UP B&W flyers
8 1/2 X 14
PDF | high res


BALL AND CHAIN and the WRECKERS
Colour poster
8 1/2 X 14
PDF | high res

BALL AND CHAIN and the WRECKERS
B&W poster
8 1/2 X 14
PDF | high res

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


BALL AND CHAIN
Colour promo photograph
8 1/2 X 11
PDF | high res

BALL AND CHAIN
B&W promo photograph
8 1/2 X 11
PDF | high res

BALL AND CHAIN
B&W promo photograph
8 1/2 X 11
PDF | high res

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


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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