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Muted chimes, experimental percussive elements, anthemic vocal harmonies – expect nothing less with folk/rock band The Last Bison. With the recent release of their ‘Dorado‘ EP, this six-piece have been on the roam as they rise from the marshes of Chesapeake, VA.
GroundSounds recently caught up with frontman Ben Hardesty to talk about the groups latest projects, musical inspirations and more. Check out the exclusive interview below!
For those just discovering The Last Bison, can you tell us about forming the band and how you all got connected musically?
Over half of the band is related, so obviously we have been connected in every way our whole lives. The other half of the band are long time family friends, so there is a family dynamic amongst the whole crew. I grew up in a musical setting. It seemed like every time there was a family gathering there were instruments being played, and songs being sung. All that to say, I’ve been playing music with my family since I was very young.
Out of high-school I moved to England for a year, then came home and started the band. When I was abroad I gained an appreciation for classical music and arts. I wanted to take that new appreciation and merge it into my existing love for American folk music. So when I got home I reached out to my friends that played, and we started the band. It started as a more folky Americana vibe, and I knew something was missing. So, shortly after I asked Amos and Teresa to join, and added the cello and violin. The sound that they brought to the table is what made early Bison sound the way it did. They brought a cinematic, orchestral sound to the songs. The sound has been evolving ever since, and I’m excited to see where it goes.
What made you guys decide on the moniker The Last Bison?
The name was originally Bison and stemmed from my fascination with the westward expansion of America and the strength of the word as an iconic symbol. We later added “The Last” to further distinguish the name and thus the band from others using the word Bison.
I have never really been able to come up with words to describe the Bison, and my fascination with the animal. I’ve never been able to put the connection into phrases and sentences. However, one of my favorite authors Steven Rinella says what I wish I could perfectly in his book American Buffalo.
“At once it is a symbol of the tenacity of wilderness and the destruction of wilderness; it’s a symbol of Native American culture and the death of Native American culture; it’s a symbol of the strength and vitality of America and the pettiness and greed of America; it represents a frontier both forgotten and remembered; it stands for freedom and captivity, extinction and salvation.”
For me it presents a statement of strength and freedom along with a sense of vulnerability. It captures a beautiful contrast that I’ve always found captivating. It is a true depiction of America. For those reasons we call ourselves The Last Bison.
What do you guys enjoy most about Chesapeake, VA?
The Great Dismal Swamp, Northwest, Elizabeth, and James Rivers, The Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. I love the water. I love being in it, on it, and around it. Our area is so saturated with rivers, swamps, bays, and the ocean, that you can never explore all of it. That leads to limitless adventures and exploring. That is easily my favorite part of our area. Growing up we would trudge through the swamps with packs over our heads and venture deep into the forest. We built forts, cooked over fires, and often didn’t come back home til late the next day. I miss those times, but I realize the untapped expanse of our waterways is still there, and it will always call me back.
We have been diggin’ your latest Dorado EP, can you tell us about bringing this project to fruition?
Dorado is a collection of songs that were recorded and written during the process of our VA album. The four songs on the EP didn’t fit into that project though. We kind of knew that when they were being written. When we recorded VA we knew we wanted to release an EP shortly after, and so we recorded these songs at the same time. As seemingly as they stuck out from the other songs, they also stood together as a unit. We felt as if the four songs were too cohesive and complimentary to release as bonus tracks or b-sides. Serendipitously the songs on Dorado are actually a cryptic and chronological telling of my life story. I realized this only a week ago as I was thinking and listening through the Dorado EP. Dorado just kind of happened honestly. It became an idea and came to fruition on its own in a sense.
Can you tell us about the creative and writing process for your track “This Changes Everything?”
When I came up with the opening riff for this song, for some odd reason my dad, (banjo, mandolin, guitar) and Amos(cello) couldn’t figure out the rhythm. They thought I was crazy, and that I was playing the part in some weird off beat way. Which to me is hilarious, as they are both exceptional musicians. It’s really pretty straight forward, however the confusion spurred many a funny argument. I would get frustrated trying to explain to them where the beat was and it just wouldn’t get through. I don’t remember when the turning point was. It was probably when we added drums, that they finally were like oh yeah that makes sense.
With most of our songs, I write the song then bring it to the table to be arranged. I honestly don’t remember much of of the composition process of this song. We were working on so many different songs at the time. What I do know is this; the song drastically changed in the studio hours before it was finished. I think we were actually done recording everything and were in the mixing process. The song melody just wasn’t working, and there was something missing. So moments before we did the final mix, I completely changed the melody of the chorus, and my dad and I wrote a backing vocal part to go behind it. Honestly, that is to me what took the song to the place it is now. It’s a lot better of a song for having made those last minute changes!
Similar to the songs from your album VA, Dorado is full of more experimental percussive elements it also seems to transcend the folk sound into far more cinematic rock, sonically why did you guys go in this direction?
Honestly, that wasn’t really intentional. The songs just had a soul of their own, and the extra drum elements felt right for those songs. I think that’s maybe why they didn’t fit into the VA catalogue. The first 3 songs on Dorado all have these cinematic soaring bridges that just called for big drums and a lush arrangement.
You guys just started a tour, what do you enjoy most about being on the road?
Definitely getting to play music every night, and meeting people who follow the band. Also seeing friends, and eating at places we love around the country. Dick’s in Seattle is definitely a favorite burger stop!
What inspired the track “Souls In The Sand?”
Souls in the sand is about the 5 years I spent as a child in Bolivia, South America. I pretty much had free reign of the surrounding jungle near the camp my parents were building. I spent all day everyday adventuring with my best friend. We explored jungle paths, and played in the river that ran through camp. They were some of the most care free times I’ve ever known. And as the song says, I’d go back again.
What musicians/bands are you guys currently listening to and finding inspirations from?
I’m not sure which bands I listen to that influence me the most, but I imagine it’s a mixture of all of them. I grew up listening to classic and southern rock. I won’t ever stop. Lots of Skynyrd, Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Foghat etc. My favorite band though is probably U2. While they are certainly classic rock, I would put them in a genre of their own. I love all their records, and appreciate who they are as people as well. Bono has a beautiful way of articulating what he believes through his songs, and I love that about his songwriting.
As far as new music goes, I have only one thing to say. Moon Hooch, NPR Tiny Desk concert. Just watch it.
After the tour what is next for The Last Bison? What can fans look forward to?
That’s a great question, as I’m not sure of the answer. In the immediate future, we have a very limited run of 250 VA vinyls coming out. We are very excited for those, and have been working on getting those done for months on end. Other than that, new music is being written, and more tours are on the horizon!
3/20 – Austin, TX – SXSW
