Essential 8: Ben Cesare Band

Courtesy of the Artist

Nashville's Ben Cesare Band blend blues, rock, and country on their debut EP, Cesare’s Palace, which currently has well over 350,000 streams on Spotify.  Here frontman Cesare answers his Essential 8 where he talks about his favorite concerts, his go-to road food and dream venue, shares the story behind the EP's title, and much more. 





Do you have a favorite (or first) concert you have ever attended?
It’s a tie between 3 concerts;
1. Bruce Springsteen
2. Garth Brooks
3. Queen feat. Adam Lambert
Bruce is a monster entertainer and I was entertained the entire show. Same with Garth. He's insane on stage! Queen is a legendary band and although I would’ve rather seen Freddie Mercury, Adam Lambert from American idol did him justice.  It was fantastic to see the original band as well.

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
Yes! I’d like to think so. CESARE (pronounces like Caesar Salad), is my last name, and to point out the obvious, Cesare’s Palace is a play on words of the Las Vegas hotel. The hotel in Las Vegas caters to the rich and famous. However, moving to Nashville four years ago and experiencing the city has been my own version of “Cesare’s Palace”. The graphic artwork for the album was taken at Santa’s Pub, a double wide trailer, turned into a karaoke bar and live music venue. It’s a dive bar, but it’s very popular with the locals and celebrities because not many tourist know about it. In fact the front cover of the album is graffiti on the wall of the men’s bathroom! The name and the location of the graphic artwork, I hope, would explain to our listeners that my band and I don’t need fancy things in life to be happy. We just want to play our music, have fun, and make a living doing what we love.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten from another musician? 
“One day you’re eating chicken, and the next day you’re eating feathers!”
-Lance Dary (Guitarist for Randy Travis, Patty Loveless and Mark Collie). 
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He is my mentor, and he explained this quote to me a long time ago. It means you have to appreciate every gig you can possibly get. If one day you’re selling out stadiums, but the next day you’re playing in the corner of a coffeehouse, you have to treat each gig or job with professionalism and integrity. Take pride in what you do. No matter the environment.

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​What is your dream venue and why?
The Ryman Auditorium & the Grand Ole Opry, of course. With enough hard work and acknowledgment from my peers and mentors, I’d be honored to be a member of the Opry. Outside of Tennessee, I’d love to play Fenway Park in Boston like Jason Aldean and the Zac Brown band have, as well as Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Home of the New England Patriots, where people like Kenny Chesney have sold out shows.

Who would you love to collaborate with?
Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, Zac Brown Band, Phil Vassar, Toby Keith, Dan and Shay, Mitchell Tenpenny.

What song of yours gets the best crowd response?
“She’s All Woman” For several reasons. It’s a bluesy, country rock song with a Chris Stapleton edge. I really get into the song. Also I loosely based the song off my wife, so I sing the song with a little bit more passion than some other songs I sing. 

What is your favorite “go to” food on the road?
Beef jerky in the car. When I’m visiting new places, I always ask for local recommendations. Local delicacies. For example, when I was in Missouri visiting radio not long ago, they suggested I try some pork steak. Also fresh squeaky Cheese Curds in Wisconsin! 

Have you met any of your heroes? If so how did it go?
I met Toby Keith through a sweepstakes. My dad entered us in a sweepstakes for a new Ford F1 50 truck for a college graduation present. We instead won two free backstage passes to meet Toby Keith. I was really nervous because he is the guy that started it all. A bunch of Army veterans were in line before me, and as we all know Toby Keith loves the military. All I could think was “how am I going to top army vets? I’m just a kid with a dream!?” I met him, and I shared with him my favorite songs of his, and told him I’m working towards a career in country music like yourself. He said “Cool buddy, just keep on Boomin’”. I absorbed his advice, but I was a nervous wreck the whole time!

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