Artist / Band

Ben Caplan

Origin Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦

Websites

bencaplan.ca

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Biography

Joined MOCM Nov 29, 2010
Ben Caplan is both the roar of the hurricane and the eye of the storm. He has an uncanny ability to channel both wild abandon and quiet introspection. His songwriting pulls from many diverse influences but both his music and his lyrics regularly draw from his Jewish heritage. Often mixing biblical imagery and klezmer inflected melodies, Caplan re-appropriates ancient sounds and themes with a decidedly contemporary twist.

Ben released his first studio album in 2011, and has spent the last ten years recording music and performing to ever growing audiences in music clubs and theatres around the world.

A charismatic charmer and a smasher of pianos. A madman and an earnest poet. A strummer of delicate chords and a lover of bent and broken melodies. His rough and textured tones cut through crowded halls; an enormous voice, roaring louder than raucous crowds. Once he has your attention, Caplan can croon smoother than a glass of single malt whisky, pouring beauty into a harsh world.

Bio (old - published here in 2010)
Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers have been on the Halifax scene for over three years, but only recently have they begun to explode, attracting ever more attention from the media and music lovers. For a long time, the band's lineup was a constant revolving door as musician after musician lent their talents to the project. In September 2009, the band nailed down its powerful permanent lineup and the whole city is starting to notice.

With the sexy and poised classical violinist Signe Bone, and the bluesy sax and flute player Neal Read, the melodies and harmonies soar. Cellist Emma Morgan-Thorp beautifully rounds out the sound while Asher Nehring holds things down and spices things up on the upright bass. The drummer, Matt Gallant, is one of the cities premier percussionists and can be seen at every show making rhythmic love to his drum kit.

And then there is Ben Caplan. The big bearded minstrel plays guitar, banjo, melodica and piano and sings out with a voice like no other. His singing has been compared to everything from Tom Waits to Freddy Mercury. Backed by his stellar band, the man puts on a performance that is not to be missed. Like Amelia Curran says, "he's like Freddy Mercury meets Mr. Bungle"; or perhaps more like Peter Katz's analgy: "More like Freddy Mercury meets God!"

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