Ben Gilmer & The Sidearms formed in 2008 and in transient Seattle fashion, the band consists of members from southwestern Virginia, Arizona, Kansas, New York, and the Pacific Northwest. It is this geographical diversity that creates an equally diverse sound, which has been affectionately referred to as “Appalachian alt-Americana.” The band’s sound stems from the roots of frontman Ben Gilmer’s upbringing in rural southwestern Virginia. He cut his musical teeth by playing country music with his grandfather and at weekly bluegrass jam sessions at the local barbershop in his hometown of Lebanon, Virginia.
Heart That Burns is a harmonic blend of classic country, folk, bluegrass, rock and blues. At times, listeners hear a raw, reverberating sound reminiscent of a gritty honky-tonk, while other tracks feature warm vocal harmonies that complement a congruent blend of acoustic guitar, mandolin, pedal steel, and dobro.
Gilmer’s lyrics poetically wander through love, loss, and self-exploration yet leave plenty of room for playful overtones. Some might say that his vocal sound recalls a youthful Lyle Lovett. Though Ben Gilmer is currently stationed far from his home, listeners will still discover that love, family, and a sense of place centered just about 2,627 miles southeast of Seattle rings through each track of this eight song album.
Heart That Burns comes from the heart - a genuine, unassuming and passionate heart.
Ben Gilmer & The Sidearms are:Ben Gilmer, Jesse Torgerson, Paul Winn, Alesha Black and Ben Jones