Although Riveting Riffs did not ask Ben Mish if the song, “Too Late, Too Late,” was based on a real life experience, he is on record as saying that many of his songs are cathartic as he works through both his music and things that are on his mind.  Such was the case with “Fame Is Around The Corner,” from the 2003 CD Nonsense Parade and the already mentioned “LA Song,” from At The Hotel.

Concerning “Fame Is Around The Corner,” and “LA Song,” Mish says, “I think that it is a similar theme. It is about me reflecting on being a musician, thinking about the future, why I play music, and what my reasons are for doing this. Fame and LA seem to come into that equation somehow. Songwriting is a good way for me to get things out of my head, whether they are lyrical or musical ideas. I have realized that is why I write songs. As far as going on the road and playing music for other people, it is the thrill of having written the song, and then seeing as it come to life.  It seems that somewhere along the line, when you are writing a song, you start getting exited about playing it live for people; at least I do.”

Thematically, Mish says, “I am talking about a lot of things (in the two songs), the music industry, and how fame is just around the corner. “The LA Song,” is talking about having this feeling that you need to go to LA, because it is a place that represents the fantasy of what the music will be, and the reality of what it is. 

Mish and I share a laugh when I ask him if the lyrics from the song “At The Hotel,” “At the hotel / in the white sheets / Blood-shot eyes / Fey retreats / Wine-stained lips / Shake your hips / That’s enough / This is it / At Michelangelo’s / You’ve got no clothes,” have sent grandmothers scurrying or former girlfriends protesting that they are not the girl in the song.

“I haven’t fielded any complaints about that song (“At The Hotel”). I think they are okay with me doing my thing,” he says laughing.

“At The Hotel,” was one song where I already had some lyrics, ‘wine stained lips, shake your hips, at the hotel, through the saffron,’ that kind of stuff. I just kind of ran with it. Those lyrics came to me right away. I ended up telling the story of a scene at a hotel,” says Mish.

Left Hand Smoke’s song “At The Hotel,” has become somewhat of a rock anthem during their concerts. “We open with that one a lot. It has a real immediate impact on people. That was another song, that as soon as we (first) started playing it, people were like, ‘That’s cool, that’s different than what you have been doing. They know the song right off the bat,” says Mish.

Two completely unrelated statements that Mish made during our conversation, perhaps define this incredibly gifted artist more than any other, the first clearly defines his creative individuality, rather than his feeling compelled to try and emulate others, “When I am writing a song, I am not thinking that I need to create a piano song in the vein of some of the people that I like. I just think more (along the lines) that I need to write a song.”

In addressing his ability to deliver sensitive, heartfelt lyrics, as is the case in “Fallin’ In Love With A Dream,” or the band’s playing of the reggae influenced “African Sun,” both of which stand in contrast to hard driving, and grittier songs such as, “Can I Get A Witness,” Mish says, “Sometimes something that has more subtlety may take longer to sink in (with their fans). Definitely something that has more immediate impact with the audience to the point where they like it makes you feel like it is one that you should keep playing.” That observation, more than anything else not only represents the maturity of a band now entering its tenth year together, but speaks to the conscious effort to continue pushing out the boundaries, but not to the degree that you exasperate your fans.

Do yourself a real big favor and dial into the music of Left Hand Smoke. This is a band that doesn’t need to change their sound they just need the right people to discover them. Let’s hope the talking heads in the music industry are reading this, and are “getting it!”

Interview by Joe Montague ©

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March 2008