Barefoot Truth

Infobox musical artist
Name = Barefoot Truth

|Background = group_or_band
Origin = Mystic, Connecticut, USA
Genre = Acoustic
Rock
folk

Years_active = 2003 – "present"
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.barefoottruth.com/
Current_members = William Evans Benoit
John J. Driscoll
Andrew Wrba
Garrett Duffy

Barefoot Truth is a New England acoustic/folk rock band that formed in 2003 when members Jay Driscoll and Will Benoit met in Groton Long Point, Connecticut. Immediately, the two realized they had the same musical tastes and influences. They decided to couple their talents and began writing original songs and playing shows in New England. [http://www.barefoottruth.com/?sec=sec&s=8] Their music has been influenced by such bands as Dispatch, Guster, John Butler Trio, Dave Matthews Band, Xavier Rudd, Rage Against the Machine, and Simon and Garfunkel. [http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.asp?epk_id=63559]

Barefoot Truth is committed to the notion that there is a demand for unprocessed, organic singer/songwriter music that too often does not make it onto commercial radio. So when writing and recording they bring this type of music alive. With their acoustic mix of feel-good rhythms and distinctive riffs they blend a sort of beach and folk rock style into something that is distinctively Barefoot Truth. Their rep program, called "The Foot Clan" helps spread their music by word of mouth, online, and in person. [http://www.barefoottruth.com/?sec=sec&s=8]

History

Jay Driscoll and Will Benoit met randomly in 2003 and immediately realized they had the same musical tastes and influences. They decided to couple their talents and began writing original songs and playing shows in New England. With no name for their new project, a fan at one of their shows suggested Barefoot since they play without shoes on, the name seemed to fit perfectly with their beach feel and Barefoot was born. In early 2004 the guys got a letter from "Papa Joe Simpson" (Jessica/Ashley Simpson's Father). The letter explained that Joe Simpson was the manager of a "Pop Boy Band" named Barefoot. Mr. Simpson also threatened the guys with legal action if they didn't change the name. Subsequently Barefoot evolved to Barefoot Truth or BFT.

After a better than expected response to a 7 track self titled demo the guys released in the fall of 2005, they went to Lake West Recording Studio during the following winter, where they began working with producer Jack Gauthier, known for his work with Dispatch. The duo released their full length debut album Changes in the Weather at the beginning of June 2005. In the start of 2006 the guys recorded a 6 song EP entitled "Club House Sessions," which introduced new band member Garrett Duffy on harmonica. The album was co-produced by Jack Gauthier and Pete Francis of Dispatch. During the following summer Barefoot Truth added upright bassist Andy Wrba. Wrba's sound adds an eclectic feel to the music and the band continues to evolve by adding new sounds and instruments such as the didgeridoo.

In the Fall of 2007 BFT released its 2nd full length album titled "Walk Softly". This 15 track album portrays the band's versatility and gives some insight to their exciting live performance. In Spring 2008, Barefoot Truth released a music video for "Reeln". In September 2008, they released a single called "All Good Reasons."

Barefoot Truth is also dedicated to "picking up the thread that binds us all together". With this in mind BFT joined "1 Percent For the Planet"(www.onepercentfortheplanet.com) in late 2007. [edit]

Name Change

At first, Barefoot Truth was just known simply as "Barefoot". They received this name from a fan at one of their shows who suggested it since they were playing without shoes on. [http://www.barefoottruth.com/?sec=sec&s=8] So naturally, the name seemed to fit perfectly with their beach feel and Barefoot was born. In early 2006 however, Barefoot was forced to change their name when Joe Simpson, father of Ashlee Simpson and Jessica Simpson, formed a boy band by the same name "Barefoot". In light of the situation, their name evolved to Barefoot Truth.

Band Members

*William Evans Benoit - guitar, vocals, drum kit, djembe, bongos, hand percussion, didgeridoo
*John J. Driscoll - guitar, vocals, djembe, bongos, hand percussion
*Andrew Wrba - double bass, electric bass, guitar
*Garrett Duffy - harmonica

Discography

External links

* [http://www.barefoottruth.com Barefoot Truth's Official Homepage]
* [http://www.myspace.com/barefoottruth1 Barefoot Truth's Myspace Page]
* [http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=Barefoot%20Truth Barefoot Truth collection] on the Internet Archive's live music archive
* [http://members.aol.com/thisismodern/hearthis2.htm CD Review from Thisismodern.net]
* [http://journalism.smcvt.edu/defender/10.25.06/News%20-pills27.htm News Article from St. Michael's College in VT]