Armchair Boogie: Good Times and Headlines
By Eric Frank
November 22, 2024
Guitarist Ben Majeska of Armchair Boogie offers a glimpse into the Armchair Boogie experience
Armchair Boogie is one of those bands that isn’t readily definable. Of course, there’s a bluegrass foundation. But, like many in the new-grass era, they have more to offer than a standard quartet of pickers. You might call them jamgrass – many do. But with a sound that melds bluegrass twangs, funk grooves, and the unyielding spirit of good ol’ rock and roll, Armchair Boogie has carved out their own niche in the vast and varied landscape of the jam community.
A true embodiment of the road-warrior spirit, Armchair Boogie has relentlessly pursued musical evolution, ascending from humble beginnings in central Wisconsin to conquering the Midwest jamgrass scene and beyond, earning the prestigious title "festival royalty" from JamBase.
In an enlightening conversation with the band's guitarist, Ben Majeska, I was fortunate to explore the roots and branches of Armchair Boogie's musical tree, exploring their inspirations, the road's toll, and the creative alchemy that keeps their sound both fresh and familiar.
Armchair Boogie: Where Traditions Collide
Armchair Boogie's innovative blend of musical styles result in a captivating and original sonic output. Their fresh sound is a testament to their creative ingenuity. Guitarist Ben Majeska's roots in funk bring a rhythmic backbone to the band, but they’re not a funk band. Augie Dougherty offers up the familiar bluegrass sound in his impressive banjo playing, but his unique improvisational style elevates the traditional sound to new heights. Armchair Boogie offers a musical dialogue where styles converse and coexist, creating something at once nostalgic and novel.
Majeska concedes that often, an initial comparison is to jamgrass greats, Leftover Salmon, with their affinity for high-energy, up-tempo grooves and knack for exploration and improvisation. What once was a welcome comparison has turned into something more personal, as front-man Vince Herman and the band have since become true mentors, even offering to have Majeska and Dougherty sit in. To be compared to these giants is not just flattery but a badge of honor, one that Armchair Boogie wears with pride.
Hard Times & Deadlines: A Reflection of Life's Pressures
At the heart of Armchair Boogie's creative process lies an insatiable hunger for stylistic exploration. Their latest offering, Hard Times & Deadlines, is a testament to this philosophy.
Hard Times & Deadlines, the band’s 4th studio album, released independently in March of 2024, encapsulates the band's journey into the complexities of life in their late 20s. Conceived during the early days of the COVID-19 circus, the album is a collaborative effort members brought personal experiences into the songwriting process—particularly Majeska and Dougherty, who took lead on their individual compositions.
The album's title serves as a metaphor for the pressures of adulthood, as Majeska explains, capturing a spectrum of emotions from heartache to nostalgia, and from aspirations to the contemplation of life's finality. It's a musical diary of life's highs and lows, reflecting not just the personal but the universal. The process of bringing these raw drafts to the band mirrors life's collaborative nature, where individual experiences are refined and enriched through collective effort, turning personal reflections into shared anthems. This is Armchair Boogie at their most introspective, crafting songs that resonate with anyone navigating the tumultuous waters of growing up.
Armchair Boogie: Live On Stage and On the Road
Armchair Boogie's live shows are characterized by their high-energy delivery (my kinda band. Their performances are primarily song-focused but are not limited to rigid structure. Rather, they explore new sonic territories, providing detours into the unexplored and unexpected.
Majeska details how these performances keep audiences on their toes and coming back for more. A recent venture into the Pacific Northwest detailed this notion as several near sell-out concerts saw scores of indoctrinated new fans readily singing along to every lyric. To a band, this is the ultimate flattery, a sure sign of growth, and a really great feeling.
Touring Companions
Any band on the rise appreciates those from another region who are willing to team up. Phish, popular in the Northeast, hosted the South’s Widespread Panic to introduce fans to bands. And vice versa.
Similarly, Armchair Boogie has consistently expanded their musical horizons through collaborations with bands in other regions. Armchair has teamed up with Montana’s Kitchen Dwellers for a number of tours out West and will soon head out with Minnesota’s Pert Near Sandstone. These experiences have not only broadened their audience but also enriched their approach to both their own craft and to the industry at large.
Festival Royalty
The band has been making the rounds on the festival circuit, as well. From popular bluegrass and folk festivals like Del McCoury’s DelFest, Gray Fox Music Fest and Hillberry Music Festival, to diverse jam festivals like Suwannee Music Park and Solshine Reverie, Armchair Boogie’s presence has been a fixture in events around the country, earning them the title of "festival royalty" by JamBase. Not a bad title for a band, eh? Armchair Boogie is able to showcase their versatility regardless of genre or event, seamlessly vibing with and captivating diverse audiences—anywhere and everywhere they go.
The BoogieDown Music Festival
To that end, Armchair Boogie has also ventured into their own festival experience with The BoogieDown, held at Driftless Music Gardens in Yuba, WI. The festival, now approaching its fifth year in 2025, marks a significant milestone in the band's career, transitioning from performers to festival curators.
The BoogieDown not only highlights Armchair Boogie’s music, but also celebrates the community of artists and fans that have grown around them. The Driftless Music Gardens, under the stewardship of the People Brothers Band, has become a hub for music lovers throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest, hosting unique events and fostering growth in both venue offerings and reputation. In 2020, when the music industry got blindsided by COVID, Driftless Music Gardens held drive-in concerts, allowing the music to continue (albeit in a deeply weird and disconnected fashion). Since then, they’ve additionally held annual music festivals like People Fest and Bonfire Music & Arts Festival, drawing acts such as Andy Frasco & The U.N., Dumpstaphunk, and Michael Franti.
The next BoogieDown will take place September 11th-13th, 2025.
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