where to park the buses
anthony saluto Productions p.o. box 3425 bloomington il., 61702 ph 309 824 9176 .loft liver Jeff Beninato Interview
by anthony saluto
jeff beninato landed in bloomington shortly after Katrina hit new orleans. in a scramble survival mode, he spotted an ad for a 3300 square foot loft downtown bloomington. he lives on the second floor of my building with his wife karen. they commute back and forth to new orleans about every two weeks. he has a great feel for the music scene here and there.
Where did you start out?
“I started out in bed with the radio stuck to my ear and that was how I went to sleep. I realized how much I love music and then I started playing with an instrument. I started out with drums first then went to guitar and started to go see bands play when I was a teenager.”
Where did you grow up as a teen?
“New Orleans.”
So you go way back to the New Orleans music scene?
“Yeah. Then I started to go see bands and get into clubs by that age… I started listening to bands but I never really liked the bass players. So I said, ‘you know what, I could be better than some of these guys’ and that was really where my inspiration came from. I started doing studio work at 17 and making a living on bourbon st. performing with guys much older but well seasoned and getting some hands on experience.
So you were playing for three or four decades? All your life?
“Yeah. All my life.”
Have you played with any famous people?
“Well, I’ve jammed with famous people, playing on bourbon st.
is where everyone that came to town would end their night so if you in town doing a concert you probably would come stumbling in the club.
Who’d be the most famous? Like Louie Armstrong?
“No. He never came back to New Orleans.” People like ZZ TOP would, horn sections from various plays like jesus christ superstar, Paul McCartney's band and many more cats that had hits at the time.
Fats Domino?
“I’ve played with his sons.” they were part of the band. we had quite a band, the horn section was the on the original Lady Marmalade.
Were you ever involved in the booking and the promotional side of the business?
“Absolutely. That’s all I did. I’ve gone into promoting shows, basically, and then started to veer away from playing, the business end of the music industry started to leave a bad taste in my soul. I've scheduled and promoted shows through the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund including Wilco, Dr. John and members of REM. I wanted to do more producing and steer the artist in the right direction.
When you produce someone, you do what, take them through the steps of making a CD?
“Yeah. Help them write songs and try to get the best out of them"
But you’re not their agent?
“No.”
Do you remember Woodstock?
“I remember Woodstock but I wasn’t there.”
Do you remember where you were when it was going on?
“No. (laughing)”
There’s a big movie coming out, I think.
“Yeah. It looks good.”
I’ll tell you what I do remember, because I was probably not quite a teenager yet, and Main Street used to be old Route 66 I think. As a child, I remember the people coming through town but I think it was a concert was actually happening around here that brought hippies from everywhere, just free spirits with lots of time. Came right through downtown Bloomington. I must have been 11-ish. Anyway… The Coliseum: What do you think should be done in the way of the music bookings over at the Coliseum that would be beneficial for this thing for getting into the black? No pressure.
“Well, I think the location is great… I think the way things are promoted there is done well enough. You got to do more than just T.V. You got to do radio contests, things like that to get people more interested from outside the bubble.”
So contests would be a big attendance booster?
“Just to promote it you've got to get it out on the radio, give tickets away. Don’t just go for what the normal thing is. Don’t get me wrong, T.V. ads are good but, in a lot of cases, they aren’t much… just get it done. They can do smaller shows, Pink Floyd laser light shows, make it all ages.”
I think we all love Pink Floyd around here. Is the size/capacity restricting some performers from coming?
“It works both ways. It’s the guarantee you have to work out before you bring [the performers] in. If you make smaller shows… you have to bring in the right acts”
Have you been to any shows over there?
“Bob Dylan. The sound was pretty good… I thought Elvis Costello was fantastic…”
Would you be able to assist the people who are trying to book the shows over there with some of these newer lanes here in Bloomington?
“Yes, I think this is a good little city to bring into the world.”
That sounds like an incredible opportunity. I think if anything came out of this article, putting newer acts at the Coliseum would be an incredible project. Stay tuned. More to come.
stories i am following ...
loft dwellers behind on parking tickets see car towed over $340 past due bal. plan moving out of downtown.
dennys doughnuts expanding to champaign, decatur, and surrounding areas.
roof top parties cause for concern?
new roof top decks with ornate gating most asked about new development dt.
another new jean/clothing soon coming soon to 300 block
game store retailer moving from 400 block to 300 block downtown
neighborhood thrift the biggest retail success in years
more & more empty nester's asking what its like living downtown
