Meet Ben Wright

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Wright and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I graduated from Western Colorado University in Gunnison in 09′ at the height of the “Great Recession” and there was no work to be had. The tough job market forced myself and many people to get creative in how they were going to make a living. I studied music and business so it made sense to try and figure something out with the skill sets that I had. I began teaching private music lessons and put up flyers all over town. One day, a gentlemen named Kevin Reinert gave me a call to start a Beatles tribute band. We got the band going and it lasted for nearly seven years. Those seven years gave me a lot of experience in dealing with the music industry. When the Beatles band had to call it a day, Kevin and myself started what is now Easy Jim, Music of the Grateful Dead.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
“Settle back easy, Jim…” The words of Robert Hunter in the song “Althea” seemed to fit the mold of the band when it began in the fall of 2018 . The laid back group of musicians from Gunnison and Crested Butte, Colorado found a common love for the music with one another and a desire to learn and perform the material. The six piece ensemble features the same instrumentation as the Grateful Dead including two drummers and four part vocal harmonies. Easy Jim is known for their exciting original improvisations, high energy performances, and attention to detail. No two shows are ever the same and it’s always Easy Jim’s mission to provide a visceral concert experience that pays tribute to one of the most infamous rock ‘n’ roll bands, The Grateful Dead.

Easy Jim has been at it for over six years now and we are most proud of the fact that the band is still together and continues to play new and exciting venues around Colorado. Keeping a band going is the hardest thing that I’ve ever done. The music industry is a very nuanced and challenging sector to be doing business in. Operating an eight person band is very expensive and the pay for gigs is typically low. Having an affordable, safe, rehearsal space has proven to be extremely difficult in the midst of the housing crisis. The band does not make enough money to live on so all of us have to work other jobs while putting in the hard work to make this happen. Housing is also very challenging and we’ve lost band members in the past due to lack of affordable housing. Honestly when you stack up all of the challenges there are to keep a band operating, it’s almost impossible to overcome, and it’s a miracle that there are bands out there at all.

We’ve been able to overcome our challenges with hard work, dedication, and good communication amongst band members. If one of those three are missing, it isn’t going to last and that’s a big lesson that I have learned.

Easy Jim has a passion for keeping the music of the Grateful Dead relevant in today’s world and we love bringing our show to those that have a passion for the live music experience. The band focuses greatly on vocal harmonies, and we never play the same show twice. You can learn more about the band at our website, www.easyjimband.net.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Gunnison Valley is full of things to do year round. It depends on the time of year, but there is skiing, biking, hiking, boating, fishing, and many other outdoor activities.

The best food in Crested Butte is the Himalayan Restaurant at The Eldo Brewpub.

There is great live music at The Public House, Almont Resort, and Crested Butte Center for the Arts.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The dedicated fans of Easy Jim, and the members of the band; Kevin Reinert, Tyler Lucas, Dwayne Dodson, Julian Young, and Chris Chalmers.

Website: https://www.easyjimband.net

Instagram: @easyjimband970

Facebook: @easyjimband970

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i24UOP_BPZ8&t=54s

Image Credits
Brent Moss Photography