MP3.com: Dogs in the Yard Artist Info
MP3.com Home
EMusic Free Trial  /  Get Started  /  Artist Area  /  Site Map  /  Help
 
Dogs in the Yardmp3.com/dogsintheyard

2,357 Total Plays
Artist Extras
  •  
  • Find more artists in Denver, CO - USA
  •  
  • More featured tracks in Alternative
  •  
  • Get More MP3.com Services
    Artist description
    Ranked as one of the top 25 medical centers in the U.S., the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center has established its reputation by bringing together some of the nation's brightest physicians and scientists, some of whom are rather talented musicians. With three M.D.'s and one Ph.D., Dogs in the Yard bills itself as "the band with the highest combined student loan balance of any group working in the Front Range." The Dogs' sound is characterized by a catchy combination of electric and acoustic guitars, thoughtful lyrics, and the lush harmonies of two of Denver's most seasoned vocalists.
    Music Style
    Alternative
    Musical Influences
    James Taylor, Darden Smith, BoDeans, Pete Droge, The Delevantes, John Hiatt
    Similar Artists
    Toad the Wet Sprocket, Gin Blossoms, Loggins & Messina, James Taylor, Vigilantes of Love, Jayhawks, R.E.M., Sugar Ray, Bare Naked Ladies, BoDeans, Lowen & Navarro, Steve Earle, AAA, Alternative
    Artist History
    The band began as the acoustic duet of Dan Bessesen and Jay Reusch sometime in the mid 1980's. Their complementary vocal styles remains the core of the band to this day. The addition of bassist David Kroll in 1990 led to regular gigs at such venues as Pasquini's Blue Luna Room and the Larimer Square Summer Concert Series. In 1993 Jim Benoist joined the band as the drummer, intensifying the band's sound. The group has most recently served as the house band at the new Tommyknocker Brewpub in idyllic Idaho Springs and now plays regularly at Denver's best venue for local music, Herman's Hideaway. The very diverse backgrounds of each band member make Dogs in the Yard equally at home with folk music and the "unplugged" sound, or with contemporary alternative music. Their recently released collection of 15 original songs, entitled, "Sunday Afternoon", was recorded at Coupe Studios in Boulder by early Big Head Todd recording engineer, Edward Kaufman, and is consistent with the playlists of KTCL, The Peak, or KBCO.
    Group Members
    Dan Bessesen, Jim Benoist, David Kroll, and Jay Reusch. JIM BENOIST - Drums and percussion - Coming originally from South Texas, Jim honed his drumming technique in several straight-ahead rock and roll bands. After his education at University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Jim relocated his family to Colorado to complete his training. Musically, his solid and sensitive approach to the band's original tunes is at the heart of their success. His addition to the band was largely responsible for their gigs at larger venues, such as Herman's Hideaway. Jim currently practices internal medicine at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood. DAN BESSESEN - Electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, violin, concertina, bass, lead vocals - The only reason the band exists is because Dan can't play every instrument at one time. The only Colorado native of the group (raised in Denver and Breckenridge), Dan comes from highly musical roots; his grandfather played violin for the Colorado Symphony. Known to play anywhere there's an audience, you may have already heard Dan's work if you've been out on the 16th Street Mall on a warm summer night or walked up a stairwell at Colorado State University. Dan is currently an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and he practices endocrinology at Denver General Hospital. DAVID KROLL - Bass, electric and acoustic guitars, vocals - Hailing from the ever-increasingly hip state of New Jersey, David played with several bands in the New York City/Philadelphia corridor. While in Gainesville, Florida his songwriting helped the 3-man group Fragmentary Blue develop a strong local following in North Florida. Although recently relocated to Durham, North Carolina, he still returns to Denver to serve main duty on bass guitar, plays guitar, and contributes to the band's original songs. North Carolina fans can look for him to perform Dogs in the Yard tunes and other under the appropriate name, Doggone. David is currently a natural products pharmacologist at Research Triangle Institute and an adjunct associate professor at both Duke University School of Medicine and The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy. JAY REUSCH - Acoustic and electric guitars, harmonica, lead vocals - The band's songwriting machine, Jay grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. Jay received classical vocal training while a member of the University of Norte Dame Glee Club during which time he had the opportunity to perform in Europe. His songs are filled with thoughtful, impassioned lyrics but also benefit from his keen sense of melody and harmony. The band is at its best with his distinct but highly compatible vocal efforts with his long-time compatriot, Dan Bessesen. Jay is currently a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Denver.
    Instruments
    D.I.T.Y. uses Fender electric guitars and acoustic guitars by Taylor and Collings
    Albums
    Sunday Afternoon (1997); 'Til the Summer Fades Away (2000)
    Press Reviews
    (from Westword Magazine, Denver, CO, 11/05/98, by Michael Roberts)The Dogs in the Yard disc Sunday Afternoon spends most of its time in the middle of the rock road. "Wasted Time," "Hurricane," and "Gravity" feature clean guitar lines of the sort youngsters associate with Toad the Wet Sprocket and their elders remember from Sniff 'n' the Tears. "Stop Wishing" contains sweet crooning and overtly sincere lyrics that aren't that far removed from Loggins & Messina. KBCO listeners are apt to salivate at the combination.
    Additional Info
    CD cover art by Connecticut Art Director Guild awardee, Brien O'Reilly, and Sandi O'Reilly (SaBOR Design, West Redding, CT).
    Location
    Denver, CO - USA

    Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).

     
     
     
    Company Info / Site Map / My Account / Shopping Cart / Help
    Copyright 1997-2003 Vivendi Universal Net USA Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
    MP3.com Terms and Conditions / Privacy Policy
    Vivendi Universal