We Plug To You... Bonaventure

Nashville-based Alternative Rock band Bonaventure is made up of Dan Smyers and Andrew Albert, both of whom are already well known in the music world to their respective fans - Andy is the lead singer of Pop-Punk band Holiday Parade while Dan is a successful solo singer and guitarist in his own right. The pair met up about a year and a half ago in Miami, Florida and after realising that they were both heading down the same path musically, began to explore and share a few song ideas between themselves over the internet. That path as well as the initial exploration and sharing of ideas eventually led to the formation of Bonaventure and both artists moving to Nashville, Tennessee - the city of such great songwriters as Johnny Cash and Jimi Hendrix - to create what they call "Rock with a Southern flavour".

Their music is influenced by other Country music stars such as Bob Dylan and Tom Petty as well as rock legends such as Bryan Adams. Taking inspiration from these artists, Bonaventure create some pretty amazing music which can be described as a mellow middle between modern Country and energy-driven Rock music that centres around clever lyrics, honest song writing, lush acoustic guitar arrangements mixed in with a genuine Rock edge. Their debut single “These Shoes” is an acoustic-based feel good song which sounds like something we should be listening to on a Summer road trip. The lyrics of which, are simple but clever analogies that create a very vivid imagery for the listener as pertaining to heartbreak or moving on: “The view from the bottom of the well, down here it's cold as hell, it's true. I’m gonna make these shoes, take me far away from you". Those lyrics could also relate to the singers’ past endeavours and how they are moving on to their new project with Bonaventure.

"Home" - another of the band's signature songs - follows almost in similar fashion to "These Shoes" with its chilled Country influences, acoustic musicality and excellent song writing all on show. It is a lush nostalgic record that transports your body and soul to a rocking chair on a wooden porch on a warm Summer evening in Southern Tennessee with crickets humming all around you. On this song, both Dan and Albert sing and play beautifully about a couple or two friends being reunited... "When I'm with you, I am home, so won't you please come in? Darling, please invite me in". Bonaventure have recently just released a brand new single (and accompanying visuals) titled "I Dare You". Featuring a more pronounced Rock sound with heavier guitar arrangements and commanding drum patterns, Bonaventure switch up their sound on "I Dare You" and show their versatility when it comes to making music. The recurring theme on all three songs remain how carefully-crafted and well-written these songs are as well as how beautifully Dan and Albert's vocals merge together and compliment one another.

Even though the band have recently been compared to the likes of Kings of Leon and artists like Ryan Adams, they are probably even more similar to indie bands such as Mumford and Sons and The Fray with also a striking similarity to Fightstar frontman and ex-Busted member Charlie Simpson. Dan and Andy haven’t forgotten their roots in 90's Pop/Rock either, they grew up on the likes of Matchbox 20, Our Lady Peace, and Third Eye Blind, and you can definitely hear these 90’s influences in their own music.

According to the band's EPK, the band is named after a street in Atlanta, Georgia called "Bonaventure Ave" but that hasn't stopped fans - who presume the band's name is derived from the medieval Italian Franciscan Saint and one of the greatest Doctors of the early Church, St. Bonaventure- from labelling the band as a Christian Rock band, a title that neither Dan nor Andy have publicly acknowledged or denied.

In a recent interview with Pup Fresh, both Andy and Dan attest to wanting to make great music for as long as the band lasts and wanting to take Bonaventure further than any other project they have previously been involved with. More importantly, the duo "just want to write songs that we can really connect with, and not get sick of playing two years down the line". Although no date has been set for their album release, Bonaventure are constantly demoing, writing and recording songs for the record and hopefully with the release of their new single "I Dare You", a full length album should not be too far away.

Purchase: Bonaventure - "These Shoes" // "I Dare You" (iTunes)

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Tim Osbourne