WHO:

For over ten years, Dan Haas has been writing, singing, performing and promoting his own style of real acoustic / pop / folk / rock music. Performing both solo and with two bands, Bens Bones & The Invisible Band (formerly the 'Dan Haas Band' ), he has entertained many all across the mid-Atlantic region. From the smallest of bars to some of the country's biggest festivals, Dan has been lucky enjoy a bath in many a stage spotlight and along the way, gain some critical acclaim.

INSPIRATIONS:

Dan's musical stylings stem initially from his father's collection of Simon & Garfunkel albums. Those first impressions are evident in nearly all of Dan's acoustic guitar based pop creations. Of course inspiration came from such genres as the soft melodic rock of the 70's, the syrupy pop of the 80's and even a few months of interest in country music. What kid didn't want to be a newpaper delivering cowboy when they were young? It wasn't until Neil Finn and company released their debut self-titled CD Crowded House that Dan found his true musical taste. In 1989, Dan witnessed his first Crowded House concert. Their showmanship, their comedy and their music meshed seemlessly into one of the best shows he'd ever, and has ever seen. After that concert Dan knew the direction he wished to take with his own musical performaces. Since then, artists as diverse as Elvis Costello, The Beatles, The Police, Jellyfish, Toad the Wet Sproket, The Trashcan Sinatras, James Taylor, Prefab Sprout, David Bowie and of course, Joe, Marc's Brother all made appearances in Dan's desert island collection.

THE DEBUT CD:

His debut all-acoustic CD '11 Songs' was released just prior to the turn of the millennium. Michael Buckley, from 103.1 WRNR in Annapolis describes Dan as, "...a great student of popular music and a joy to watch perform with his band of stellar talent." Since then '11 Songs' has gone on to sell over a thousand copies, out of the back of his Volvo station wagon.

IN SUPPORT OF:

In order to get his music heard, Dan has hobnobbed with the somewhat rich and musically famous. Dan has opened in support of acts like Joe Pisapia (Joe, Marc's Brother), The Dudes, Chris Trapper  (Push Stars), Richard Julian, Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes of Love), Bill Deasy, The Church, Swan Dive, Dan Hicks & his Hot Licks, Orleans, Dick Dale, Jerry Jeff Walker and The Brothers Creeggan (with Jim Creeggan of the Barenaked Ladies).  

WHERE:

Over the years, Dan's been on some fine stages. Here are just some of the venues where he has performed over the years: the Metro Cafe in DC, the 8x10, the Funk Box, MOJO, Kiss Cafe, Austin Grille & Coburns in Baltimore, the Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, the Dewey Beach Music Festival, the Fells Point Festival, the University of MD's Art Attack, the Celebrate Fairfax Festival, BowieFest, Nick's Fat City in Pittsburgh, the Eastport A' Rockin Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Wine Festival, Heroes, Middleton Tavern, Eastport Clipper, O'Briens, Armadillos, 49 West & Sean Donlon in Annapolis, Jammin Java, Whitlow's On Wilson & IOTA Cafe in Northern Virginia, the North Star Bar, Triumph Brewery & Manayunk Music Exchange in Philadelphia, the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, the Tavern on the Green in NYC, the Rams Head in Savage Mill, Clyde's of Chevy Chase, Rock Bottom Brewery in Bethesda & Arlington, the Depot in York, PA, the Sutler Inn & the Opryland Hotel in Nashville & the Lodge at Tamaroon in Durango, Colorado... to name just a few.

No GOOD bye's... just GOODbye MOON:

Following the release of '11 Songs', Dan almost relocated to Nashville to pursue his musical dream. Like anything in life, plans changed... but dreams so rarely do. Dan's attraction to Nashville and it's little-known brand of pop never waned, even though his roots & mailbox remained firmly planted in the historic bay side city of Annapolis. So in December of 2002, he took a three month trip to the music city to start recording his follow-up effort with the help of stellar producer Joe Pisapia. (Joe, for those of you who don't know, fronted his own band, 'Joe, Marc's Brother' and is currently a touring member of 'Guster'.) In July of 2003, Dan proudly released 'GOODbye MOON' to the world. Performing Songwriter's Bill DeMain calls GOODbye MOON "An acoustic pop smorgasbord - delectable melodies, sensitive arrangements, expressive vocals - all served up with plenty of smarts and soul."

HAAS ON AIR:

Dan's songs, if you ask nicely, can be heard regularly on such world-class stations as XM Satellite (MOST PLAYED SONG on RADIO UNSIGNED for November & December 2003), 88.5 WXPN, 89.7 WTMD, 89.9 KCRW, 91.9 WNTI, 99.1 WHFS, 101.1 DC101 & 103.1 WRNR. Dan also has taped several television interview / performance segments in 2004: most notable were for Spotlight ON Performing Songwriter, the UCP Telethon slated to air March 26th & 27th 2004 on Comcast of central Maryland (w/ Bens Bones) and Late Night with Erik Haase (w/ The Invisible Band) on the WB affilliate in Washington DC.

BENS BONES:

Sometime along the way, Dan started to work with bassist Josh Chapman and drummer Jamie Watkins on an all-original project. After much deliberation, they decided to call themselves Bens Bones. Combined with Dan's guitars and vocals, they were oftern joined on stage by Robin Jung (violin & vocals), Bryan Ewald (guitars), Elisa Infante (percussion and vocals), Joe Morson (pianos & keyboards) and Tevis Marshall (keyboards, pianos & organs). On occasion, Dan has been known to collaborate with Mike Noonan and John Pineda of Unified Jazz Ensemble. In addition, sometimes Dan hosts concerts for his own enjoyment at 49 West. Some notable acts that have performed with Dan include Joe Pisapia, David Mead, Swan Dive & Richard Julian.

WISHFUL THINKING:

In 2002, they started work at Waterford Digital Studios with Frank Marchand on their debut CD. So, if you need more music, have no worries. Bens Bones' brand new debut CD, WISHFUL THINKING is finished and will be available worldwide THIS spring.

THE TOUR:

In January of 2004, Bens Bones sold out the Rams Head on Stage. The staff at the Rams Head had to turn folks away at the door as they watched the room fill to beyond the normal standing-room-only capacity. The band plans to use that success as a starting point to something bigger. So make plans to go see Dan & Bens Bones perform soon, as they'll be at some of the finest music venues in and around the East Coast in 2004.

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