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Ben Mahony Yukon Singer-Songwriter

"Ben Mahony writes songs. They're about things," opined Winnipeg based signer songwriter, Matt Allen. They once addressed the personal politics evident in "Dishwashers of the World unite and Take Over" or Math and Hindu Mythology strangely mingled: "I'm the Remainder, the Empty Container while you you're effortless sustainer."

 

In the nineties, he played in coffee shops and on busked on the streets of London and Guelph in Ontario and Vancouver and Victoria, BC. University days in Alberta brought him more into the realm of bar bands which ranged from the disco to the indie rock.

But it was in the Yukon where Mahony found greater inspiration, opportunity and experienced the fuller rock and roll colour wheel. The new record reflects both dance party highs and more plaintive winter lows. Written over several years Mahony recorded these songs largely by himself with the help of Whitehorse producer/engineer Chris Isaak and Yukon drum ninja, Lonnie Powell. Several songs, including, "Angel is Overcome" and "Dark Wit of Winter" are acoustic numbers which
reference the revelations that come with long distance relationships and the unflinching wit of the "locals" of Dawson City, Yukon. Titled, "Yukon Love Ghosts" it is available at benmahony.com and features thoughtful acoustic moments as well as some of the northern alt-rawk tendencies contained on his "Action/Reaction" EP.

Once featured on CKRW AM in Whitehorse as the Yukon artist of the day, his acoustic ballad "Dark Wit of Winter" was featured by Yukon Culture at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics connected with his performance at YukonFest at The Railway Club with his rock trio and is available at isongcard.com.

When not focused on acoustic balladeering, his electrified high energy band plays intense power pop. Dancers at folk festivals and listeners at original rock venues have been impressed by this band whose recordings are being played on commercial radio and CBC in the Yukon homeland. A previous tour enjoyed the support of both Air North and Yukon Brewery.

RECENT SHOWS O’Byrnes, Edmonton, Alberta, Midnight Sun, Dawson City, Yukon, The Slice, Lethbridge, Alberta,The Palamino, Calgary, Alberta,
The Tranzac, Toronto, Ontario


Discography

"Dualism, Cynicism and Litigation," 1996
"Scotch Soaked Oranges," 1996
"Action Reaction" 2003 (Ben Mahony and the Big-Eyed Beans From Venus)
"Yukon Love Ghosts," 2010

"Ben Mahony writes songs that send you spiraling into a John Hughes film. Campy and fun on the surface, meaningful when you get to the meat of it." - Quinton Viskup, Norwegian Blue Records "

"Ben Mahony's long-awaited full-length CD, Yukon Love Ghosts, is here. A follow up to his Action/Reaction EP, this new album is a quieter, more mature effort showing off Mahony's talent as a writer of catchy songs with highly literate lyrics."

Barry "Jack" Jenkins, What's Up Yukon

“Despite the fact that he spent time living in the shadows of goldrush history, Mahony’s latest album is resolutely modern, eschewing the pickin’ and fiddlin’ normally associated with the North in favour of literate guitar rock. And while he’s not completely resistant to ruminations on isolation and cold that come hand-in-hand with living here, the songs on Yukon Love Ghosts boast a broad appeal.”

Elaine Corden, North of Ordinary Magazine and 2011 Polaris Prize Juror.