Ben Averch Music

Ben Averch has been called “a one man symphony of prog rock.” A drummer, bassist, guitarist, vocalist, keyboardist, songwriter, producer and engineer, the Seattle, WA resident has crafted three progressive indie rock solo albums, Washington State (2006), Start at the Beginning (2008) and the forthcoming Fortune Cookie (2010).

Averch will release Fortune Cookie on his own independent label, Automatic Earth Recordings in Spring 2010. Produced, performed, recorded and mixed entirely by Averch, Fortune Cookie is a 12-song collection of potent, diverse and emotional hard rock. The sound has been described as "Elliot Smith meets Rush". Largely a hard driving rock record, Fortune Cookie includes the ripping, yet atmospheric title track, the layered, loop-based “The World Fictive”, and the epic “You Know I Need You”.

Averch originally developed his talents as both a street musician and the singer/guitarist for the Boston-based rock group Bison. He cut his performing teeth touring across the country with Bison, and made his living delivering high-energy, arena-style acoustic hard rock in Harvard Square, Cambridge as one of Boston’s premier street musicians. This period was marked by his recognition from Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, who gave Averch a $50 tip in exchange for a Bison demo tape.