Meet Benji Holmes III of Underground Springhouse LLC in Dunwoody

Today we’d like to introduce you to Benji Holmes III.

Benji, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I can recall some of my earliest memories being of my entire family having monthly jam sessions in the basement of my childhood home. Music was something that was just always around. Growing up around a family that was musically inclined who also supported and encouraged your love for something was always a blessing. Likewise, growing up with best friends who also shared the same passion as you is what I feel is a strong indication that maybe this is what you’re meant to do.

I met my guitarist and drummer at Vanderlyn Elementary, we didn’t know it at the time yet, but in eight years, we’d realize that each of us has had an innate talent for music that we’d each kept relatively hidden except for in the comfort of our home. It wasn’t till around 10th grade where we came together musically. Each talented in multiple instruments, we decided to mess around and have a few jam sessions in the small basement of our (at the time) lead singers’ home. Although initially, not the best sounding, there was something there that just clicked. We’d continue to grow with each other and became more comfortable with each other’s styles until we began releasing our own music as juniors and sophomores at Dunwoody High School. It was around this time I think each of us came to realize this was our calling. We formed the band ‘Woodsong,’ and through the ups and downs of our musical career as high-schoolers, we performed our final show amongst a half-packed house in the Atlanta room of Smith’s Olde Bar filled with friends and family. Although we knew this would be the final show of us playing together as Woodsong, we knew this was far from the last time. We’d be on stage with each other.

Underground Springhouse began to come to fruition in the Spring of 2018. I was a sophomore in college, freshly enrolled at The University of Georgia from GSU in Statesboro, Charlie Haas, the current lead singer had been enrolled at UGA out of high school and at the time our drummer, Andrew Ford, was a student at Georgia State in Atlanta. On occasion, Charlie would give me a dial me asking if I wanted to play bar gigs at Whiskey Bent, a retired bar in the downtown area of Athens, GA. I never turned down the opportunity to jam. On stage, along with Charlie and me, were two of his fraternity brothers: Andrew Stephens on drums and Logan Harr on lead guitar and vocals. We got together maybe once every other weekend to play a show from 11-2 in the morning in the thick air of the lively and booze-fueled bar filled with friends and students of all different musical interests. On occasion, we’d call our good pal and human-metronome, Andrew Ford, to make a trip up to Athens to sit in on drums with this ‘group’ we began to form. About 12 packed out shows later, and without a single practice under our belt, we formed the group Underground Springhouse, a name that wasn’t discussed amongst any of us and quite literally, dropped on us by Chuck on stage. We didn’t think too hard on it at the moment, but that became the turning point in what would be the machine that carried us throughout the rest of college.

Now, almost two years later, with new members Jacob Sherwin on percussion and Max Motley on the keyboard, Underground Springhouse has over a half-million streams on our hit debut Joyfell, a headlining Georgia Theatre show under our belts and a new tour bus. We are currently on quarantine, taking it easy, throwing frisbees and writing new music to record when all this blows over.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a long time friends, there have been few road-blocks since our journey began. I am a firm believer that this is why the band has had so much success thus far. Each of us knows very well how the other operates, the body language given off, and whether or not we are into the music at the present moment. On top of that, we all share a high-drive for what we do that is directly aligned with our shared musical goals.

Please tell us about your music.
I am the bassist for Underground Springhouse, I am also in charge of web design, social media, and have developed a keen aptitude for stage and show design. Although we each bounce and share tasks off of each other, we each have a relatively concrete role in the success of the group apart from the music itself.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
In terms of luck, there are not many superstitions engraved in the band. Apart from our rituals such as the pre-show huddle and the handy bottle of Jameson we have each show, I would say we ultimately believe in good karma: being as cool with as many people as we can and just spreading overall good vibes is what we hold to over any type of luck.

Contact Info:

• Website: undergroundspringhouse.com
• Email: booking.ush@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undergroundspringhouse/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/undergroundspringhouse/?modal=admin_todo_tour
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/springfooks
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4v4aFPF4LTWeZOR5agOPMt

Image Credit:
Insta: @nicholasjudephotography & @1insouth
@melissam.photography

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