“I’m kind of a natural when it comes to seeing the glass half empty,” says Ben Arnold. “But, at the same time, I’m a Taurus. I can be a little rough around the edges—and I’m far from a quitter.”
Indeed, the remarkably durable Philadelphia singer/songwriter has cobbled together an admirable 30-year career as a working musician on the fringes of mass acceptance. In the process, he’s made a few friends in the business and earned intermittent praise for his uncompromising roots-rock vision. Arnold’s upcoming album, XI, was produced by Shane Smith (Los Lobos) and features contributions from Wallflowers bassist Barrie Maguire and Attractions drummer Pete Thomas. “Catch The Lightning” was the last track finished for the album.
“The song came not only from my own nostalgia, but also from a sort of self-helpy viewpoint,” says Arnold. “It’s about slowly acknowledging the possibility that if I allow in all the colors of the rainbow, after all the shitstorms, then maybe I can walk the path forward with a little more ease and satisfaction.”
The video was produced and directed by Arnold’s old friend Brian Flanagan. “I wanted the visual to echo and portray some of the life and emotions I experienced as a Center City kid in Philly, the through line to where I am now and what possibilities still lie ahead,” he says. “We should all be able to sit in front of a TV with a VCR and watch old tapes of our life go by.”
XI is set for release September 26 via ALP. In the meantime, we’re proud to premiere Ben Arnold’s “Catch The Lightning.”
—Hobart Rowland
