Midwest-based singer-songwriter Leslie Benson fronted the poetic rock band Burning Veda in Dayton, Ohio (2001-2002), releasing "The Campfire EP" in 2002. The band performed in the Wright State University Battle of the Bands, as well as the Canal Street Tavern Battle of the Bands, before calling it quits. Other band members included Michael St. Christopher McLain on lead guitar, Zach Hohenstein on rhythm guitar, Mandy Jewell on bass guitar, and Tim Amrhein on drums. 

 

PRESS REVIEW:

“While Burning Veda’s sound draws to mind the contemporary sounds of 10,000 Maniacs, Lucinda Williams and The Cowboy Junkies, there’s a lot of old-time wisdom in it as well. It’s an emphatic departure from the nouveau garage-rock ‘flavor of the moment.’” – Impact Weekly