I won’t soon forget any experience with Tyler Bennett, but one that stands out the most to me is seeing him at Piere’s Entertainment in Ft Wayne (IN) for Underoath’s epic “No Fix Tour” in 2018. There was a bit of a fuddle with my e-ticket, so I was sent from the ticket scanner to the service desk along the wall. It was all part of this beefy hallway that you walked down to get to the floor/stage area. One side was the service desk, the other held posters of some soon-to-appear acts. In a moment of pure synchronicity, as I got my ticket sitch sorted out, I heard someone holler my name. “Yo, Sheldon!” I whip around to see Bennett’s grin before anything. “Bennett, my man!” I noticed he also had our good friend Damon (York) with him. Arms outstretched, I embraced each of them with quite the bro hug. “I’m so happy we get to see Underoath together, are you guys ready or what?” Eyes swelling with elation, Bennett looked at Damon then back at me, “We were born ready, my dude.” I don’t remember spotting them again that night, but every time I hear the bridge to “It’s Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door,” I think of Bennett and how much fun we all probably (definitely) had.
I can’t say that I was as close to Bennett as others, but I knew him enough to feel that his impact on my life was nothing short of compelling. Most importantly in terms of what it takes to display utter love and esteem for the music that helps shape your life. No matter how macro or micro their fanbase winds up, all bands/artists start out as local acts. Being at a show with thousands of people, seeing “big name” performers, and witnessing (hopefully) one helluva show is simply just a part of many music lover’s lives. Live music = life blood. Bennett’s love for music translated from concert-goer to concert curator when he began hosting shows of his own. Most notably the sensational summer sizzler, Fried Fest.
Like most who may be reading this, I was actually at Bennett’s first show ever on June 27th, 2015: “Rural Rumble.” It hosted a lineup of some of the gnarliest local/regional stompers the mid 2010s had to offer (around Indiana), including: Ursa Minor, Among the Brave, Villisca, Hyperwriter, Shellshock, A Forbidden Ending, and EROS, among several others. For the life of me I cannot remember what the place was called but it was in Converse (IN) and wound up being held in an old elementary school’s gymnasium…and it was fucking. ballistic. I can’t recall if I got the chance to thank Bennett for throwing that show, but am sure he felt the appreciation.
No matter how you spin it, who you talk to about him, where your memories with him reverberate, or how you came to know him… Bennett’s essence has been threaded within the electricity of our experiences with him. Reminding us some facts of how Bennett was: a beacon, a brother to all, and someone who loved with no holds barred. This writing is just a glimpse and small memoria into my own friendship with Bennett. His smile, his hugs, and his supernatural knack for warming your heart is most certainly something felt beyond space and time. The end of We Love You’s “I’m Fine, You Okay Over There?” can’t help but ring out as I finish this up; “I won't say goodbye to the one that I adore…” Bennett stays with us through our reflections, the music, and all of the love we got to share with him. He remains a beaming inspiration of fairness, friendship, and the funnest of times. I want to say goodbye, but it doesn’t feel right. To me, it feels more natural to look forward to pitting it up with him once more someday. Until then, on this side of things, we just have to do our damndest to let the music play on...and on...and on… this one’s for Bennett.~
Above picture sourced from Obituary, found here.
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