Citizen Way – The Bio
Citizen Way is a true band of brothers – in the literal sense. This infectious rock
four-piece is comprised of two sets of siblings with strong ministry backgrounds
and a mutual passion for music that began long before the band officially formed
in 2004. Band members Josh and Ben Calhoun and David and Ben Blascoe
share a camaraderie that is undeniable and results in a unique, unparalleled
connection for a band that has plenty to say.
Months before their April 2013 label debut album, LOVE IS THE EVIDENCE, this
promising new signing was already generating buzz — even as they continued to
write and record. The band’s first single, “Should’ve Been Me,” made an
impressive debut, shooting up to the top of the charts and peaking in the Top 5
on Christian AC radio. The tune was penned in 20 minutes by Ben Calhoun after
a conversation with a group of students at the camp where he was leading
worship. “We had just taken these students through a crash course from Genesis
through Revelation. It was the end of an incredibly powerful week and we were
asking them what they had learned,” recalls Ben Calhoun. “One of the kids spoke
up and simply said, ‘I learned that it should have been me.’ I remember thinking
that was pretty profound for a 14-year-old and was inspired to write this song.”
Amist their chart success, Citizen Way landed a slot on their first nationwide tour
with another talented band of brothers, the multi-award winning group, Big Daddy
Weave. The band is thankful for the new and larger platforms after years of hard
work honing their skills - playing at camps, retreats and youth group events and
investing in their fans who have been behind them from the very beginning.
All four band members grew up in strong ministry families. Josh and Ben
Calhoun, the group’s primary songwriters were heavily influenced by their mom’s
musical gift and the Calhouns were on stage singing at church from an early age.
The Blascoe brothers had a more urban upbringing than their bandmates and
while their parents weren’t musical, they were music lovers, exposing the boys to
live shows by early Christian acts like Petra and Mylon LeFevre.
The Blascoe brothers each found music in their own way. For David, it started in
fourth grade. “What actually made me want to play drums was a movie called
That Thing You Do,” he explains. His parents eventually set him up with a drum
kit and gigs at church and stints in a series of high school bands soon
followed. Ben Blascoe’s instrument choices were based on what he didn't want.
“My older sister took piano lessons, and I was determined to not play that
because I remember her having to pound away at practice,” he recalls, adding, “I
wanted to do something very different.” Maybe that’s why, as early as elementary
school, anytime he saw a guitar he’d pick it up and try to play it. Eventually, he
borrowed a bass from a friend and would sit in front of the CD player trying to
copy what he heard, whether it was Credence Clearwater Revival or The
Cranberries. At 16, he got his own bass and never put it down.
The beginning days of Citizen Way initially started when the two Bens met while
studying at Judson University outside of Chicago. Ben Calhoun was a music
major, drawn to the intricacies of theory and simultaneously also a big fan of pop
radio, with each new song a potential experiment in merging those two loves.
Calhoun says, "Judson was a pivotal place for me, it's where I was able to
develop and set my musical and ministry direction. I'm grateful for the school and
it's such a cool privilege to serve as an Adjunct Professor there now."
As a freshman, Ben Blascoe was playing his bass in the dorm one day when the
Ben Calhoun poked his head in. There was a connection and so when Ben
Calhoun was ready to record some songs he had composed, he asked the other
Ben to join him in the studio. He also recruited his brother Josh, on drums then,
who had been playing with the band Augustana while in college. After the project
was completed, the trio continued to play together eventually adding David as the
band’s drummer and Josh moving to keys.
Citizen Way has collaborated with acclaimed producer Seth Mosley (Hawk
Nelson, Audio Adrenaline, former lead singer of Newsboys, Peter Furler) on their
debut release. With the help of Mosley, the album merges the influences of all
four members, showcasing their melodically, talented songwriting and sound that
audiences have come to love. The recording process, helmed by Mosley, has
allowed the group to get an even clearer picture of who they are together and the
magic that can happen when their collective God-given gifts merge. The result is
melodic, meaningful rock that melds the talents of all four members into
something that shimmers with diverse influences that range from PFR, Steven
Curtis Chapman, Newsboys and Andrew Peterson to P.O.D., Coldplay, The
Killers and Brad Paisley.
The name of the band comes from a few key ideas in scripture that are important
to the guys. "Ephesians reminds us that our true citizenship isn't here on earth,
but rather in heaven," explains Josh Calhoun, "Jesus calls Himself the way
and the book of Hebrews talks about the new and living way we have because of
Christ's sacrifice, Acts actually calls believers followers of the way. So Citizen
Way is an idea that we're part of something bigger, God's kingdom."
Now Citizen Way hopes to build on the immediate connection they've enjoyed
with people through their debut single, “Should’ve Been Me.” “Each time we sing
‘Should’ve Been Me’ I still remember the moment when God moved in my life for
the first time and I go back to that special week at camp" says Ben Calhoun. “I’m
reminded of what He did for us on the cross and how grateful I am for the life that
I have in Jesus. Our hope is that people will hear our songs and are also
reminded and encouraged in this same way.”
CitizenWayMusic.com
Get to Know Citizen Way
- Together for 9 years plus now, Citizen Way was previously known as The
Least of These.
-A life-long Christian music fan, Ben Calhoun is partial to albums from the early
‘80s and ‘90’s.
- Ben Calhoun has been a chaplain for the Judson University soccer teams for
five years.
- Ben Calhoun married his only serious girlfriend, Alison, in 2003. They live with
their two daughters on the Judson campus, where he built Darkroom Studios, an
on-campus recording studio. He also helped start the Music Business Program
and Entrepreneurship major, teaching within that major when he’s not on tour.
-Ben Calhoun admits to loving growing up with McGee and Me! and Adventures
In Odyssey and has now passed them both onto his daughters.
- Josh was born in San Diego and met his wife when he was a college senior
(she was a freshman). They have two dogs, Haley and Sam.
- Josh and his wife are Coldplay fans, so they make it their anniversary gift to
each other to see the band live. \
- Josh’s favorite verse is 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.
- All three Calhoun siblings (including a sister) were in show choir in high school,
and they toured in a band called Stained Glass for two summers.
- Because David originally only played with the band to fill in for Josh, the two
musicians never actually met until their first gig as a foursome.
- The Blascoes’ mother is from England.
- Ben Blascoe speaks fluent German and was a youth pastor for two years.
- Ben Blascoe’s favorite candy is Red Vines.
- Ben Blascoe has had all of the following jobs in order to pursue music with the
band: Insurance Agent, 2nd Shift High School Custodian, and Security Guard.
He's very intimidating ;)
- David and his wife are eighth grade sweethearts and have two cats, Sgt.
Pepper and Phoebe.
- David is vegan and would eat Chipotle twice a day, every day, if he could afford
it. He's also obsessed with loose-leaf Earl Grey tea.
- David knows more than any human being should about The Lord of the Rings,
Harry Potter and The Beatles.
- David’s last part-time job was at the GAP, but don’t expect to see him
producing perfectly folded T’s at the band’s merch table anytime soon. “I’m
useless unless it’s jeans,” he says. David’s skills do include operating a sewing
machine and an iron, though. If the T’s he buys aren’t fitted enough, he’ll alter
them. He also irons everything he wears – even on the road.
- David was primarily a hip-hop producer/musician before joining Citizen Way.