Joe Benton grew up in Hickory Flat Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. At an early age music became a large focus after hearing bands like AC/DC and Pink Floyd on the radio. At age 10 he started playing the saxophone and by 15 he took up guitar. He joined his first rock band in 1984 and by the late 80’s had been gigging in several thrash metal bands. This love of music has continued into his adult life. Today Joe is influenced by a wide variety of artists including Melvin Taylor, Tony Iommi, Larry Lalonde, David Gilmour, Hank Shermann, and Lucas Nelson.
Jim started drumming in the golden age of rock.
His early influences were Queen, Deep Purple, Frank Zappa King Crimson, ELP, Yes, and Rush. He was the power supply for the original bands Intruder, and later Poison T throughout the 80’s and 90’s. Performing almost 100 live shows was the pinnacle of his drumming career. Jim took time off to raise a family and started drumming in earnest in the early 2000s. Jim prefers playing original music although he’s been in tribute bands and several cover bands. Relocating to Georgia in 2024, he’s excited to play with ATHENA and looks forward to this next step in music collaboration.
Bass guitarist Bob Gardner infuses a wide variety of music styles in creating rhythms, solos and Bass patterns-creating a solid and soulful feel that is all about the songs. From Rock Bands to Corporate Show Bands to Church Musician Bob has been a life long student of music.
Background:
Born in Atlanta, but raised in the music rich town of Jacksonville, Florida Bob was introduced to music at an early age by his grandparents. They both played Hammond B3 organ and had the instrument and the tone cabinet in their small Florida bungalow home. Summertime visits resulted in music lessons and eventually a guitar.
Influences:
As a teenager in the Sixties, Bob was exposed to and witness to some of the most influential artist at the time. The likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Procol Harum, The Allman Brothers, .38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Grinderswitch, B.B. King and more. Through the decades and today Bob’s style is an assimilation of rock, blues, jazz, soul, gospel and funk. All these influences have contributed to the gift and ability to play a supporting role in bands from Jacksonville to South Carolina.
Bob’s most current project is Bass player for the progressive rock group Athena out of North Georgia. Athena is preparing for a third Album and then to play regionally in support of the new music.
Danielle Bryn (Lead Vocals) is a vocalist, voice actor, and writer based in Atlanta. Danielle got her start singing in choir throughout her primary schooling, and studied musical theater while in college. Her dad raised her on classic rock ‘n’ roll, and used to sing her to sleep to Heart’s ‘Wild Child’. Some of Danielle’s favorite vocalists are Brandi Carlisle, Maria Brink, and (of course) Ann Wilson.
Hey, Athena fans. If you missed Athena Rocking Terrapin BrewerySept. 21st, from 5 to 8 PM, here is a video of the show! Terrapin is a family-friendly taproom where you can enjoy all of their Craft beers and live music. Athena will be performing songs from their two-album CD’s, “Escape To Athena” and “Protector Of The Arts“, along with music from their third unreleased album. The show begins at 5 PM. Then at 6:30 PM, Athena’s second set will be filmed by Atlanta Video, Inc., with a full video production crew. Come enjoy Athens freshest BREWS and come be part of the show and rock with ATHENA, IN CONCERT.
Athena is working to produce the best product possible product for our audience. Our Live Performance Video above is an edit of a 67-minute original material set, from songs from both album CD’s, and our third album currently in production. We wish you were there. The audience was captivated. There are very few musical groups these days with the balls to go out into the public and play original rock music that most have not heard, and Rock The Night Away. Some will laugh. Some will cry. Everyone who listens will be touched in some way. We promise. Stay tuned. Film @ 11. There is more on the way.
Terrapin Brewery, 265 Newton Bridge Road, Athens, GA. 30607, Sept. 21st, from 5 to 8 PM.
Hey, Athena fans. If you missed us at the Athens Saucehouse last week, then please come and join Athena at Terrapin Brewery, 265 Newton Bridge Road, Athens, GA. 30607, Sept. 21st, from 5 to 8 PM. Terrapin is a family-friendly taproom where you can enjoy all of their Craft beers and live music. Athena will be performing songs from their two-album CD’s, “Escape To Athena” and “Protector Of The Arts“, along with music from their third unreleased album. The show begins at 5 PM. Then at 6:30 PM, Athena’s second set will be filmed by Atlanta Video, Inc., with a full video production crew. Come enjoy Athens freshest BREWS and come be part of the show and rock with ATHENA, IN CONCERT.
Athena Rock Band will be in concert on August 30th, 2019, @ the Athens Barbecue Saucehouse, 830 West Broad Street, Athens, GA. 30601. The show begins at 7 PM. This is Friday night in downtown Athens GA. the weekend of UGA’s first season football game with Vanderbilt. Athena is rocking the Athens Barbecue Saucehouse!
The Saucehouse has great food and is the first Fast Casual and Customizable BBQ restaurant in the entire country. Come have a great meal first, then drink and ROCK WITH ATHENA, outdoors in Saucehouse Beer Garden Courtyard.
In concert, ATHENA will be performing their original songs from the first two albums,
“ESCAPE TO ATHENA” and “PROTECTOR OF THE ARTS” and music from Athena’s 3rd yet unreleased album CD, “BRINGER OF THE OLIVE BRANCH. Some will laugh. Some will cry. Everyone who listens’s will be touched in some way!
grew up in New York. Being in the music business, his father was able to find excellent professional music teachers and at a very early age, John began taking Hammond organ lessons and learning classical music. While in High School, he began drum lessons and played in the marching band. He learned to play guitar as well by following some of the best guitarists in school playing their Fender Jaguars. John and some friends started a cover band called “The Sound” only to be broken up when everyone was sent off to college.
After college graduation, John started another cover band called Armand Road. He was the drummer in this band playing all around the southeast. It was then he began writing original songs. Never seeming to be able to find an adequate keyboardist with any good equipment, it was at this point John made the decision to switch to keyboards. This was the beginning of the original material band, Athena, with John playing keys as well as some guitar. John’s current keyboard equipment list includes a Hammond L 1961, Roland MBK 1000 Midi Controller, Kurzweil PC2R Brain, Original Moog D, Kurzweil PC3LE Sampler, Suzuki Hammond XK3C, Leslie 147, 1962 Hammond A-100–C–B3, Moog Electric Blue. His guitars include a 1980 Hagstrom Swede, 1967 Hagstrom Viking XII 12 String and a Mosrite Special Edition. He also keeps a double bass set of Ludwig Stainless Steel Drums and Zildjian cymbals. His influences are many including the Beatles, Vanilla Fudge, Deep Purple, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Kansas, Rush, Heart, Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky and, of course, Ludwig van Beethoven… to name but a few.
As a dedicated musician and songwriter, John plays all of these instruments every day. The left side of his brain never stops. Occasionally, he will let the right side sleep for a few hours.
