Prescott Now: How long have you guys been playing together?
Dennis Bennett: Joe (Buffington) and I met for coffee late in 2023, talking about putting together a new project. In March, we got together, Dennis (Leahy) on drums, Joe on bass, me on rhythm, along with a couple of very experienced musicians, we fired on all cylinders and haven’t looked back. We had our first gig last July and did much better than anticipated in 2024.
Corey (Burk) and Les (Gains) joined HKE in early 2025, and we are looking forward to a great year.
Prescott Now: What’s the story behind your band’s name?
Dennis Bennett: We wanted an Arizona connection. Joe brought the name after telling me that our original name was not edgy enough. The name goes back to the 1870’s Hashknife Ranch near Holbrook, and from the annual Hashknife Pony Express ride that is run every year from Holbrook to Scottsdale. Our logo has the ranch brand on the horse.
Prescott Now: How do you connect with your audience during a show?
Dennis Bennett: We engage in conversation with the audience when we can. We have fun on stage and let our enthusiasm flow to the audience, and when it catches hold, it’s truly a fun night.
We play long sets and minimize breaks to keep the audience engaged.
Prescott Now: How would you describe your sound?
Dennis Bennett: Innovative with three-part harmonies. Our genres are Americana and roots rock. We look for nuggets that inspire us. We work at having our own sound, including vocal harmonies and style.
Prescott Now: What is the most memorable moment of your career so far?
Dennis Bennett: We put a lot of time in. When we hear, “You guys are great” or “You are the best band we’ve heard,” that’s payday for us. There are many very good bands in our area, so those are truly compliments we love to hear. All of us have been doing this for a long time, and performing music is our passion.
Prescott NOW: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Dennis Bennett: Know that there will be music in your future and embrace it. Listen to and play different genres. Know your instrument, and bring it to the highest level you can. Music is a huge part of all our lives. We have formed a damn good band. We share our passion for music.
Prescott NOW: What motivates your band to perform?
Dennis Bennett: Seeing the audience enjoying the show. Like all bands, we play to different audiences. Being blessed and able to share our music is the motivation. Truly, if we were not performing, there’s no way we would work this hard to be a very good band. Performing is a huge part of it for us.
Prescott NOW: What brought you to Prescott?
Dennis Bennett: We all came for various reasons, some native from Arizona, some after retirement, but Prescott’s music scene is what hooked us. This is a great place to live, with an outstanding music community.
