benches’ Standout Set at Roseland Theater
portland, oregon - november 9th, 2024
benches is a Southern California alternative indie rock band consisting of Anson Kelley (vocals/guitar), Evan Ojeda (lead guitar), Charlie Baird (bass), and Ethan Bowers (drums). Known for their blend of ‘90s British pop and 2000s NY rock, the band was a perfect fit to open for Inhaler on their North American Tour.
benches has been releasing music since 2018, including two EPs and one album. However, before 2020, the band's lineup was quite different, with Anson Kelley being the only original member remaining. Formerly known as "Ignant Benches," the group started in 2014 as a Strokes and Arctic Monkeys cover band. With the band's new iteration, their sound has shifted from garage rock to more experimental alternative rock while still maintaining elements of their Strokes-inspired origins. In some of their recent releases, benches collaborated with GRAMMY-nominated producer Martin Cooke on tracks like "Crash" (2023), "LA Friends," and "Violent" (2022).
On Friday November 8th, benches had their third-to-last stop supporting Inhaler in Portland, Oregon. Right at 8:00 p.m. the lights went off, and the band emerged on stage waving to the fans. Dressed in edgy urban outfits, benches opened their set at the Roseland Theater with "Naive," a song featuring a catchy drumline that instantly captivated the audience. “Naive” was their only release this year, coming out back in February. At the time, the band on Instagram said, “This song has been in the oven for about a year now and we’re so excited to finally share it with you.”
Photo by Jax Samzie.
Photo by The Last Magna.
Subsequently, benches went into “LA Friends,” a moody track that captures what I can guess is the reality of making friends in LA. Lyrics like “And what do I care / If your father’s a rich man? / Is it anybody’s fault that you’re modeling now” and “It hurts when you’re let down / That I’ve seen in your face / More fame and more clout / Our LA friends, those LA friends you know” perfectly illustrates the phenomenon of a superficial lifestyle, fame, and nepotism in this day and age.
Next up was the fan favorite “Crash,” which sounds the most similar to the Arctic Monkeys. This track starts with soft vocals and builds up to faster drums, louder electric guitar, and shouting. “Crash” embodies themes of youth and flawed relationships: “Say you’ll change / I wanna crash / We’ll all be just like you.” Continuing, they performed a new, unreleased song, during which Kelley ditched his guitar and focused solely on singing. My personal favorite, “It Doesn’t Have To Change” was up next. This song combines raw emotion and rich guitar riffs, with Ojeda using his whammy bar to alter the pitch of his electric guitar. This track is one of benches’ older songs and is a dramatic mix of vulnerability and passion.
The band went on to perform “Mephisto’s Waltz” and “Monodrama,” both with catchy basslines and whiny vocals. The musical talent of benches stood out the most to me in these tracks. The build-up to the chorus in “Monodrama” creates a sense of anticipation, with the bass drum and backing vocals combining to deliver a dynamic song. To wrap up their 30-minute set, benches played “Violent,” which includes a snappy riff, reflecting a tumultuous relationship with lyrics like, “Cause our love is like sand / The future is unsettling / I’m putting the violent ways behind me.”
During their performance, lead vocalist Kelley, whom my roommate dubbed a young Alex Turner lookalike, commanded the stage with his dynamic movements and captivating vocals. benches was an obvious choice to join Inhaler on their North American tour. The SoCal band had a gripping stage presence and a genre perfect for the audience. The members had undeniable chemistry and were clearly confident playing with one another. Listen to them on Spotify or Apple Music and be on the lookout for their next tour.
