The Benjamins
Encyclopedia
The Benjamins were a Milwaukee, Wisconsin
-based pop punk
/rock
band that were together from 1998 to 2001.
(formerly with Shaft) into the group. The Benjamins recorded their first disc, Bordering On Boredom, on Labor Day of 1999. The EP features six songs that earned favorable attention for the band after the album was released in February 2000.
After garnering a solid fanbase throughout the Midwest — including shows with Alkaline Trio
, The Mr. T Experience
, and Superdrag
— The Benjamins were interviewed for an online zine by a fan named Jared Blohm at a concert at the Rock 'n' Roll High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The fan turned out to be a street team representative for Drive-Thru Records
, and after a brief courtship, the label agreed to sign the band. Their second release and first full-length album, The Art of Disappointment
— featuring the production of the Grammy-nominated Nick Raskulinecz
(Foo Fighters
, Superdrag
, Queens of the Stone Age
), graphic design of former The Promise Ring
guitarist Jason Gnewikow, and cover-modeling of Aiko Sakai — was released on the California-based Drive-Thru Records
in February 2001.
While constant touring was done in support on The Art of Disappointment
, The Benjamins were regularly part of mismatched tours, including dates alongside Reel Big Fish
, Sum 41
, and Showoff
, in addition to a brief stint on the 2001 Warped Tour
. In late 2001, the band decided to take a hiatus, which turned into a break-up before year's end.
, becoming tour-manager for Matisyahu
& co-manager for Soul Asylum
. He also plays bass occasionally with Minneapolis-based E.L.O. tribute band E.L.nO. Following time in The Obsoletes with former members of Yesterday's Kids, Phillip joined the Orange County, California-based Limbeck
in August 2005. Hinz has performed with Carolina and with former members of The Promise Ring and The Dismemberment Plan
in Maritime
; the latter who completed a tour of Japan in late 2005. Stys remains based in Milwaukee, like Hinz and Phillip, and is currently in culinary school. There are no plans for the band to ever reunite again.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
-based pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
/rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band that were together from 1998 to 2001.
History
The Benjamins began with the lineup of brothers Jay Stys (vocalist/guitarist) and Chris Stys (drummer), guitarist Dan Hinz, and bassist Ron Forchette). Soon after, they were discovered at a local club by bassist Ben Perlstein (formerly with Milwaukee ska group The Invaders), who replaced Forchette, and brought drummer Jon PhillipJon Phillip
Jon Phillip is an American musician, record label CEO, and whiskey connoisseur. He is perhaps best known as the drummer for the now-defunct California-based twangy rock band Limbeck...
(formerly with Shaft) into the group. The Benjamins recorded their first disc, Bordering On Boredom, on Labor Day of 1999. The EP features six songs that earned favorable attention for the band after the album was released in February 2000.
After garnering a solid fanbase throughout the Midwest — including shows with Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
, The Mr. T Experience
The Mr. T Experience
The Mr. T Experience is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California and currently recording for Lookout! Records. They have released ten full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationally...
, and Superdrag
Superdrag
Superdrag is an alternative rock band from Knoxville, Tennessee. The band had a hit with its 1996 single "Sucked Out" off their album Regretfully Yours, for which a video clip was broadcast regularly on MTV...
— The Benjamins were interviewed for an online zine by a fan named Jared Blohm at a concert at the Rock 'n' Roll High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The fan turned out to be a street team representative for Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records, established in 1996, was a California-based record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. It has produced various pop punk bands, many with a distinct SoCal sound....
, and after a brief courtship, the label agreed to sign the band. Their second release and first full-length album, The Art of Disappointment
The Art of Disappointment
Tom Semioli of Allmusic exclaims that "The Benjamins shamelessly display all things great and endlessly endearing about power pop" with nods to The Cars in "Sophia on the Stereo" and Cheap Trick with "Couch"...
— featuring the production of the Grammy-nominated Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz is a Grammy-winning American record producer. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.-Production career:Raskulinecz is from the Bearden area of Knoxville, Tennessee. He first produced and recorded bands in Knoxville on a 8-track recorder that his grandfather bought for him...
(Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
, Superdrag
Superdrag
Superdrag is an alternative rock band from Knoxville, Tennessee. The band had a hit with its 1996 single "Sucked Out" off their album Regretfully Yours, for which a video clip was broadcast regularly on MTV...
, Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
), graphic design of former The Promise Ring
The Promise Ring
The Promise Ring is an American emo band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In their early years, their music was usually classified as emo, but their later albums could be described more accurately as indie pop. They split up in 2002 and temporarily reunited in 2005...
guitarist Jason Gnewikow, and cover-modeling of Aiko Sakai — was released on the California-based Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records, established in 1996, was a California-based record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. It has produced various pop punk bands, many with a distinct SoCal sound....
in February 2001.
While constant touring was done in support on The Art of Disappointment
The Art of Disappointment
Tom Semioli of Allmusic exclaims that "The Benjamins shamelessly display all things great and endlessly endearing about power pop" with nods to The Cars in "Sophia on the Stereo" and Cheap Trick with "Couch"...
, The Benjamins were regularly part of mismatched tours, including dates alongside Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Huntington Beach, California, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out". The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold certified album Turn the Radio Off. Soon after, the band...
, Sum 41
Sum 41
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
, and Showoff
Showoff (band)
Showoff was a pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois led by vocalist Chris Envy.-History:Showoff was formed in 1997 in Villa Park, Illinois. The band consisted of Chris Envy , Daniel Castady , Graham Jordan , and Dave Envy...
, in addition to a brief stint on the 2001 Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
. In late 2001, the band decided to take a hiatus, which turned into a break-up before year's end.
Post-breakup
In years since, the band has performed an annual reunion show in Milwaukee at BBC, an area pub, and Mad Planet, a local bar and concert venue. Perlstein has moved to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, becoming tour-manager for Matisyahu
Matisyahu
Matthew Paul Miller , better known by his Hebrew name and stage name Matisyahu, is an American Hasidic Jewish reggae and alternative rock musician....
& co-manager for Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in...
. He also plays bass occasionally with Minneapolis-based E.L.O. tribute band E.L.nO. Following time in The Obsoletes with former members of Yesterday's Kids, Phillip joined the Orange County, California-based Limbeck
Limbeck
Limbeck was an alternative country band, with pop-punk roots, hailing from Orange County, California.-Background:Originating in Laguna Niguel, California, Limbeck featured Robb MacLean on lead vocals and guitar, Patrick Carrie guitar and backing vocals, Justin Entsminger on bass, and Jon Phillip,...
in August 2005. Hinz has performed with Carolina and with former members of The Promise Ring and The Dismemberment Plan
The Dismemberment Plan
The Dismemberment Plan is a Washington D.C. based indie rock band formed on January 1, 1993. Also known as D-Plan or The Plan, the name comes from a stray phrase uttered by insurance salesman Ned Ryerson in the popular comedy Groundhog Day. The band members included Eric Axelson , Jason Caddell ,...
in Maritime
Maritime (band)
Maritime formed in 2003 out of the ashes of The Promise Ring and The Dismemberment Plan. After these two bands broke up, singer/guitarist Davey von Bohlen, drummer Dan Didier and bassist Eric Axelson hooked up and started a band called In English. The group quickly signed a deal with the record...
; the latter who completed a tour of Japan in late 2005. Stys remains based in Milwaukee, like Hinz and Phillip, and is currently in culinary school. There are no plans for the band to ever reunite again.
Non-album tracks
- "3720 to 1"
- "Just Like Heaven" (The CureThe CureThe Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
cover) - "Prove My Love" (Violent FemmesViolent FemmesViolent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
cover)
Members
- Dan Hinz — Guitar
- Jay Stys — Vocals/Guitar
- Jon PhillipJon PhillipJon Phillip is an American musician, record label CEO, and whiskey connoisseur. He is perhaps best known as the drummer for the now-defunct California-based twangy rock band Limbeck...
— Drums - Ben Perlstein — Bass