“You know what it’s like as a music fan whenever you go and see any band that you haven’t seen before or you don’t normally see, it’s really exciting,” adds Selak on their ability to slot onto just about any lineup. “I think it totally rubs off on us, playing and writing I reckon.”
Already well known for their raucous live performances, The Bennies are now set to unleash their latest effort in the form of a four-track 7″ Better Off Dread. Each song on the record perfectly shows off the varied styles and influences of the band. One minute they’ll be jamming on a mid tempo ska riff, the next ripping out a furious guitar solo the next a sing a long pop punk chorus.
“I think in the end it just kind of happened that way,” admits Selak on the writing of the record. “The way we write is exactly like that; whatever the idea needs it just ends up happening so I guess that’s how we ended up with so many different styles. Someone will come in and go, ‘I’ve been listening to so much Black Sabbath at the moment and I’ve got these riffs and we’ll just do it’. It could also be like, ‘I’ve been listening to Mad Caddies this week let’s do that!’”
Yet despite the wide variety of styles, somehow it never feels forced and with most songs clocking in at just over the two minute mark it’s a wonder how they cover so much musical ground. “We’ve been playing for about three and a bit year now. At the start all the songs were just like cut and paste but over time we played a lot of gigs and playing live you really get a feel for what’s working and what’s not,” says Selak. “So like now when we write a song there’s a bit more of an editing process that happens. I just think the whole style thing also comes back to a short attention span,” he jokes.
One fact that the band certainly doesn’t shy away from is their love of a good party. 2011’s debut for instance was called Party! Party! Party! With the band about to hit the road in support of the 7″, I ask Selak whether there might be any down time in between the shows and partying.
“No. When it’s on it’s fucking on. That’s what’s so expensive about the whole thing!” he laughs. “It doesn’t stop. Like I’m already excited about it. There’s always this huge hangover slash depression that goes on afterwards. The last trip we did, we drove back from Newcastle in one trip. I think it took like 12 hours and we spent the whole time drinking beers and listening to conspiracy podcasts.”
However, Selak ensure me that these days there is a far greater focus on making sure they are in top form when it comes time to hit the stage. “For whatever reason, we get more people at the shows so we feel like we should probably play better now. So the drinking normally only gets excessive afterwards to make sure we play a good show really.”
Before the touring begins, The Bennies will launch Better Off Dread at The B.East and as a thank you to all those who have supported the band over the years they’ve made the show free of charge. “Earlier in the year we toured with The Smith Street Band and we were totally strapped for cash at that point and so we did a bit of like a pre-gig fundraiser,” explains Selak. “There was a pretty overwhelming response, it was really awesome; everyone was chipping in with all this cash so we just thought we’d make it free so everyone can come along. This 7″ has been in the works for so long,” he continues. “I think we recorded it at the start of last year and then we changed guitarists and have been touring a bit and it just kept getting pushed back and we we’re just like, ‘Fuck, let’s just get this thing out there.’ And now that it’s all done and finally out we’re pretty stoked.” And you can bet they’ll be throwing one hell of a party to celebrate.
BY JAMES W. NICOLI
