Draft:Benches (band)

Benches (formerly known as Ignant Benches), is an American indie garage rock band based out of Chula Vista, California. They pioneered the genre of "Bench Rock" which is described by Anson Kelley as, "It's a lack of understanding but a willingness to just do whatever happens and just go with it. It's anything and everything."

As of March 2024, Benches averages 233,237 monthly listeners on Spotify.

History
The bands' original members, Anson Kelley (vocals) and Andy Tistoj (guitar) formed in 2014 while they were both in middle school. They were later joined by Mauro Rocha (drums) and Ruben Gutierrez (bass). The band originally formed to play at a school talent show, but quickly evolved to become much more, beginning as a cover band that often played songs by The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys.

By 2016 they had begun playing original music at venues in San Diego, California such as The Casbah and popular Soma. Ranging from 15 to 17 at this time they were often not old enough to even enter the bars they were playing in.

Musical style and influences
Benches style has been described as garage rock and post-punk. In recent years their newer releases have been categorized as indie pop and even britpop. The subject matter in most of their songs relates to difficulties in navigating relationships and feelings of depression.

Kelley has commented on the depressing nature of some of the tracks, most notably the single Crash, released in 2023. "The reality of depression and these harmful thoughts is reflected in the choruses and more intense sections," Kelley furthers. "They are harsh and desperate, flooded with spiraling heightened emotion."

Among others, Benches has been compared to Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, The Symposium, and Mustard Service in terms of lyricism and sound.

Discography
Studio albums
 * Wishful Thinking (At Its Best) (2019)

Extended plays
 * Vandalism (2020)
 * Demo EP (2018)

Singles
 * ''Naive (2024)
 * Crash (2023)
 * LA Friends (2022)
 * Violent (2022)

Band members
Current members
 * Anson Kelley – lead vocals, rythm guitar (2014–present)
 * Evan Ojeda - lead guitar
 * Charlie Baird - bass
 * Ethan Bowers - drums

Former members
 * Andy Tistoj – guitar (2014–2019)
 * Mauro Rocha - drums (2016–2017)
 * Isaak Jejjoni - bass
 * Ruben Gutierrez - bass (2016–2017)