The Bennies wild and engaging music, combined with their high energy, hi-fives, and “flavoursome solos” creates an unrestrained party atmosphere that's infectious.
The band's bass player, Craig Selak, says the group has been working hard and efficiently on new songs, hoping to release them in early November. “[The new songs] are going great,” he says. “We've been pushing pretty hard. We weren't sure if we were going to do an album, but it looks like it's probably going to be a seven inch [vinyl release] which will just be the best of the bunch at the moment. We should have a track up online in a couple of weeks just in time for our tour.”
Craig discusses how compact the time was recording this time round, having completed the whole session in three days. “The last time we did an album, we did it at the same place with the same producer, Sam Johnson, but we had two weeks," he says.
"So we were just hanging out and playing some 'Mario Kart'. [But this time], it's been big, 12 hours days. It's been really fun as well to do it a bit differently. You've really got to make calls on stuff quicker, that keeps the energy in it. You don't have time to labour over it and fret over it. You just go 'yeah, that feels good'. So the whole recording has got that kind of feel to it, which is kind of cool.”
All of the band's songs have various styles and influences, with songs seamlessly moving from one genre to the next. “Early on in the band's life, we used to get a lot of shit for having all different kinds of genres,” Craig says.
“I feel like since the last album, it's flipped and become more of a strength to have different strings in the bow. I think this recording is just furthering that. Instead of it being just punk or just ska, we've really got a bit of everything.”
With prebvious touring experience including China, Japan, Singapore and New Zealand, the band are set to tour Australia later this month with an America trip planned later this year. Craig says even with the language barrier in some countries, they were able to communicate and connect with audiences with their high energy music. “Energy and hi-fives can translate in any world,” he says.
“You get over there and you throw some hi-fives around and some smiles and all of a sudden everyone can have a great time. We had plenty of nights out where we could barely talk to anyone and we were all just laughing. And I think that's what's so awesome.
“The whole thing about our music is just energy. There's not a lot of words or deep thinking [in our music], it's just having a good time at any cost, and I think that's what people like to do anywhere in the world. As soon as we start playing and chuck a smile on and [add] hi-fives, things just take care of themselves. It's an inclusive feeling. You don't come to just watch us, you're a part of it.”
The Bennies have become touring veterans and Craig says this is what helps a band to be noticed. “I honestly think [getting noticed] is all down to touring,” he says. “We play all the time, not just in Melbourne. I think this will be our fifth time up in Brisbane this year. That's the difference. Not only just for people seeing you, but you get better at what you're doing if you do it all the time. That's it. The more touring and interviews you do, the more people are talking [about you].
“There are a lot of bands that don't gig a lot and then they [put up a] Pozible [campaign] to put out an album and they wonder why no one's picking it up. I think that's the difference, just playing all the time. And that's what we love to do. It's a win-win really.”
The Bennies play Bigsound on 11th September, which kickstarts a national string of dates. They also play the national Soundwave bill in 2015.
