Music / Features
They Made Me Do It -
Talking Influences with
Bench Press
Talking Influences with
Bench Press
Off the back of new single 'Baby Steps' and in the lead up to their show at The Workers Club tomorrow night with Lazertits, Shady Nasty and Hearts and Rockets, we got talking influences with Melbourne mainstays Bench Press.
Bench Press is a name we’ve been seeing floating between the walls of Melbourne’s best pubs for ages now and following the release of new single 'Baby Steps', that doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon. 'Baby Steps’ - released as part of Poison City Record's Split Singles Club (alongside Moody Beaches' single 'Guns') - is a manic, eccentric slice of garagey punk that would fare just as well on a dance floor as it does on a dive bar punk lineup, definitely reflected by the tunes they've sent us below.
We got in touch with the band before their show at The Workers Club tomorrow night, to get inside the influences that got the Bench Press name to “oh yeah, I see that name everywhere” sort of status.
We got in touch with the band before their show at The Workers Club tomorrow night, to get inside the influences that got the Bench Press name to “oh yeah, I see that name everywhere” sort of status.
My Disco - 'A Moment of Revelation' from Language of Numbers
Jack: My Disco where probably one of the first good bands I ever saw. It would have been right around the time Cancer was released. Their Language of Numbers EP was always my favourite and this is the only song I could find of Youtube from it. This EP helped show me that punk didn't have to be three chords, that you could give vocal lines space - you didn't always need to be going hard - and perhaps most importantly, they showed me how good an Aussie accent can sound. Goodbye cultural cringe in regards to my voice!
Talking Heads - 'Pulled Up' from Talking Heads: 77
Talking Heads - 'Pulled Up' from Talking Heads: 77
Lewis: Ever since I pulled Talking Heads: 77 off my parents record shelf they’ve been on high rotation and definitely an influence on what we’ve been writing recently. Tina Weymouth is one of my top favourite bass players too, she brings so many of the hooks over this album and is just big time on point.
Roxy Music - 'The Bob (Medley)' from Roxy Music
Roxy Music - 'The Bob (Medley)' from Roxy Music
Jordan: Such an incredible and dynamic epic of a song with so many parts that are all so badass. Heaps of influences and genres rolled into one but done in such a tasteful way. Hugely underrated band and a song that’s flown under the radar for the most part but needs to be heard.
Devo - 'Uncontrollable Urge' from Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Devo - 'Uncontrollable Urge' from Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Morgan: Devo are a huge influence, especially this album Q: Are we not men? A: We are Devo!". Guitar parts are real punchy and the quick tempos keep the songs pushing.
Check out 'Baby Steps' above, and catch Bench Press this Friday, June 8th, at The Workers Club for their last Melbourne gig before they head to Europe for a run of shows.
