MUSIC SCENE: New

Good Living

The latest by The Benji’s is a lively mix of power pop, garage, and ‘80s synth

Providence pop-punk-grunge band The Benji’s

Shimmering reverb guitars, crunchy ‘80s-inspired synthesizer, and heavy-handed downbeat drums land The Benji’s in the company of catchy power-pop acts such as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Deadly Desert, and Hot Hot Heat, all while maintaining a balanced, brooding style all their own. On their upcoming EP Kitty Pills, listeners will find a tight collection that taps into that timeless poppunk-grunge straight-out-of-the-garage sound but with the band putting their own spin on things. The shimmering tremolo accents, reverb, and vintage no-frills synth create an atmosphere that carries as a throughline between the tracks on this EP.

Made up of Philip Geronimo, Maryssa Morse, and a rotation of drummers including Adam Cargin (on the EP) and Al Diaz (live), The Benji’s have been a Providence fixture since relocating from Los Angeles in 2016. Kitty Pills picks up where their first self-titled EP leaves off, bringing the aesthetic, sound, tone, and vibe of the band forward with songs that add to their narrative arc and emotional intention built around strong, crisp lyrics over equally articulated guitar – but, this time, with a more pumped-up sound.

“Phil has always had a secret love a air with synths and synth bass in particular, especially after composing music for films,” says singer Maryssa Morse of her longtime collaborator. “Out of necessity, I started playing synth bass for the band and our sound has been morphing ever since!”

Work on Kitty Pills began in January 2020 with producer Jeff Robbins of 123 Astronaut and Orbit; in 2022, The Benji’s were awarded a Rhode Island State Council on the Arts grant to finish the EP. The band also used funds to support other artists involved in the project, including Byron Olson who created the cover art.

The Benji’s is a band best experienced live with the tracks serving as necessary homework to be fully enjoyed in a high-energy, lyric-screaming live show. Between songs like “Good Living,” “Shimmering,”