(THE NEW BENNET PAGES ARE HELD HERE)
29th Sep 1996 at Camden Monarch
- Photo@Q'S -
Bennet were:
Jonny Peer - Vocals, guitar
Jason Applin - Vocals, guitar, one finger piano
Kevin Moorey - Drums, lead vocal on "Mockney rebel"
Andy Bennett - Bass guitar
Kind of a cheeky cockney band, they had
a hit with "Mum's Gone To Iceland", but what with one thing and another
(Record companies included), they split up, amicably a few years ago.
Certainly they were on of the best live bands I've seen, and their songs, whilst
sometimes a tad silly, were good funny pop! A Shame, then........
DISCOGRAPHY
T-SHIRTS
MEMORABILIA
January 2005:
Colin from Drowned In Sound mailed me to point me to this review of Super Natural:
Ever turned on the radio, or borrowed a CD or heard a song somewhere and thought "That song describes me to a tee!" It has happened to the best of us hasn't it? Now, imagine if there was a band who could reproduce that feeling for over half an album... you have just hit upon Bennet.
From the opening strains of 'Norway Wife' something feels dark.... strangely dark for an 'indie' band famous for one song about the joys of shopping at a certain famous freezer store.
'If You Met Me...' is the first song to touch a nerve with this reviewer. Starting with a fairground-esque sound and going into a song that could be passed as Feeder or Sleeper or any of the bands that fill this genre and the opening line of 'If you meet me, then you'd like me, and if you like me, but you can't love me, then you must let those feelings show.'
The difference between Bennet and all the others though is the lyrical genius of the band. It is simple, clear, well structured and straight to the point... no reading into the lyrics favoured by so many of today's bands and in this way, the band are comparable to Weezer. In fact, imagine Weezer singing over Blur songs... that is almost Bennet. There is no need to be cryptic.... if you have talent, why hide behind an unnecessary facade or mystique?
Next song 'Curly Shirly' is a song dealing with how you deal with a lover who has low self esteem and 'Jordan Bennet' is a right little rocker about your partner ending a relationship on their own yet still expecting you to take them back, emphasised by the lyrics of Jonny Peer 'You stepped on my Jordan's one too many times. It took a year and a half of psychiatry, to get me feeling fine.' Another song close to my own heart.
'Cha Cha Charlie' has a Blur kinda feel to it... hinting towards songs like 'Sunday Sunday' and that 'unique' sound. 'I Hate My Family' is self explanatory but it is from the next song onwards, the album comes into it's own....
'Wanker' is about the kind of person we all know... the philanderer. It is one of my own personal hates, so this struck a nerve with me as it is so accurate and makes you realise there are others who feel the same. From the opening lyrics of 'You are such a beautiful man, I wish I was half as perfick as you. She should think herself a lucky girl to have you to go out with and fuck her too!'. And the more you hear of the person in this song, the stronger the image. He wears 'Smart but casual clothes',drives a 'Ford Cortina' and eyes up 'under age girls'... the kind of person I would personally love to eradicate.
'Colossal Man' about a day dreamer and his own perception of himself and 'Young, Free & Sorry' about a cash-strapped stripper are class songs in their own right. The music of 'Colossal Man' fits the lyrics perfectly in an almost dreamy kind of way... the guitar riff being sporadic instead of consistent and the drums doing likewise. 'Young, Free & Sorry' is a completely different state altogether. A lovely sound over one of the saddest stories you have ever heard... you feel genuine pity for Sandra (the aforementioned stripper) and her circumstances.
'Sandman' is almost laughable if it wasn't true. A person trying to explain, to themselves more then anyone, why he is unfaithful yet loves his girlfriend and feels guilt.
Then.... it's THAT song. The one that got the band some recognition, put them on compilation tapes and the only song the band are known for. 'Mum's Gone To Iceland' has a serious view but portrayed in a sarcastic way. Dealing with an issue like the financial pressures of today's society would be dismissed as a song for U2 or REM but Bennet done themselves justice, and, on the view of things, at least this way they will be remembered fondly by some of us rather then forgotten.
Remember what I was saying earlier? About a song written for you? I have no doubt that this is mine... 'Someone Always Gets There First' is just like it says on the tin... when you think that you have found that someone... and they are already taken... 'Sometimes when I talk to you, I don't know what to say. If I said what I wanted to you'd probably throw up anyway'. A sad state of affairs when you consider this to be one of the few songs you associate with, but so is life.
Then the humour is back again. 'Mockney Rebel' sung by band drummer Kevin Moorey is just that.... Cockney Rebel being parodied at there finest... and most laughable.
'Kiss The Radio' sounds like Weezer's 'Only In Dreams' before being crossed with 'All Around The World' by Oasis towards the end. The strings, although only slightly audible, make all the difference in this song. I think this song is open to interpretation... my own view is that it is a conversation over the stages of a relationship... when you are serious about your future and towards the end when you want to know if everything is like it feels.
'Never Ending Blue' has a Divine Comedy 'Songs About Love' (the theme song to Father Ted for the none 'Comedy' fan) feel in that it is a sweet almost acoustic piece. Yet again, I will leave you to decide what this is about when you hear it... I just admire it is a piece of music.
Then, you have a public service announcement telling you tat the secret track is coming. 15 minutes later, it does. An almost Elvis/Roy Orbison song about going to a dance that sounds like it is jumping on a 7" vinyl.
In a genre filled with so many pretenders to the throne, it is a shame that this band shone for only 1 song in the spotlight of the media. If only musical tastes weren't so fickle and musical hierarchy weren't all pledged towards the making of 'real musical talent'..... found on a TV show or pre-manufactured self-cantered shite... but, in the words of Weezer 'Only In Dreams......'
And here's its home : http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/696.html
NOTE (December 2004):
Got this note from Sid....
Hello there,
Having found your 'Bennet' fan site on the net I thought you might like to know that Kevin from 'Bennet's new band 'The Poppycocks' are playing at the West End Centre in Aldershot on Friday 14th January 2005. They will be first on with my band 'Wherewithal' (http://www.wherewithalonline.com) on in the middle and a band called 'Vinny Peculiar' (http://www.vinnypeculiar.com) who feature Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce from 'The Smiths' headlining.
All the best,
Sid.
Wherewithal.
http://www.wherewithalonline.com
Note (January 2001):
Got e-mailed by Nick from Labrador, apparently Andy And Kev have formed a new
band called THE
CHEMISTRY SET.
They had an mp3 at:
LABRADOR RECORDS
But I can't find the files.....
Note 2 (August 2003):
Kevin mailed me to tell me he's now in a new band in Brighton called
the poppycocks, recording soon"!
Will keep you posted....
Here's some stuff I found on the web, loads of it nicked from sites that had
half crashed....
Hailing from Reading in the south of Britain, 4-piece bennet formed in the summer
of 1993. They spent their days writing, rehearsing and playing gigs in the area.
Having finally found their "sound", they signed a deal with Roadrunner
Records in 1995.
In the UK the band released their debut single "If You Met Me, Then You'd Like Me" in March 1996, which charted in the Independent Top 10. In May ‘96 their second single, "Colossal Man" again charted and saw the band touring with the likes of Number One Cup, Pusherman and Supermodel. bennet was also approached by the Fierce Panda label to do a joint single with Bis and Number One Cup.
Over the summer, bennet played to a packed tent at the Reading Festival and had their first John Peel session. Whilst at Radio 1, the band asked to have their photograph taken with the man himself, to which he responded "Yes, of course, then I can get a copy and show people when you're famous." John Peel has continued to be a big fan of the band, playing at least one bennet track a week.
With their third single "Someone Always Gets There First", the band made their first video with the aid of an ultra-fashionable accessory, the Sumo wrestler suit, which they sported while chasing a woman across a beach! The Evening Session made it the Priority Tune of the week and set the band up nicely for the release of their debut album Super natural. Reviews were more than encouraging and included the following comments:
"I'd even rate Applin alongside the likes of Jarvis in the . . . league of lyricists . . . this is a fine debut." - Time Out "Guitar pop with a pert sense of humour." - Top of The Pops Magazine "What an unutterably superb record!" - NME The next few months will see bennet playing their biggest headline show at the London Garage, supporting Dodgy in Europe and organising some extra special Christmas shows.
Someone editorialising....(not me,,):
12/11/97 New album "Street vs Science" and single of same name.
NME didn't like it, but what do they know?
Reading Festival 1997, Jason Aplin announces drummer is leaving. Amicable split.
They've been dropped, I think. Nobody brought Street vs Science, and
they've been dropped. Shame, as they were a good band. They could have been Blur if Blur
weren't already Blur. Ah well. Kind of makes this part of the site a little accademic,
though, doesn't it?
HERE'S SOME LYRICS I FOUND....
The Legal Bit :-This file is the author's own interpretation of the
song, and is in no way endorsed by Bennet or their record label.
You may use this information for research and private study only.
Wanker
You are such a beautiful man I wish I was half as perfect as you.
She should think herself such a lucky man to have you to out with and fuck her too.
I never tire of hearing you say of all the dangerous games that you play.
All the time you were sleeping with Julie and Roberta, but what she doesn't know doesn't
hurt her.
You're my hero, (Oooh la la la...)
See you on a saturday night, dressed in your smart but casual clothes.
Eyeing up all the underage girls, if they look old enough then they are as every lad
knows.
I never tire of hearing you say of all the dangerous games that you play.
Treat them mean, and you keep them that much keener, that's what you told me in the back
of your Cortina.
You're my hero, (Oooh la la la...)
You are such a beautiful man I wish I was half as perfect as you.
She should think herself such a lucky man to have you to out with and fuck her too.
I never tire of hearing you say of all the dangerous games that you play.
All the time you were sleeping with Julie and Roberta, the three of you playing hide the
frankfurter.
SHE LET YOU INSIDE HER, THAT WAS VERY BRAVE OF HER
YOU DIDN'T THANK HER, YOU'RE A WANKER.
Colossal Man
F A Bb F A Bb G G# F
I am a lion tamer I keep the teeth and claws at bay, every day.
F A Bb F A Bb G G# F
I am a dragster racer, that's why I'm dressed up like someone from happy days.
G Bb
I'm a superhero, ready, fighting on the city streets.
F C Dm A F C Dm A Bb C F
I am a colossal man, I am a colossal man, standing at about ten feet tall.
F A Bb F A Bb G G# F
I AM ELVIS PRESLEY, we are the same person the king and I.
F A Bb F A Bb G G# F
Gives me time to be a lemming pilot. I show my bravery just from the fact that I die.
G Bb
I'm a cassanova with these women falling at my feet,
F C Dm A F C Dm A
I never dissapoint, I never dissapoint,
Bb C F
Especially when I'm between the sheets.
Here's the NME's review of Supernatural:
ADVERTISERS, EH? They may be the running dogs of capitalist society, but they don't half give us a few laughs. At least, one recent ad in music biz 'bible' Music Week did, as it demanded to know which British band had sold 14 million albums worldwide this year. "Well, it's not Bennet," was the cheery conclusion, "but they have got a brilliant album out soon." And that's Bennet: the chirpy, cheery underdogs who know they're unlikely to trouble Oasis in the global fame 'stakes' but don't really give a toss anyway. Consequently, the bit on the advert about Bennet having a brilliant album out was actually shockingly accurate. Because, if Damon Albarn weren't so rich'n'famous'n'good-looking, Blur might actually sound a bit like Bennet. They deal with the same, slightly seedy, suburban characters ('Curly Shirley', 'Jordan Bennet'), have the same cheeky chappy way with a choon and even the same occasional resemblance to Chas'n'Dave ('Bernard's Got A Small Face').
The difference, of course, is Bennet actually belong in this world. Their song titles - 'If You Met Me Then You'd Like Me', 'Young, Free And Sorry', 'Someone Always Gets There First' - tell their story: they don't get the girls, they don't kill the baddies, but, like slightly mad people who work in pickled onion factories for 30 years and love every minute of it, they've always got a smile on their face and a song in their heart. And, in Bennet's case, it's nearly always a bloody great song.
One down, 13,999,999 to go. 7/10 Mark Sutherland
to my knowledge the last gig, just before Street Versus Science came out, was at the Dublin Castle, Kings Cross....
Dominic sent me some information:
"I've dug out my old tapes of the era 1994-1998 when I used to tape record The Evening Session, Radcliffe and Peel and I've definitely got a Peel Session you haven't mentioned with decent versions of Airhockey, Married with Children and another. I'll dig out dates if you show any interest. Also, I think I was at the Bennet gig at exeter uni so may be able to get the correct date and I was definitely at a Longpigs gig in a pub in Torquay around the time of Jesus Christ.
Always liked Bennet. Particularly remember a gig at the Exeter Cavern Club when the singer kept going on about how KISS were his favourite band & everyone thought he was taking the mick. Incidentally, I was listening to one of the tapes in the car today & Peel played 'Karaoke' which was probably from the same session"
