AUTO - BIO
Raised in Mount Vernon and Spokane, WA, I didn't have the money for an instrument, so I took a paper route to buy my first guitar—a Kramer Striker—at 15. By 18, I was delivering pizzas by day and singing in Spokane clubs by night. That’s where I was recruited by a hot local band called The Widows Party, featuring a young Myles Kennedy on guitar. When Myles left to front his own group, I took over lead vocals and we pressed on. (To this day, that story makes me chuckle) because he is a rock star that has sold millions of albums and they wanted my voice over his!
In 1991, we moved as a band to Seattle to chase the big dream. We opened for Sweetwater and My Sister’s Machine, and even got bumped off an Offramp bill to make room for a then-unknown Chicago band called the Smashing Pumpkins. We got free tickets to the show but I was too young to get in!
Over the next decade, I fronted a lineup of Pacific Northwest bands:
Mean Tangerine: We played packed houses with Green Apple Quick Step and Lazy Susan. Layne Staley took a shine to our demo and forced KISW to play it on his birthday—the first time I ever heard myself on the radio. During this era, I also got to work as Chris Cornell’s stagehand during a Soundgarden benefit show.
Thistle: Released our first 7” vinyl, built a strong regional following, and temporarily relocated to Portland before homesickness brought me back to Seattle.
Nevada Bachelors: Signed to Pop Llama Records (our first record deal) after pouring my inheritance into our debut album (thank you grandma). We opened for You Am I, Fountains of Wayne, Death Cab for Cutie, Pedro the Lion, and Harvey Danger. After a tour with The Posies fell through when they broke up mid-flight, Jason Finn (Presidents of the USA) joined us on drums and funded our second album. We had a good run and a lot of fun! Reunion shows in 2022 was great!
Dear John Letters: Signed to Roam Records and LA’s Foodchain Records, spending 22 weeks on the NW Top 20 charts and landing at #12 on KEXP’s overall Album of the Year list in 2002. We hit #34 nationally on the CMJ charts with heavy airplay on 200+ stations nationwide.
Dept. Of Energy: A unique synth/rock trio with keyboardist Ty Bailie (who went on to play for Katy Perry and many other stars). We released three CDs and capped off our run with a sold-out Sky Church show at Bumbershoot before Ty Moved to LA.
The Glass Notes: A collaborative project turning the poetry of Jake Uitti into songs—yielding over 120 tracks across two albums with guitarist Tim DiJulio and drummer Perry Morgan.
Along the way, I released several solo albums, including The Tree Mind and Shelk (which earned a KEXP Song of the Day nod), while picking up three consecutive Seattle Weekly "Best Songwriter" nominations.
In the mid-2010s, Tim DiJulio and I formed Stereo Embers. Over an eight-year run, we released three sold-out EPs and a 7" vinyl on Mike McCready’s label (who famously repped our band shirt during a Pearl Jam appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert). We shared stages with The Presidents of the USA and opened NYE for Ayron Jones at the Tractor just before he blew up and hit the rock charts.
Today, I front Planets in the Ocean (PITO), an indie-rock trio featuring long-time collaborators Cassady Laton and Ben Gwon. We just released our debut full length vinyl album "The Loud Silence" in collaboration with Sleight of Hand Cellers. We have two versions - clear ocean blue (sold at shows) and a white and pink clear splatter that SOH released to thier record club. We are playing lots of NW shows and having a blast trying to build something brand new in our 50s! Not the most easy task but we are making the best of it and people are starting to take notice!
I also work as a custom songwriter, turning client lyrics and poetry into fully produced tracks across a variety of genres. I have done this for more than a dozen years part time.
Decades in, I’m a lifer. Onward and upward! Recently many of our older bands are doing reunion shows and that is always a total blast! Great to catch up with all those who were fans of the early albums. We are greatful to still have clubs that are happy to host us for a big one night return. I guess that is the path from here on out. Revive the old bands and continue to grow the new one. It keeps us busy and out there! I hope to see you in a club sometime soon!
Thanks for reading!
-ROBB BENSON