All the way from California, Pleasure Pill and The Benches pack the Cambridge room in House of Blues, Dallas.
The Benches crowd is pre-occupied getting drinks at the bar and cooling down from waiting in the line ending 5 blocks away, the boys from Please Pill slip backstage to prepare for their set.
Their eccentric sound is interchangeable with Brit-pop icons Blue and Oasis. Hopefully with less brotherly fighting. Their glistening tambourin and fuzzy sounding stringed instruments fills the air with Wistful nostalgia. It is not often that an American-born band can successfully create a Brit-pop inspired band.
Pleasure Pill. Photos by Gracie Archibeque for Off Record Media.
During their second song, “Favorite Color Gold”, lead singer Jonah Paz takes a moment to encourage the crowd to raise a middle finger dedicated to the president. It felt like every person in that room had not one but two fingers up in the air. Bassist Ivan Delgado flips his bass around where the back of it is tapes saying “FREE GAZA”.
Once Pleasure Pill leaves the stage for The Benches, the audience is left feeling rowdy waiting for the night’s main event. The colorful panels of light leave silhouettes while the fog spills over the stage. Four men cut through the haze only visible through shadows. Opening up with “Kill the Lights”, the stage is still close to pitch dark. Which was quite fitting. The front row lining the barricade hangs over the railing with one hand in the air singing every word almost louder than the band themselves.
Pleasure Pill. Photos by Gracie Archibeque for Off Record Media.
The Benches are authentic in their sound considering they sound almost exactly like their studio recordings. It’s too easy to throw them into the indie-rock category just like any other band would. The Benches, from Southern California, give that New York 2000’s basement rock vibe. With some pretty boy alternative flare, their sound is similar to Inhaler. Notable fan favorites such as “Common Sense”, Violent”, and “Queen of Hearts” got their spotlight with fans showing appreciation with their headbanging and obstreperous demeanor.
The Benches. Photos by Gracie Archibeque for Off Record Media.
With Dallas being their fourth to last show on tour, the crowd made it a memorable night for both themselves and for both bands.
I am a Touring Concert Photographer based in Dallas. I have a love for physical media such as collaging and mixed media. I personally work with Laredo Two as their photographer and Your Neighbors as their touring photographer! My top three artists are easily The Backseat Lovers, Radiohead and Inhaler! When I'm not shooting, I’am playing animal crossing or playing guitar.
