(Editor’s Note: Stephen’s interview happened on the 18th of April but I’m a useless cunt so there’s been quite the delay. All responses have been edited for clarity)
Hey everyone, it’s Shelvo again! Quintin has sent me out on assignment once more, this time to see The Bennies on their Let’s Have A Party tour, accompanied by the pride of south-east Queensland, The Sex Guys and Fat Dog and The Tits, and supervised by hardcore Sydney lads FANGZ.
Let’s Have A Party is the latest release from The Bennies and the 7” record pressing is also the debut release for Vinnies Records, run by the same hard-working crew behind the Gold Coast’s live music hot spot Vinnies Dive Bar. Not only is this track the one to wet your bong reservoir in readiness, it’s also the first puff of the soon to be released album with the new lineup, so tonight’s show was indeed a reason to party.
The interview this time was rather aptly held in The Zoo green room with both FANGZ and The Bennies present to have a good laugh while Bennies members Graham “DJ SNES Mega” Leach (turntables, vocal, and guitar) and Ollie Wright (lead guitar and vocals) blazed away with the answers.
1. If there were to be biopic film of The Bennies, which actor would you want to play you in it?
Ollie: Oooo… Steve Buscemi.
SNES: I’m going to go with Rick Moranis.
OB: Okay, a sci-fi comedy then?
SNES: Oh, I just thought I’d go with someone a bit flattering you know.
(The other band members are absolutely loving this, the room was echoing with so much laughter it was a challenge to record the interview)
2. If your music could be featured in the soundtrack of an existing movie, what movie would it be?
Ollie: Pulp Fiction.
SNES: Naked Gun.
OB: You’ve got these answers prepared already, don’t you?
3. Imagine you all end up in court for a crime you didn’t commit and have to self-represent yourselves, who in the band would do the best job and who would do the worst job?
SNES: Hmmm, I reckon Nick (bass) would do a pretty good job, reckon he’d get away with it.
Ollie: I think Josh has his facts on order pretty tight, hahaha.
SNES: Yeah details, he is all about the details.
Ollie: Yeah, I’d probably- well if I didn’t want to be in prison, I probably wouldn’t hire Glenn (manager).
SNES: And I don’t fancy my own chances of defending myself either I’ve got to admit.
Ollie: So that’s why we keep things clean.
OB: I wonder what the crime would be…
Ollie: You mean (the crime) that we didn’t do! Yeah, just keeping it real is our crime.
SNES: Anything that involves planning, like a heist or anything like that. Forget it, we’d have no chance!
4. The track is called Let’s Have a Party which begs the question, what is the best party you’ve been to ever and why?
Ollie: What’s the date… Wednesday 17th April 2024, Benowa Bowls Club.
SNES: Yeah, last night. Definitely last night at the bowls cub, it was… tremendous.
(Anty has this sneaky laugh; all the boys are lost in reflections of yesterday)
OB: I wonder what is going to beat that?
SNES: Probably tonight actually. Yeah, in about ninety minutes from now.
OB: Excellent!
5. 4/20 is swiftly coming up and I’m sure it’s going to be a big day for you boys, so I have to ask, if you had the chance to partner with a dispensary and have weed strain after your band, what would you name it?
(Big cheers from all band members)
SNES: I’m already prepared for this one. We’ve talked about if we had our own strain before. One of them is called White Window, another is OK-47, Boys Scout Cookies… Decent Exposure as well.
Ollie: Options!
(Anty is absolutely losing it!)
A big thank you to one of the most dedicated gig-going extraordinaries, Dakota (@strictly.sentimental), for jumping over the barrier and picking up her camera to join us at OnlyBands. Dakota’s knowledge of Australian music and the Brisbane music scene is something else.
Her hardcore dedication to supporting as many bands possible has built her quite the reputation amongst artists, and you’ve stood next to her at a gig in Brisbane too no doubt. Whether it’s at Private Function in a backyard in Coorparoo or helping hold Benny up at every Bad Dreems show, she’s unstoppable in her zeal for live music. Welcome to OnlyBands Dakota!