The Morning Benders
Youthful and charming, The Morning Benders are a Berkeley-based indie-pop quartet known for their succinct and sunny sounding 60s-influenced songs. Their debut album, “Talking Through Tin Cans” was released in 2008 in the wake of two well-received EPs, and was deemed by iTunes as the best indie/alternative album of 2008. The band has enjoyed exposure and support by being featured on local tastemaker Aaron Axelson’s “Soundcheck” show on Live105. Despite having recently released their first full length, the Morning Benders are no strangers to live shows, and have shared the stage with alternative heavyweights such as Death Cab for Cutie, MGMT, the Kooks and Ra Ra Riot.
The Morning Benders have built up a superb collection of well-crafted and catchy pop gems that that pay homage to the Beatles, Beach Boys and the Kinks. Vocalist/guitarist Chris Chu flaunts his vocal chops as he delivers sincere and straight-forward messages about the bittersweet realities of young love. He does so with a sense of optimism, delivering a feel-good vibe even while exploring painful subjects like communication meltdowns and relationship train wrecks. The band maintains a nostalgic sound that is at once both familiar yet modern, with a certain sloppiness and unfinished aesthetic to their sound that adds to their charm. Their guitars jangle, their drums maintain a danceable backbeat and there’s the shake of a tambourine thrown in for good measure – each song is undeniably pop perfection in a three-and-a-half minute package. VERONICA YOUNG
