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Benign launches "Martha" with Tonic gig
Mike Benign's a smart guy. And he's an ace songwriter with an almost sardonic snarl of a voice. That's why he's been such a long fixture on the local scene via his bands Umbrella Man, Arms & Legs & Feet and Blue In the Face.
He's always been wise in picking his bandmates. His latest amalgam – The Mike Benign Compulsion – bears his name, but owes much to its quality support staff of bassist Brian Wooldridge, drummer Mike Koch and guitarist Joe Vent.
On the band's second disc, "Martha," the whole package comes together quite nicely once again. Benign's melodic, jangly, never-wilting guitar pop is rendered in taut arrangements that get a further boost from the mix by power pop legend Chris Stamey (he of The dB's).
The disc is officially released with an 8 p.m. performance Saturday, Feb. 25 at Tonic Tavern in Bay View, with Slo-Fi following at 9:30 p.m.
Check it out and you'll see that TMBC sounds as tight onstage as it does on "Martha."
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