benches search for daybreak while dredging up their darkest thoughts on ‘Kill The Lights’ EP

BENCHES SEARCH FOR DAYBREAK WHILE

DREDGING UP THEIR DARKEST THOUGHTS ON 

NEW EP KILL THE LIGHTS — STREAM

HEADLINE TOUR CONTINUES THIS WEEK + UPCOMING 

PERFORMANCE AT LOLLAPALOOZA 

THIS SUMMER — SEE ALL DATES HERE

Kill The Lights EP

“The angst shines through their raunchy, noisy 2000s-era guitar tones…”

“Rooting themselves in bittersweet harmonies, the South Californian group have honed a distinct sound that seamlessly melds joy with sadness, all wrapped up in captivating indie rock instrumentals.”

“San Diego’s benches are wasting no time in 2025.”

Today, San Diego rock band benches release their new EP Kill The Lights. From the project’s inception, the band knew they wanted to use this moment to sonically stretch out; an exercise in surprising not only their audience, but surprising themselves. Across six songs, the four-piece dredge up some of the darker sides of mental health that are typically left buried. Confronting themes of deep fears, overthinking, isolation and detachment, Kill The Lights is constantly searching for a source of illumination. Whether or not it truly finds it, there is a thread of hope that runs throughout — Stream.

Opening with the short, swelling instrumental “Departure,” the band shares that they wanted to set the tone of the EP by introducing production elements that represent themes and feelings that arise throughout the project. It is mysterious, haunting, and leaves the listener full of anticipation.

As things kick into a higher gear on track 2 “Naive,” the sense of dark moodiness is preserved. “‘Naive’ was one of the first pieces of music we wrote all together, and you can feel it in the recording,” says vocalist Anson Kelley. “It feels live, like we are in the room. It came together very naturally within one day, and helped set the tone for what this EP would eventually become.”

Moving through the middle of the EP, benches tosses and turns over a sense of distrust and dread, the unending loop of striving for perfection. On “Orchid” in particular, Kelley describes the song as, “First it was undercooked, then it was overcooked, then after a long time, it landed in a sweet spot between the two. The lyrics get caught in a time loop. You keep trying to find an answer that’s different from the one that’s always been there, right in front of you. In the search for perfection, you will almost always end up lost.”

benches see the final song “Here Come The Bitter Tears,” as what plays in the moment the credits begin to roll at the end of a heartbreaking movie. Cinematic and melancholy, the band expertly toys with juxtaposition making it passionate, yet cold; close, but somehow so distant. We close on a note that craves romance while staying committed to emotional detachment.

Press photo by Attiken Vega

After recently wrapping up a tour supporting Inhaler and playing their hometown Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival, benches continue along their headline tour this week. They will be supported by Pleasure Pill across the Western US, in advance of an appearance at Lollapalooza later in the summer. See all upcoming dates here and below.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

May 28 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA

May 29 – Polaris Hall – Portland, OR

May 31 – Barboza – Seattle, WA

June 1 – Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, BC

June 4 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT

June 5 – Lost Lake – Denver, CO

June 7 – Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM

June 8 – Valley Bar – Phoenix, AZ

June 10 – Constellation Room – Costa Mesa, CA

June 11 – Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA

June 12 – Music Box – San Diego, CA

July 31 – August 3 – Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL

All tour info here

KILL THE LIGHTS TRACKLIST

“Departure”

“Naive” — Watch

“Kill The Lights”

“Orchid”

“Reach”

“Here Come The Bitter Tears”

ABOUT BENCHES:

benches are a group consisting of Anson Kelley (vocals/guitar), Ethan Bowers (drums), Evan Ojeda (lead guitar), and Charlie Baird (bass).

Following the success of earlier singles such as “Monodrama” and “Violent”, benches return with a new EP consisting of increasingly complex and nuanced songs, resulting in standouts “Naive” and the title track “Kill the Lights.” Their new EP Kill The Lights is available everywhere now.

The band has played with notable acts such as Inhaler, Blossoms, and IDKHOW. They have previously played at Shaky Knees, and are set to make an appearance at Lollapalooza later this year. They are headlining this summer all over the western US.

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For more information on benches, please visit:

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