View source for The Bens

{{Short description|Rock supergroup of three musicians named Ben}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = The Bens
| image           =
| caption         = The Bens on the cover of their only EP.
| background      = temporary
| alias           = The Three Bens
| origin          = Australia
| genre           = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[indie pop]]
| years_active    = 2003<!-- {{start date|YYYY}}–{{end date|YYYY}} (or –present) -->
| label           = [[EMI]], [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]]
| associated_acts =
| current_members =
| past_members    =
* [[Ben Folds]]
* [[Ben Kweller]]
* [[Ben Lee]]
}}
'''The Bens''' were a [[rock music|rock]] [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] consisting of the trio, [[Ben Folds]], [[Ben Kweller]] and [[Ben Lee]], which toured for "the Bens Rock Over Australia tour" in 2003.<ref name="Wilson">{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-bens-mw0001384726 | title = ''The Bens'' – The Bens | last = Wilson | first = MacKenzie | publisher = [[AllMusic]] | accessdate = 10 November 2016 }}</ref><ref name="PHM Poster">{{cite web | url = http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=383176 | title = 2008/185/15 Poster, rock music, The Bens, paper, maker unknown, Australia, used by Australian Rock Company, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2003 | others = Peter Cox (curator) | work = Powerhouse Museum Collection | publisher = [[Powerhouse Museum]] | date = May 2008 | accessdate = 10 November 2016 }}</ref>
== History ==
Kweller described how the trio formed, "Well actually our fans noticed that we all had the same first name and had said for a long time wouldn't it be great if we all played together. So we thought, maybe we should do that. It would be fun and we were all friends going into it. It was just a cool spontaneous thing, you know."<ref name="Brodie">{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140064504 | title = BenBenBenBenBenBenPieBenBen | last = Brodie-McKenzie | first = Adam | newspaper = [[Woroni]] | volume = 55 | issue = 3 | date = 7 April 2003 | accessdate = 10 November 2016 | page = 15 | via = [[National Library of Australia]] }}</ref> From 14 to 28 March 2003 they played nine concerts: [[Brisbane]], [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], Sydney (twice), [[Canberra]], Melbourne, [[Adelaide]] and [[Perth]].<ref name="PHM Poster"/> A proposed tenth show at a Melbourne shopping centre was cancelled.{{fact|date=December 2018}}
Lee, Folds and Kweller each played individual sets at the concerts, however, at the beginning and end of each set, all three played several songs as a trio. Two performances were recorded live for the ''[[Live at the Wireless]]'' (the Melbourne concert) and ''Live at the Basement'' (one of the Sydney concerts) radio series. The group recorded a four-track [[The Bens (EP)|self-titled]] extended play, which was initially only sold at venues, but was later released in Australia and overseas.<ref name="Wilson"/><ref name="Lee">{{cite web | url = http://www.ozmusicproject.net/magazine/cdreviews7861.html | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060806140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/36937/20060807-0000/www.ozmusicproject.net/magazine/cdreviews7861.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 6 August 2006 | title =  The Bens: ''The Bens'' | last = Lee | first = Jasper | publisher = Oz Music Project | accessdate = 10 November 2016 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> It had been recorded in Nashville.<ref name="Lee"/>
Several live tracks from the two radio recordings were included on the [[Japan]]ese release. One track from the original EP, "Just Pretend", was listed on the [[Triple J Hottest 100, 2003]].<ref name="Triple J List">{{cite web |url = http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/archive/archive.htm?context=track&search=Just+Pretend&yearrange=1989%3B2015&alltime= | title = Hottest 100 Archive: 'Just Pretend' | publisher = [[Triple J]] ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC)) | accessdate = 11 November 2016 }}</ref> In 2003 they contributed a cover version of "[[Wicked Little Town]]" to ''[[Wig in a Box]]'', a tribute album for the musical, ''[[Hedwig and the Angry Inch (musical)|Hedwig and the Angry Inch]]''.
Though various combinations of the three members have toured together at various times, the trio have not reformed as a group, and have not recorded any more material. In a brief interview after a show in Raleigh, North Carolina, on 31 July 2010, Ben Kweller confirmed that the Bens would perform as a group on an upcoming European Tour.{{fact|date=December 2018}}
== Reception ==
Jasper "Jaz" Lee of Oz Music Project opined that the EP's "songs have an inkling of different styles, each with a particular leaning... [they] are three great artists, each of different levels of maturity in their fields, and differing in the genre of their pursuits. Yet, apart from their mutual first names there seems to be a good connection between them that was witnessed both on stage and on this EP."<ref name="Lee"/> [[AllMusic]]'s MacKenzie Wilson felt "This little four-track gem is strictly for die-hard followers. Those who enjoy Kweller and Lee as artists should also enjoy the quirky pop selection. Folds is somewhat of a father figure to the younger Bens, and together their harmonies are matchless. Each comprises a dash of humor and innocence."<ref name="Wilson"/>
==Discography==
*''[[The Bens (EP)|The Bens]]'' (EP, 2003)
*''[[Wig in a Box]]'' (Compilation, 2003) - "[[Wicked Little Town]]"
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Ben Folds}}
{{Ben Kweller}}
{{Ben Lee}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bens, The}}
[[Category:Rock music supergroups]]
[[Category:Musical trios]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2003]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2003]]