Dear John Letters
OriginSeattle, Washington U.S.
GenresRock
Years active2000–present
LabelsRoam Records
Foodchain Records
MembersRobb Benson
Richard Davidson
Cassady Laton
Johnny Sangster
Past membersMichelle Price

Dear John Letters were a Seattle, Washington-based rock band made up of Robb Benson, Richard Davidson, Cassady Laton, and Johnny Sangster.

Formation and history

Robb Benson was born in Mount Vernon, Washington, and lived most of his early life in the area.[1]

Benson's first band was the Seattle-based Nevada Bachelors, formed in 1997, who received national interest. When they disbanded, he recorded the Songs about Songs EP.[2]

Benson then formed Dear John Letters, who released three albums. Benson and Johnny Sangster (who had produced the first Nevada Bachelors album and Songs About Songs) also collaborated on Sangster Meets Benson/Benson Meets Sangster, an album of experimental pop.[1]

When Dear John Letters went on hiatus, Robb Benson continued to record solo albums and launched other projects. Dear John Letters is not active, but did perform in 2009 for Robb's 40th birthday.[3]

Releases

The first Dear John Letters album Rewriting the Wrongs was released in 2001 on the Roam Records label, and was produced by Johnny Sangster. Its music style was described as being influenced by Paul McCartney and Simon & Garfunkel.[4]

A second album Unbroken was released in 2002 also by Roam Records and again produced by Johnny Sangster. The sound was described as more refined than their first recording.[5]

In 2003, the band moved to Foodchain records for their third album Stories of Our Lives. The album was well-received, and reached #34 on the CMJ charts.[1][6]

Band members

  • Robb Benson (lead vocals, guitar) was nominated for the Seattle Weekly Best Seattle Songwriter award three years in a row (2003, 2004, and 2005).[7]
  • Richard Davidson (bass) has also performed with The Radio Nationals, The Young Sportsmen, and Mopsey.[8]
  • Cassady Laton (drums) has also played with Robb Benson in Dept. of Energy and Stereo Embers.[9]
  • Johnny Sangster (lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) is also a member of The Tripwires and has produced significant local artists, such as The Posies.[4]
  • Michelle Price (lyrics) does not play an instrument, but wrote most of the Dear John Letters lyrics.[4]

Other projects

Robb Benson & the Shelk

Through the years, Robb Benson has released a number of solo albums in between or during stints with bands. Starting in 2013, Benson began crediting his albums as "Robb Benson & the Shelk" even though he writes, plays, and produces everything on these releases.[10][11]

Dept. of Energy

Dept of Energy is a Seattle-area band started by Robb Benson when Dear John Letters went on hiatus. The band includes Robb Benson (vocals, guitar), Ty Bailie (keyboards) formerly of Ego Band USA, and Cassady Laton (drums).[2][12][13]

The Glass Notes

The Glass Notes were Robb Benson (guitar, vocals), Jake Uitti (bass), Perry Morgan (drums), and Tim Dijulio (lead guitar). Uitti writes poetry, which Benson turns into songs.[14]

The Great Um

The Great Um are Robb Benson (drummer), Caleb Thompson (singer, guitar), and Jake Uitti (bassist).[15]

Stereo Embers

Stereo Embers were a Seattle-area band with Robb Benson (vocals), Tim Dijulio (lead guitar), Gwon Chang (bass), and Cassady Laton (drums).[9]

The Young Sportsmen

The Young Sportsmen is a Seattle-area band composed of Richard Davidson (bass, vocals), Wesley Nelson (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ryan Maxwell (guitar, keyboards, vocals), and Jeff Roeser (percussion). Davidson joined The Young Sportsmen when Dear John Letters went on hiatus.[8]

Discography

Dear John Letters

LPs
  • 2000: Rewriting the Wrongs (Roam Records 4)
  • 2002: Unbroken (Roam Records 9)
  • 2003: Stories of Our Lives (Foodchain Records 10)

Dept. of Energy

LPs
  • 2007: Held by Waits (Roam Records 16)
  • 2009: Faster (Roam Records 17)
EPs
  • 2006: EP (Roam Records)

Stereo Embers

EPs
  • 2014: Limited Edition EP (Bandcamp)
  • 2015: Code of the Sound (Audio & Video Labs, Inc. / Stereo Embers 5638549086)
Singles
  • 2016: Wrong Way/Ways of the World (HockyTalkter Records)

Robb Benson

LPs
  • 2002: De Stella Nova (Roam Records)
  • 2004: The Tree Mind (Roam Records)
  • 2006: A Collection of Songs I Forgot to Tell You About (Roam Records)
EPs
  • 2002: Songs About Songs (Roam Records 3)

Rob Benson & the Shelk

LPs
  • 2013: Cursive Falls From the Sky (self-released)
  • 2014: Seen Too Much (self-released)
  • 2014: SHELK III (self-released)
  • 2015: We made it this far in pretend (self-released)
  • 2016: Shelk Island (self-released)
  • 2016: Jump the Shelk (self-released)
EPs
  • 2014: The 4th Wave Of Wigby (self-released)

Robb Benson & Johnny Sangster

LPs
  • 2002: Sangster Meets Benson/Benson Meets Sangster (Roam Records 5)

The Glass Notes

  • 2010: Dust and Hours (Roam Records)
  • 2012: As the Building Crumbles (self-released)

The Great Um

  • 2013: What The People Want (Bandcamp)
  • 2014: Everybody Now (Bandcamp)
  • 2015: Never Been There (Bandcamp)

The Young Sportsmen

LPs
  • 2007: Death to Palaces (self-released)
  • 2008: If You Want It (Unsmashable)
EPs
  • 2005: The Familiar Glow of Colliding Particles (Unsmashable)

References

  1. 1 2 3 Uncredited (2003). "Dear John Letters Biography". Food Chain Records. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 Riippi, Joseph (6 May 2006). "Dept. of Energy". Three Imaginary Girls. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Benson, Robb (June 2009). "What has Happened to the Dear John Letters". The Tree Mind. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Schabe, Patrick (26 September 2001). "Dear John Letters: Rewriting the Wrongs". Popmatters. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  5. ↑ Schabe, Patrick (8 June 2003). "Dear John Letters:Unbroken". Popmatters. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Benson, Robb (2014). "Rob Benson Biography". robbenson.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  7. ↑ uncredited (2007). "About Robb Benson". The Tree Mind. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  8. 1 2 Wherle, Scott (4 September 2005). "Interview With Seattle's Young Sportsmen". Randomville. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  9. 1 2 uncredited (2016). "Stereo Embers:Band". Stereo Embers. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  10. ↑ Uitti, Jacob (21 June 2013). "Song of the Day: Robb Benson & The Shelk – The Way Through". KEXP Blog. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  11. ↑ Fuller, Levi (13 February 2014). "Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Robb Benson and the Shelk – "Twin Peaks"". Ball of Wax. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  12. ↑ Uncredited (2006). "Dept. of Energy EP". Music Tradebit. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Bezezekoff, Leigh (13 February 2009). "Dept. of Energy - Faster". KEXP Blog. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  14. ↑ Moorman, Trent (4 November 2010). "The Glass Notes: Accrediting Juliets". The Stranger. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  15. ↑ Esty, Chris (4 March 2013). "Winter rotation: The Transmissionary Six, The Great UM, The Glass Notes, Pissed Jeans, Starflyer 59". Three Imaginary Girls. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
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