Do not label The Morning Benders

July 29, 11:25 PMEast Bay Literary ExaminerTony R. Rodriguez

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THE MORNING BENDERS 

The lyrics and melodic sounds of The Morning Benders have been cleaving through the well-worked eardrums of many East Bay writers and readers. Because their poetic lyrics and unique style of music is so alive and spellbinding with direct literary themes, one may possess the theory that perhaps these four talented guys from Berkeley may be one of the most inspiring literary bands in the East Bay today. What is a “literary band”? Simply put, a literary band is any group willing to selflessly share a bit of who they are with their audiences. These are bands who may present autobiographical or fictitious lyrics to accompany their raw vocals and guitar melodies and catchy drumbeats. To be a literary band or literary soloist, furthermore, means that you have something important to say, be it through poetry, undeviating narrative or catchy jargon. And The Morning Benders, to me, certainly fall not under this “label” or “classification”. They purely create beautiful art, and anyone who listens to their music and reads their lyrics will certainly come up with their own thoughts about their pleasant-sounding contributions to the world.

So I decided to investigate a bit, and I found that perhaps my literary theory was quite flawed. Here’s my chat with Chris Chu, front man of The Morning Benders: 

Congrats on the release of Talking Through Tin Cans. It seems you guys have been rockin’ the East Bay scene for a while now. People are diggin’ your music and your shows. When’s the next Bay Area gig?

Chris Chu:  Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park.

Your track, “Waiting for a War”, is it autobiographical? 

Chris Chu:  Something like that.

So I’m finding that within various literary circles, The Morning Benders are perhaps at the top of the iPod playlist. Writers and readers are talking about you guys. You may be one of the top literary bands in the Bay Area. Who are some other literary bands today that share similar views on creating your style of music?

Chris Chu:  I’m not sure what a literary band is, but lately I’ve been listening to a lot of R. Kelly. I find him to be quite literary.  

R. Kelly? Really? . . . Well, what authors do you guys read from?

Chris Chu:  The last book I read was the 7th Harry Potter book. I hadn’t read any of the previous 6, but I saw the 6th movie and needed to get some closure. Before that Tim and I were reading Philip K. Dick short stories. Before that I read Bertrand Russell’s A History of Western Philosophy.

NICK BELARDES 

Have you heard of the slowly growing literary movement of writers and readers known as the “Dead-Beats”?

Chris Chu:  [No response.]

First, it’s known that the “Beat Generation” was the last big literary movement in the States, and there’re still tons of modern-day Beat writers out there. Second, it also seems that a growing number of writers and readers would classify themselves under what Nick Belardes, writer of RANDOM OBSESSIONS, called the “Dead Generation”. With these two movements infusing themselves into one magical ball of artistic awe, you now have what we call the “Dead-Beat” movement in literature. Are you guys modern-day “Dead-Beat” musicians?

Chris Chu:  I think it’s dangerous to associate yourself with any generation. Generation X or the Beats or the Dead Generation or whatever. It just ends up misleading people. Makes people think they are connected or united because of some kind of common goal or experience. And it’s exclusive. That’s a sham. It’s all just distracting from the fact that we’re all human and the same. And we’re just a band trying to make music that might make you feel a little more human.

Many of the literary crowds in the East Bay enjoy watching Seinfeld. So Chris, there are four of you and there are four main characters on the show. Who would you compare to Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, and Costanza?

Chris Chu:  Ah! This is my favorite show of all time . . .

Same here, Chris!

Chris Chu:  . . . I’ve thought about this question before . . . I’m Jerry, Tim is Elaine, Julian is Kramer, and Joe is Costanza, and all 4 of us combined are Larry David.

Last question, are you guys still in the “Nth Degree”?

Chris Chu:  Wrong band, buddy.

Oh, I know that, Chris. I was just wondering if you “get” Morningwood.

*          *          *

And though Chris Chu of The Morning Benders may feel some reservation for artists who rally together to be a part of a greater cause, he perhaps does share that same magnetic feeling that pumps through the veins of countless Seinfeld fans. Therefore, because Chris and I are both big fans of the TV show, we perhaps “connected” there with our TV interests. That itself makes him the man in my book.

A Beat Generation Member 

Chu did, however, just say that associating one’s self with a generation is dangerous because it “makes people think they are connected or united because of some kind of common goal or experience.” This makes me wonder then if it’s also “dangerous” to share that very same sentiment toward a band or a TV show or a movie. The fact remains that fans tend to feel “connected or united because of some kind of common goal or experience” with the bands they listen to.  It’s not about “labels” or “classifying” a band or artist — it’s about sharing and celebrating the many collective views of humanity. And to do such a thing is very human. This is why many people refer to themselves as “liberal” or “moderate” or “conservative” or “Christian” or “Atheist” or “Buddhist” or “American” or “French” or “Dead-Beat”. People say these things about themselves or others not because of a vicious desire to “label” someone or some people. And these are not “exclusive” terms. In fact, I’m not convinced that anyone who’s a part of Generation X or The Beats or the Dead Generation or the Dead-Beats ever received exclusive invitations. Who ever was a part of any generation or movement joined because they felt “connected or united”.

And I’m certain many fans of The Morning Benders somehow feel universally “connected or united” to the Bender’s form of art. But perhaps Chu is suggesting that it’s OK to be a fan and “connect” with those producing the art that you enjoy, just beware of being a part of a generation or movement. And there’s wisdom there. Perhaps people need to consider this insight towards religion and politics and social elements and human elements.

In closing, Chu’s right: “We’re all human and the same.” But let’s not forget that it is perhaps human to want to be connected to something bigger than yourself. Who knows, perhaps some fans of The Morning Benders are at heart “Dead-Beats” themselves? And as Jerry Seinfeld told Elaine Benes in an episode of Seinfeld, “That could be trouble.”

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