Tag Archives: Chris Chu

03.31.11
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The Morning Benders Release EP In Support Of Japan Relief Efforts

If you didn’t know, Chris Chu brothers of The Morning Benders was born in Japan. And the band was going to play a concert in Japan this month. In light of the recent disaster over there, and in order to offer all the help they can give, The Morning Benders are releasing Japan Echo, an EP only available on the band’s website, whose proceeds, 100% of them, will be donated to the Japan Society’s Emergency Relief Fund. Get it HERE.

Full EP Tracklisting:
1. Cold War (Star Slinger Remix)
2. Better In Blue
3. Hand Me Downs (Wild Nothing Remix)
4. Excuses (RAC Remix)
5. Mason Jar (Twin Sister Remix)
6. Wet Cement (Aislyn Remix)
7. Little Riot
8. Promises (Star Slinger Remix)

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12.21.10
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Modern Mystery’s Top 10 Videos of the Year



1. Morning Benders “Promises”

2. Wavves “Post Acid”

3. Of Montreal “Coquet Coquette”

4. Cloud Nothings “Hey Cool Kids”

5. Surfer Blood “Floating Vibes”

6. Vampire Weekend “Giving Up the Gun”

7. Miniature Tigers “Bullfighter Jacket”

8. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin “Let It Sway”

9. Arcade Fire “The Suburbs”

10. Ra Ra Riot “Boy”

11.22.10
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The Morning Benders @ Webster Hall, NYC – November 18, 2010


The Morning Benders are a band I first encountered at The Market Place Hotel (R.I.P.) in Brooklyn supporting Surfer Blood (also that evening playing alongside bands such as Grooms, Turbo Fruits, and Beach Fossils) and I’ll admit at first I wasn’t impressed, but there was a certain charm their stage presence put out that has stuck with me. The band not only seemed incredibly young but ripe for the journey most aspiring musicians cannot even comprehend, fast forward to where we are today, the bands sophomore record Big Echo is destined to make many top 10 list, they have already supported Ra Ra Riot, White Rabbits, MGMT, Yeasayer, and The Black Keys, and after all of that the band have set out on their first headlining tour. Not bad for the four little guys who played Market Hotel earlier this year.

The bands performance really surprised me. Its unbelievable how much a band can change in the span of a year but The Morning Benders make it a feat to show that they’ve been doing nothing but learning. Chris Chu fronts the band with a relaxed talent but isn’t afraid to get into his tunes, while his brother Jon Chu backs him up with a rhythm guitar which could be named precision. After the third track Chris Chu proclaimed “Earlier this year we released an album called Big Echo! We’re going to play a lot of tracks from it to thank all of you for the year we had!” I was lucky enough to capture their show at Webster Hall (along with photos of opening act Twin Sister).

Photos from the show can be viewed here.

08.25.10
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The Morning Benders Plan Extensive Tour


The Morning Benders have recently added a slew of more tour dates to their ever growing schedule. The band already announced a few months ago their plans to play a number of dates, but now the tour has expanded all the way to next year. The Morning Benders’ newest release, Big Echo (+1/Roughtrade), which came out earlier this year, has been a turning point in the band’s career. The shows will feature the group as headliners as they travel through the United States, Europe and Australia. Take a look at the tour dates below. If you miss out on these shows you should reconsider your love of music.

The Morning Benders – “I Wanna Be Like You (Jungle Book cover)” by ModernMysteryBlog

The Morning Benders Tour Dates:

09-11 Berlin, Germany – Berlin Festival
09-12 Heidelberg, Germany – Karlstorbanhof
09-13 Cologne, Germany – Luxor
09-14 Utrecht, Belgium – Tivoli de Helling
09-16 Aarhus, Denmark – Vox Hall
09-17 Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser
09-18 Gothenburg, Sweden – Pustervik
09-19 Oslo, Norway – John Dee
09-21 Haldern, Germany – Haldern Bar
09-22 Dresden, Germany – Beatpol
09-26 Winterthur, Switzerland – Sazhaus
09-27 Eindhoven, Netherlands – Effenaar
09-28 Brussels, Belgium – AB
09-29 Paris, France – Nouveau Casino
09-30 London, England – Borderline
10-09 Dallas, TX – Kessler Theater
10-10 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits
10-12 Tempe, AZ – Clubhouse Music Venue
10-13 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
10-14 Los Angeles, CA – Music Box
10-15 Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre
10-16 San Francisco, CA – Fillmore
10-18 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s
10-19 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
10-20 Vancouver, British Columbia – Venue
10-22 Boise, ID – Neurolux
10-23 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
10-25 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
10-28 Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
10-29 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom
10-31 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
11-02 Newport, KY – Historic Southgate House
11-03 Columbus, OH – Basement
11-05 Toronto, Ontario – Mod Club Theatre
11-06 Montreal, Quebec – Cabaret du Mile End
11-07 South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Showcase Lounge
11-09 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
11-10 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
11-11 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
11-12 Washington, DC – Black Cat
11-18 New York, NY – Webster Hall
12-30 Hobart, Australia – Falls Festival
12-31 Lorne, Australia – Falls Festival
01-02 Busselton, Australia – Southbound Festival
01-06 Brisbane, Australia – Sunset Sounds Festival

06.11.10
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The Morning Benders “Big Echo”

Why did it take me so long to review this album? Well I was too busy enjoying it, that’s why.

The Morning Benders have taken a new approach on their sophomore record, Big Echo (+1/Roughtrade). With producer and Grizzly Bear cohort Chris Taylor in tow, the band went into the studio last year to record an album that has finally launched their career into the spotlight.

While their first record Talking Through Tin Cans (+1) brought out the sweet, sugary, indie pop side of the band, this time they are headed in a different direction. This is indeed four guys who have grown up drastically since the last time they went into the studio. The songs show a more mature side of the group and it seems natural and effortless.

The album opens up with the first two singles, “Excuses,” and “Promises.” Both are only the beginning of what is to come on this record. If you were lucky enough to catch singer Chris Chu’s solo performance at CMJ 2009, you were able to see some of these songs including a special teenaged filled background vocal performance of “Excuses.”

“Wet Cement,” brings a bit of the first record in with it. It’s a very mellow and adorable song to say the least. One thing that stands out even more on this album is Chu’s voice. It is dreamy, smooth and flawless. This is more often than not hard to find these days. It’s as if his voice has the capability to bring you back into the 60’s. One of my personal favorite tunes on the record is “Cold War (Nice Clean Fight),” which clocks in under the two minute mark. This is a stomp your feet, clap your hands along song with it’s infectious beat.

“Pleasure Sighs,” “Hand Me Downs,” and “Mason Jar,” bring out a more experimental sound in the band. A little pyschadelic if you will, which the band has never really hit on before. Though somehow it fits and they manage to pull it off. You can really see Taylor’s influence in these songs.

“All Day Day Light,” contains a bit of an 80’s meets 60’s vibe to it. Take that for a leap of decades, right? It flows perfectly and trust me, it will not be leaving your head anytime soon. This is one to put on repeat. The album ends with the breezy “Stitches,” and “Sleeping In,” which appears to draw influences from the Beach Boys in the most flattering way.

Big Echo has launched The Morning Benders from small time indie band to full time buzz band. There is bound to be a lot more where that comes from so be on the lookout. If you haven’t checked out this record yet, do not hesitate. It has the makings to be an indie classic.

The Morning Benders – “Dreams” (Fleetwood Mac Cover) by modernmysteryblog