The Benjamins

New Jersey's the Benjamins, unrelated to the Milwaukee pop-punk outfit that joined Drive-Thru Records in the early 2000s, assembled in October 1999 around vocalist Joe DeGennaro, bassist Ben DeGennaro, keyboardist Roger Hitchuk, and drummer Jeremy Luke. Initially operating strictly as an alternative-rock covers unit along the Jersey Shore, the group drew crowds with a mix of current radio and MTV fare plus 1980s staples such as Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl," a-ha's "Take on Me," and numerous Bon Jovi numbers. Lineup adjustments on guitar continued until Anthony Picone joined in 2003, solidifying the central roster and prompting the members to begin composing original material. Those new compositions gradually entered the nightly sets, culminating in the self-produced release of the band's first album of originals, Go, in May 2004; two prior collections had consisted entirely of covers. Tracks from the Benjamins appeared on various compilations, while opening slots for the Goo Goo Dolls and Third Eye Blind at New Jersey venues raised the group's local visibility. Extensive East Coast touring, exceeding two hundred performances annually, led to a Coors Light sponsorship in spring 2006. After more than a year spent writing and tracking fresh songs, the remaining quartet—now without Hitchuk—issued its second album, Chronicles of the Garden State, in April 2007 on Core Records through Koch Entertainment distribution.