Artist description surrounded by sound and images flickering on screens behind any given combination of musicians. 34 finds their voice in the beauty of the blur. critical acclaim... yes. but it is the courage to not let a genre define their voice, that is truly the starting point for fans. first and foremost though it is the heart, the heart behind the songs. the willingness to say something, something real. for that is what i find in 34 satellite to keep me hanging on. anonymous musician friend.(2003)

Music Style psychedalic guitar rock

Similar Artists luna, granddady, tom petty, elliott smith,

Group Members Marc Benning Brandon Aiken Jim MacPhereson Don Coffee J. Mascis John Agnello Jim Vollentine

Albums Stars, Radar, Stop, Parachutes, Behind the Gated Community

Press Reviews “This latest release from US singer/songwriter Marc Benning’s 34 Satellite should find favor with the No Depression set, but there’s plenty here for the more straight-ahead roadhouse roots-rock crowd as well. Produced by Silos founder Walter Salas-Humara, the disc careers along like an old Buick down a dusty desert road, making pit stops at every dimly lit saloon on its way. Sizzling guitar-solo-studded material mingles here with viola and piano driven atmospheric and stylistic depth. Benning is no slouch when it comes to turning a poignant phrase either, as he relates timeless tales of desperation, lost love and chemical dependency. Even so, there’s a fleeting sense of hope and optimism to much of his overcast gloom.” ---- Chuck Molgat (Uptown Magazine) “An unassuming four-piece known for its great live shows, 34 Satellite is easily compared, for its folk influences, to the Jayhawks and, for its garage pop leanings, to the Replacements. But those references are most telling because they are comparisons that have a classic quality of not really fitting into any particular genere. 34 Satellite simply has its own voice – an earnest, direct sound perfectly focused by singer/songwriter/guitarist Marc Benning’s plainspoken vocals. At the same time, the rhythm section’s driving base and explosive drums are relentlessly intense, and lead guitarist Marc Smith adds just what’s needed, whether it’s a dose of twang or slash and burn. This may be meat-and-potatoes rock, but therein lies its strength – it’s down-home cooking and completely satisfying.” --- The Pitch Weekly “Each of the twelve tracks on Radar was written by Marc Benning, and then groomed and recorded with the rest of the band in Colorado, Memphis and Brooklyn. The end result is like a musical road-trip with your dog in the front seat, your hand catching a current out the driver’s side window. Glimpses of many musicians flit across the rearview: The Jayhawks, Chris Cornell, R.E.M, Mudhoney, Francis Dunnery, The Wallflowers, Paul Westerberg. Benning’s vocals, reminiscent of Jakob Dylan, are perfectly matched to the music – a kind of roots-rock meets pre-Nirvana Seattle grunge. His thin, whiskey-tinged voice is caressing, sincere and utterly unique. Strong guitar work is a staple throughout the album, supporting the rich pop melodies. Skillful leads contend with lyrics for your attention in song after song, and win out on a few, like the energetic “Riverside”. Despite some intricate arrangements, simplicity is the key, as evidenced on the nostalgic, almost desolate ballad, “You”. “Fly Now” and “Pretty Song” are also slightly sad, regretful ballads, but where “You” is composed of dry silt, they are grown from thick black earth.” --- Kristen Sherwood (The Independent) "The grit of 34 Satellite's debut album carries over on Stop, but here it serves as the energizing ingredient in a welter of Wall of Sound, throwback grunge, and sharp-eared pop tunefulness. Marc Smith's guitar focuses and ultimately defines the band's sound, from the gentle arpeggiated intro and explosive follow-up on "Elijah St. Marie" to the carefully crafted lines that lace through "Charleston"; an Edge influence shows in Smith's pursuit of maximum effect through minimal gestures, but Smith isn't above throwing in the occasional screaming lick as well. Around this core the band builds their arrangements, at times with barely audible synth additions, as on "Charleston," but most dramatically in the string quartet that rises like a seductive apparition from Mark Boquist's no-nonsense backbeat on "Longest Day." Overall 34 Satellite plays with enthusiasm tempered only slightly by premonitions of maturity; Marc Benning shows a developing ability to write and deliver real-world lyrics, and the band's consistency at framing his performance suggests that this combination has real staying power. They know how to rock without blowing all their energy or overwhelming their material. Tom Petty and R.E.M. learned this same lesson early in their careers, a fact that confirms Stop as a solid second step". --- Robert L. Doerschuk "34 Satellite is, as one of their lyrics says, “closing in on something beautiful.” Vocalist and songwriter Marc Benning uses intricate instrumentation to translate moments of frustration, alienation, longing and humanity into songs that hit you deep but take you high. “Smoke From a Funeral” starts with a scream and decrescendos into introspection; the dizzying, distorted intro doesn’t prepare you for the quiet pain of the rest of the song, like a strong fa�ade that hides an internal brokenness. In “Elijah St. Marie” and “Stop”, plaintive melodies escalate into sforzandos as repressed suffering explodes into expressions of powerful emotion. The lyrics are not so much poetry as colloquy. Benning says that “songwriting is like having a totally honest conversation with a stranger at a bar; you somehow feel better in the morning, more connected.” “Stop” recognizes that in this “great big world,” what we all need is “somebody to talk to” because “it’s hard when it hurts and it’s gonna hurt sometimes.” 34 Satellite shine truer and brighter than the trite bands and pop stars that falsely glitter and littler the musical universe. With a second album as well fashioned as their debut effort, there’s no stopping them now." --- Shiloah Estolloso Matic (Amplifier Magazine) "In many ways - from vocal phrasing to quirky writing - 34 Satellite wears its Counting Crows influence on it's sleeve. That said, don't take them for a copycat band. On their debut CD, "Radar," this trio shows a talent for simple contemporary pop with hints of country. If you take a chance and snag this disc, pay attention to the album's opener, "Vertigo," and the easy-glide arrangement on "No More," featuring a near-perfect marriage of melody and beat." --- Dan Aquilante (NY Post)

Location Colorado Springs, Colorado - USA

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