The Huntingtons
The Huntingtons debut album "Sweet Sixteen" was released in 1996 by Flying Tart Records. A few months later, their first attempt at recording Ramones covers, entitled "Rocket to Ramonia" saw limited release via the Burnt Toast Vinyl label. At this point the band added a second guitarist, Tom Rehbein (later in Small Towns Burn a Little Slower). After working with producer Mass Giorgini for the band's next album, "Fun and Games", Tom was replaced by Brad Ber. After the album's release in mid-1997, the band started touring and gained a cult following. Their big break came in 1998, when they signed to Tooth & Nail Records and released "High School Rock".
Ten Benson
Their next release, "Rock Cottage" saw them spoofing Heavy Metal. First album proper, "Hiss" followed in 2000. Next album was 2002's "Satan Kidney Pie". The United States debut album "Benson Burner" was released in 2003 on Jetset Records, and was described in one review as "ZZ Top in bed with The Strokes -- infectious hooks with primal leanings" and gaining comparisons with Tenacious D in another. Village Voice compared the band to Nantucket, and described them as "foreigners with bad hick accents growling, 'Mmmmmmm, hot sausage!'". A 2003 Drowned In Sound live review described them as an "inbred family of redneck truckers resplendent in mesh caps and string vests and hirsute faces". "Danger of Deaf" was also issued in 2003.