Grim Smiley

Sweet 'n' dirty power-pop

For grunge-pop band Grim Smiley, its relocation this summer from Honolulu to Seattle was the realization of a lifelong inevitability, a permanent pilgrimage to rock's great Mecca.

The band brings with it an exotic and unique brand of sweet 'n' dirty grunge-pop called "lava rock," and has left behind all it has accomplished in the islands so that it can reach the audience that raised up some of its idols.

"I felt the rich tradition of music up here almost as soon as I stepped off the plane," said Grim Smiley singer/songwriter/guitarist Ben Henry, 29. "It is an honor to be in a place that lionizes quality rock music."

The group became one of the premier rock bands in Honolulu (where it was known as "The Crud"), opening up for Hawthorne Heights and Alien Ant Farm, and playing at all of the city's top venues, including Pipeline Cafe, Wave Waikiki, Hard Rock Cafe, Anna Bannana's and many others. The band has garnered tens of thousands of MySpace plays with thousands of online friends, and a music video for its single "Ain't It the Truth" received regular daily airplay on the Oceanic 16 show "TRX-TV." The band twice appeared live on the radio, playing hour-long sets on KTUH 90.3 FM.

OTHER ARTIST WEBSITE:  www.myspace.com/grimsmiley

HOME TOWN: 
Seattle, Washington

GROUP/BAND MEMBERS: 
Ben Henry: Vocals / Guitar
Justin Vincler: Drums
Mark DiNitto: Bass

INFLUENCES: 
Nirvana, The Beatles, Foo Fighters, Weezer, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Jimi Hendricks,

ON MY PLAYLIST: 
The Crud, Pimpbot, Missing Dave, Black Square