For three-piece 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 Café, Wave Waikiki, Hard Rock Café, 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.”
Band Members
Ben Henry, vocals/guitarJustin Vincler, drumsMark DiNitto, bass
Influences
Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Weezer, Smashing Pumpkins, NOFX, Coldplay
Website
www.grimsmiley.com
