Benny Trokan with Lemonmnm and The Shut-Ups

Schedule

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025 at 07:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

1010 White Street SW, Atlanta, GA, United States, Georgia | Atlanta, GA

Advertisement
Introducing Benny Trokan of Spoon, past member of Reigning Sound, Lee Fields, Robbers On High Street and more.

Most of us became aware of Benny Trokan’s solo work via his debut 45 for Wick Records in 2018. The b-side “Turn Back You Fool,” a 12-string-centric ballad becoming a much passed around record in the Souldies scene of Southern California. However, the recording was only the beginning of the latest chapter for Trokan, who’s been performing in bands for over 20 years. “Do You Still Think of Me” is the New Yorker’s first solo full-length release.

Trokan made his entry into the recording field as part of the band Robbers on High Street, releasing three LPs before hanging it up in 2011. That’s when the calls for his bass skills started coming in. Benny quickly joined the ranks of some of his favorite bands - Lee Fields’ Expressions, The Jay Vons, Reigning Sound, and Charles Bradley’s Extraordinaires. He also had a brief stint in Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and more recently was drafted by stalwart Austin rockers, Spoon, contributing to their Grammy-nominated album “Lucifer on the Sofa.”

Daptone’s Gabe Roth invited Trokan out to cut the tracks that would become “Do You Still Think of Me” at his newly christened studio, Penrose Recorders, in his hometown of Riverside, CA. With longtime friends and musical associates, Mikey Post (drums) and Morgan King (bass), Trokan recorded 11 songs, cutting most of the lead vocals live. Says Benny of the process, “Gabe’s style was to go for live vocal takes. He’d then edit the tape to make a comp based around the vocal performance - the verse from take 3 with the chorus from take 1, that kind of thing.” Trokan later returned to do additional overdubs with acclaimed Daptone producer/engineer Wayne Gordon.

Some of these tracks were released as “Hey Lovers” a digital EP out in 2022. The eponymous track is a cover of a Lou Rawls penned song Trokan first heard years ago on the b-side of a Five Emprees 45, and became a bit of a guiding light for his sound.

“I like to think that someone discovering my music is similar to the feeling I get finding a record I’ve never heard before, or flipping over a 45 to find out that the b-side is really where it’s at. Those are the songs that always do it for me,” says Trokan. “The ones longing to be on the a-side. Or maybe they’re just too cool or too sad to care about the a-side.”

There’s definitely a lot of longing in Benny Trokan’s music. From the moody teen-beat bop of “Save a Place,” the garage dwelling angst of “Nowhere to be Found,” to floaty, slow soul title track “Do You Still Think of Me,” Trokan takes us through the spectrum of 60s influenced music. All the while with his unique rasp a wail or a whisper, and his 12-string Hagstrom a-chiming a la The Dovers or The Poets.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love being a band guy, sideman, second-banana, whatever; the pressure is off and I just get to have fun and play. But I think I had a bit of frustration, being around these amazing musicians and singers without an outlet for my own stuff.”

The pros in the trade have known about Benny Trokan for a long time, and it felt like only a matter of time before he came into his own as a solo artist. “Do You Still Think of Me” comes through as a well-seasoned debut album, well worth the wait.

Lemonmnm
The bubblegum you like is coming back in style, straight outta East Point! linktr.ee/lemonmnm

The Shut-Ups
We’re a five-piece new-wave power-pop band from Atlanta and Athens, GA. We practice daily at 6AM. Ballard, Ben, Don, Jason and Thad play the New Wave. https://shutups.bandcamp.com/
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

1010 White Street SW, Atlanta, GA, United States, Georgia

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

The Garden Club at Wild Heaven West End

Host or Publisher The Garden Club at Wild Heaven West End

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Atlanta

Cozy Candle-Making - Candle Making Class by Classpop!\u2122
Fri, 07 Feb, 2025 at 06:00 pm Cozy Candle-Making - Candle Making Class by Classpop!™

Sankofa Essentials

WORKSHOPS ART
Food Geeks Friday at Natalie Bianca
Fri, 07 Feb, 2025 at 06:30 pm Food Geeks Friday at Natalie Bianca

Natalie Bianca

Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America.
Fri, 07 Feb, 2025 at 06:30 pm Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America.

Auburn Avenue Research Library

ART LITERARY-ART
Lip Gloss Making Class - Art Class by Classpop!\u2122
Fri, 07 Feb, 2025 at 06:30 pm Lip Gloss Making Class - Art Class by Classpop!™

Lip Gloss Class

WORKSHOPS ART
String Cheese Incident at The Tabernacle
Fri, 07 Feb, 2025 at 07:15 pm String Cheese Incident at The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle

CALENDAR
Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks Tickets
Fri, 07 Feb, 2025 Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks Tickets

State Farm Arena

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Atlanta Hawks vs Milwaukee Bucks
Fri, 07 Feb, 2025 Atlanta Hawks vs Milwaukee Bucks

State Farm Arena

SPORTS
Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena
Fri, 07 Feb, 2025 at 07:30 pm Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena

State Farm Arena

Black Diamond Male Revue - Atlanta
Fri, 02 Sep, 2016 at 08:00 pm Black Diamond Male Revue - Atlanta

Black Diamond Male Strip Club

ENTERTAINMENT PARTIES
"THE STANDARD ATL " (Suite Lounge ATL).
Sat, 12 Aug, 2017 at 10:00 pm "THE STANDARD ATL " (Suite Lounge ATL).

Suite Food Lounge

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Black Diamond Male Revue Show - Atlanta GA
Fri, 26 Apr, 2019 at 08:00 pm Black Diamond Male Revue Show - Atlanta GA

Black Diamond Male Strip Club

ENTERTAINMENT PARTIES
ATL'S #1 SUNDAY BRUNCH PARTY! BEST VIBEZ EVER! SUN @ REVEL!
Sun, 15 Dec, 2019 at 01:30 pm ATL'S #1 SUNDAY BRUNCH PARTY! BEST VIBEZ EVER! SUN @ REVEL!

REVEL ATLANTA

ENTERTAINMENT PARTIES
Graffiti Art Class
Sat, 30 May, 2020 at 02:00 pm Graffiti Art Class

Fourth Ward Skatepark Playground

WORKSHOPS ART
OPIUM SATURDAYS BY ATLAFTERDARK
Sat, 04 Jul, 2020 at 10:00 pm OPIUM SATURDAYS BY ATLAFTERDARK

150 Central Ave SW

ENTERTAINMENT CONCERTS
Sunday Brunch at Blue Martini
Sun, 14 Mar, 2021 at 11:00 am Sunday Brunch at Blue Martini

Blue Martini Atlanta

BRUNCH MUSIC
CASCADE POP-UP SHOP (A VENDOR'S MARKET)
Sat, 26 Jun, 2021 at 11:00 am CASCADE POP-UP SHOP (A VENDOR'S MARKET)

645 Cascade Ave SW

PARTIES MUSIC
SEXY SATURDAYS AT SAHARA LOUNGE
Sat, 26 Jun, 2021 at 08:00 pm SEXY SATURDAYS AT SAHARA LOUNGE

Sahara Hookah Lounge

PARTIES MUSIC
ATLANTA  THURSDAYS AT EMBR
Thu, 22 Jul, 2021 at 10:00 pm ATLANTA THURSDAYS AT EMBR

Embr Lounge

PARTIES ENTERTAINMENT
#1 SATURDAY EVENT IN ATL! @ THE ALL NEW REVEL 2.0 IN W. MIDTOWN
Sat, 16 Oct, 2021 at 10:00 pm #1 SATURDAY EVENT IN ATL! @ THE ALL NEW REVEL 2.0 IN W. MIDTOWN

REVEL ATLANTA

PARTIES MUSIC
TWISTED TUESDAYS
Tue, 04 Jan, 2022 at 06:00 pm TWISTED TUESDAYS

1201 restaurant

PARTIES MUSIC

What's Happening Next in Atlanta?

Discover Atlanta Events