Benny Trokan

Benny Trokan
Trokan in 2025
Background information
Born (1978-06-20) June 20, 1978
New York City, U.S.
GenresPunk rock, indie rock, garage rock, soul
InstrumentsBass guitar, twelve-string guitar, vocals, drums, electric guitar
Years active1997 – present
LabelsThirsty Ear, Rounder Records, Zoë Records, Scratchie Records, New Line, Rocco Grecco, Daptone, Wick, Matador
Member ofSpoon (since 2021)
Formerly ofRobbers on High Street (2002–2012)

Benny "Ben" Trokan (born June 20, 1978) is multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter and producer best known for co-founding and fronting Robbers on High Street, and for playing bass guitar in the band Spoon, sharing in Spoon's 2023 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album.[1][2][3][4][5][6] He has written, performed, and recorded music in a variety of styles such as punk, indie rock, and soul.[7][8][9] In addition to Robbers on High Street and Spoon, Trokan has been part of Marky Ramone and the Intruders, Boy Morgan, The Jay Vons and The Reigning Sound.[7][10][11][12][13] He also records and performs with Lee Fields and the Expressions.[9][14] In 2024, he released a solo album and embarked on a tour to promote it.[2][15][16] Trokan continues to record and tour as a solo artist, and as part of both Spoon and Lee Fields & the Expressions.[16][17]

Early Life

Benny Trokan was born on June 20, 1978 in New York City.[18][19][20][21] During his early childhood, which took place in Manhattan, he reports taking drum kit lessons and listening to his mother's records by artists such as The Beatles, Sam & Dave, and Dionne Warwick.[22][23][24] By the time Trokan was in middle school, the family (Trokan, with his parents and younger sister) had moved to the Poughkeepsie area.[24][3] There, Trokan met fellow student Steve Mercado, and the two became friends over a shared love of Led Zeppelin.[3] While attending Arlington High School in LaGrange, NY, Trokan reports that he began teaching himself to play electric guitar.[25][24] He and Mercado played in various student rock bands.[19]

Career

In 1997, after high school, Trokan moved back to New York City and joined Marky Ramone and the Intruders on guitar.[26][27] This band was founded by drummer and fellow Brooklyn resident Marky Ramone of the Ramones, and continued the Ramones' style of short and fast punk songs.[27] Trokan appeared on Marky Ramone and the Intruders' self-titled album, released on Thirsty Ear Recordings, and performed with the band from 1997 through 2000.[28][27][29][30] By 1999, Trokan had become lead vocalist while continuing on guitar.[7][31] He additionally collaborated on songwriting for the band's 1999 release on Rounder / Zoë Records, The Answer To Your Problems.[32][7]

In 2002, Trokan began working with his childhood friend Steve Mercado again to form the band Robbers on High Street.[26][33] Supplying lead vocals, guitar, and keyboard, Trokan and the band released the EP Fine Lines in March, 2004 on Scratchie Records (which folded into New Line Records, now WaterTower Music).[18][33][34][35][36] While the EP garnered mostly favorable reception in the press, some critics said that Trokan sounded too much like Spoon's Britt Daniel.[37][38][39]

Trokan gained more national attention in 2005 with Robbers on High Street's first full-length album, Tree City (Scratchie / New Line Records) and subsequent tour.[40][41][42][20][43][26][44] Trokan wrote or co-wrote all songs on the LP. [40][41][45] The same was true for the band's 2007 LP from Scratchie / New Line Records, Grand Animals, on which Trokan also played "75% of the instruments."[46][4][47] He also co-produced 2011's Hey There Golden Hair, while continuing as frontman, guitarist and songwriter.[48][49][50][51] For the latter album, Trokan established a label, Rocco Grecco Music, which he would later use in his solo career.[48][52]

During Robbers on High Street's final years (their last release was the 2012 EP Anything Could Happen), Trokan became the bassist for The Jay Vons, described as having an "evergreen sound" of "garage rock and soul."[53][54][55] Trokan additionally contributed to the "nostalgic pop" of the band Boy Morgan by playing drums on their 2012 self-titled EP and on tour dates in subsequent years.[56][11] He was also the bassist on The Reigning Sound's 2014 album Shattered, and embarked on a tour with the group.[13][57] He played bass and contributed vocals on the single "It Was Wrong to Love You" by The Jay Vons plus members of The Reigning Sound, recorded at Daptone Records.[58] Trokan served as bassist and co-engineer on The Jay Vons' 2019 LP The Word.[55][59] 2019 also saw Trokan touring with The Jay Vons, as well as playing guitar and touring with Lee Fields & The Expressions.[60][61]

During this period, while touring with fellow Daptone Records artist Charles Bradley, Trokan connected with Jim Eno and Britt Daniel of Spoon, one of the most critically acclaimed rock acts of the 21st century so far.[24][62][63][64] To fill the role of departing bassist Rob Pope, Spoon recruited Trokan in 2019 to tour with them, and in 2021 Trokan became the band's official bass player. [65][66][5] He joined the band in recording the Matador Records 2022 release, Lucifer on the Sofa.[67][68][69] In 2023, he shared in the Best Rock Album Grammy nomination Spoon received for that album.[6]

Trokan embarked on solo and additional projects as well during this time. In July of 2022, he released an EP of solo work, Hey Lovers, on Daptone Records.[70] He recorded as the bass musician on Lee Fields' 2022 album Sentimental Fool, also on Daptone Records.[71] Trokan opened for Fields during the tour for that album, and has continued to tour with Lee Fields & the Expressions.[72][73]

In August of 2024, Trokan released Do You Still Think Of Me, his first full-length solo LP, on Wick, an imprint of Daptone Records.[74][75][76] Trokan wrote and produced the album, which was recorded by Daptone Records co-founder and Dap-Kings bandleader Gabe Roth (a.k.a. Bosco Mann) at Roth's studio in Riverside, CA, and at Daptone's House of Soul in Brooklyn. Described as "spaghetti soul rock" reminiscent of "late-’60s AM radio," the songs feature him on guitars and lead vocals, as well as some keyboard and percussion.[2][15][75] The album attracted favorable reviews. [2][74][15][77] Globally-recognized radio station KEXP added Do You Still Think of Me to rotation, after which the album charted at #49 on the station’s Top 90. [78][79][80][81]

Following release of the album, Trokan toured with fellow Daptone musicians The Budos Band, as well as members of The Jay Vons and The Reigning Sound.[16][82]

Trokan continues to tour as a solo artist, as well as to record, collaborate, and perform with Spoon and other musicians.

Discography

Album Release year Artist Role Citation
Marky Ramone and the Intruders 1997 Marky Ramone and the Intruders Guitar [28]
The Answer to your Problems 1999 Marky Ramone and the Intruders Vocals, songwriting, guitar [32]
Fine Lines 2004 Robbers on High Street Songwriting, lead vocals, guitar, keyboard [34]
Tree City 2005 Robbers on High Street Songwriting, lead vocals, guitar, keyboard [42][41]
Grand Animals 2007 Robbers on High Street Songwriting, lead vocals, guitar, keyboard, drums [4]
Hey There Golden Hair 2011 Robbers on High Street Songwriting, lead vocals, production [49]
Anything Could Happen 2012 Robbers on High Street Songwriting, lead vocals, production [83]
Boy Morgan 2012 Boy Morgan Drums [56]
Shattered 2014 The Reigning Sound Bass [13]
It Was Wrong to Love You 2015 The Jay Vons Bass, vocals [58]
The Word 2019 The Reigning Sound Bass, engineering [55][59]
Hey Lovers 2022 Benny Trokan Lead vocals, twelve-string guitar [70]
Sentimental Fool 2022 Lee Fields Bass [9]
Lucifer on the Sofa 2022 Spoon Bass [67][68][69]
Do You Still Think of Me 2024 Benny Trokan Songwriting, lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion, production [75][74][15][2]
Chateau Blues 2025 Spoon Bass, songwriting [84]

References

  1. ^ Gordon, Scott (3 July 2007). "Random Rules: Ben Trokan of Robbers On High Street". AV Club. Retrieved 2026-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e Epstein, Dan (2025-05-01). "Album Review: Benny Trokan | Do You Still Think of Me?". Chronogram Magazine. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  3. ^ a b c Hansen, Liane (31 Jul 2005). "Interview: Ben Trokan and Steve Mercado discuss the latest CD by their band, Robbers on High Street, called 'Tree City'". NPR: Weekend Edition Sunday. p. 1.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c Touzeau, Jeff (Jan 2008). "Tensions in the Groove". EQ. 19 (1): 8–9 – via Proquest.
  5. ^ a b Condran, Ed (17 Aug 2023). ""Spoon returns to Spokane with Lucifer squared, and White Reaper". The Spokesman-Review. pp. e3. Retrieved 24 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b "Ben Trokan | Artist | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  7. ^ a b c d Bessman, Jim (26 Jun 1999). "Marky Ramone & The Intruders Keep Punk's Spirit Up With Rounder Set". Billboard: 14 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Simpson, Ernest (2007-02-05). "Robbers on High Street : The Fatalist and Friends". Treble. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  9. ^ a b c Huntington, Tom (5 Nov 2022). "Soul provider: Veteran singer Lee Fields digs deep on 'Sentimental Fool'". The Rutland Daily Herald. pp. D2. Retrieved 24 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Brownstein, Charles (2024-07-26). "Benny Trokan Debuts "Nowhere To Be Found"". Northern Transmissions. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  11. ^ a b Dooley, Jillian (15 Aug 2014). "The nostalgic pop of Boy Morgan". The Deli. Retrieved 25 May 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Vintage voices: 1960s-style rock band launch debut album • Brooklyn Paper". www.brooklynpaper.com. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  13. ^ a b c Mehr, Bob (31 Oct 2014). "B.J. Thomas, Sam Moore, Denise LaSalle among Music Hall performers". The Commercial Appeal. pp. G.7. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Blickenstaff, Jacob. "On the road with Lee Fields & The Expressions". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  15. ^ a b c d Kennard, Dan (2024-08-24). "SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BENNY TROKAN - DO YOU STILL THINK OF ME?". Spill Magazine. Retrieved 2026-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ a b c Smith, Matthew (16 Jul 2025). "Budos Band ups Atlanta's funkiness". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. C1. Retrieved 24 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ O'Neal, Sean (May 2026). "Thirty Years Ago, Spoon's First Album Changed My Life". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ a b Louie, Rebecca (18 Feb 2005). "'Tree' leaves no doubt: Robbers are armed with a unique style". New York Daily News. p. 67. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ a b Barry, John W. (23 Feb 2005). "Robbers on High Street has new CD, tour in works and stint on NBC show". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 1D. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ a b Ross, Curtis (8 Apr 2005). "Robbers steal praise from unlikely source". The Tampa Tribune. p. 100. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Spoon announce special UK headline show at London's Islington Assembly Hall on June 20th". Click Roll Boom. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  22. ^ Elfman, Doug (14 Jun 2005). "Cramped spaces influenced Robbers". Las Vegas Review - Journal. pp. 1E. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ NME (2007-05-11). "Robbers On High Street explain drummer's departure". NME. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  24. ^ a b c d Brown, Dakota (11 Apr 2023). "Benny Trokan - Spoon Interview". The Self Portrait Gospel. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ Kurtz, Joseph (17 Jan 1995). "Youth against racism". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 1A. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ a b c Meyer, Marianne (29 Sep 2005). "Live!; Who: Robbers on High Street, the King of France When: 8:30 p.m. Sunday Where: IOTA Club and Cafe, Arlington". The Washington Post. pp. AAVE.05. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ a b c Otten, Rand (12 Sep 1997). "Perez launches Woodstock jazz series". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 11D. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ a b Marky Ramone and the Intruders. Marky Ramone and the Intruders. CD booklet / liner notes. New York: Thirsty Ear Recordings, 1997. thi57032.2.
  29. ^ Latio-Ramone, Jari-Pekka. "Marky Ramone and the Intruders concert reviews". RAMONESHEAVEN.COM. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "Fifty Years of the Ramones book launch". Earth Island Books. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ^ Greene, Jr., James (25 Jan 2018). "Entitled Funky Men Intruding in a Family Way: A Field Guide to the Side and Solo Projects of the Ramones". No Recess. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  32. ^ a b Marky Ramone and the Intruders. The Answer to Your Problems? CD booklet / liner notes. Cambridge, MA: Zoë Records / Rounder Records Corp., 1999. ZOË 01143-1004-2
  33. ^ a b Wallace, William T. and Gallbraith, Mary. “Robbers On High Street.” Tweed Magazine, 28 Feb 2005. https://tweedmag.com/news/Robbers_on_High_Street.html Accessed April 4, 2026.
  34. ^ a b Ruggiero, Bob (2004-03-18). "Robbers on High Street". Houston Press. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  35. ^ Fine Lines - Robbers on High Street | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 2026-05-26
  36. ^ Farber, Jim (29 June 2007). "Robbers stealing into town with their sly, unique sound". The New York Daily News. p. 50. Retrieved 26 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  37. ^ "Robbers break away from background". Quad City Times. 8 Jul 2004. p. 65. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  38. ^ Slone, Sean (2004-06-21). "Robbers On High Street". Ink 19. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  39. ^ "Single Review: Robbers On High Street - Fine Lines". DrownedInSound. 2004-11-01. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  40. ^ a b Himes, Gregory (4 Mar 2005). "Robbers on High Street: 'Tree City'". The Washington Post. pp. WW09. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  41. ^ a b c Morse, Steve (25 Feb 2005). "Robbers on High Street nab the spotlight with subtle urban tales". The Boston Globe. pp. D14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  42. ^ a b Kipnis, Jill (12 Feb 2005). "Now Hear This... Robbers on High Street". Billboard. 117 (7): 42 – via Proquest.
  43. ^ Perkins, Terry; Oakes, Jordan (25 July 2005). "Robbers on High Street and Brendan Benson". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 26. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. ^ Raber, Rebecca (27 Apr 2005). "Robbers on High Street". The Village Voice. pp. C80. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. ^ Robbers On High Street - Tree City, 2006, retrieved 2026-05-30
  46. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (3 Aug 2007). "Grand Animals". Entertainment Weekly (946): 63 – via EBSCO.
  47. ^ Gowing, Liam (2 Aug 2007). "Robbers step out from a shadow". The Los Angeles Times. p. 89. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  48. ^ a b Haag, Stephen (2011-10-05). "Robbers on High Street: Hey There Golden Hair » PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  49. ^ a b Redman, Charlee (2011-09-18). "Robbers on High Street - Hey There Golden Hair -". mxdwn Music. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  50. ^ Hortillosa, Summer Dawn (12 Aug 2011). "'Robbers' out of hiatus to perform at Maxwell's". The Jersey Journal. p. 42. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  51. ^ Hey There Golden Hair - Robbers on High Street... | AllMusic, retrieved 2026-05-30
  52. ^ Benny Trokan - Too Far Gone / Turn Back You Fool, 2018, retrieved 2026-05-30
  53. ^ Levin, Maggie (2012-04-29). "Robbers on High Street - Anything Could Happen EP -". mxdwn Music. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  54. ^ "New Jam from Robbers On High Street – Austin Town Hall". Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  55. ^ a b c Duggan, Kevin (26 Nov 2019). "Vintage voices: 1960s-style rock band launch debut album". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  56. ^ a b Boy Morgan - Boy Morgan, 2012, retrieved 2026-05-30
  57. ^ Kot, Greg (22 Aug 2014). "Reigning Sound dials down volume, amplifies sound". Chicago Tribune. pp. 5–7. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  58. ^ a b Millar, Mark (1 Dec 2015). "TRACK OF THE DAY: THE JAY VONS (featuring members of REIGNING SOUND) – 'It Was Wrong to Love You". XS Noize. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  59. ^ a b "Tracks: look at the recording scene". Pro Sound News. 42 (1): 22. Jan 2020 – via Proquest.
  60. ^ McInnerny, Connor (28 Nov 2019). "The Jay Vons smoothly groove on 'The Word,' play Union Pool 12.1". The Deli. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  61. ^ Blickenstaff, Jacob. "On the road with Lee Fields & The Expressions". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  62. ^ Simpson, Dave (2010-02-18). "Are Spoon the best band of the past 10 years?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  63. ^ Harvila, Rob (2017-03-17). "The Last Rock Band Standing". www.theringer.com. Retrieved 2026-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  64. ^ Cohen, Ian (2025-05-07). "Every Spoon Studio Album, Ranked". UPROXX. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  65. ^ Domanick, Andrea (10 Jul 2019). "Spoon's Britt Daniel: 'We stuck around even when it made more sense not to'". Los Angeles Times (Online). Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  66. ^ Newcomb, Ming Lee (11 Jul 2019). "Spoon Announces Departure Of Bassist Rob Pope & Confirms Addition Of Ben Trokan". JamBase. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  67. ^ a b Soto, Alfred (12 Feb 2022). "Spoon: Lucifer on the Sofa". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2026-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  68. ^ a b Derdeyn, Stuart (16 Jul 2022). "The devil made him do it". The Vancouver Sun. pp. C9. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  69. ^ a b Condran, Ed (14 Jul 2022). "Going Wild: Spoon digging unexpected sounds with latest release". The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa). pp. P2. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  70. ^ a b "Hey Lovers by Benny Trokan". Daptone Records. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  71. ^ Huntington, Tom (5 Nov 2022). "Soul Provider: Veteran singer Lee Fields digs deep on 'Sentimental Fool'". The Rutland Daily Herald. pp. D2. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  72. ^ Jordan, Chris (6 Oct 2023). "Fields on Super Bowl commercial that changed career". pp. LF4. Retrieved 30 May 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  73. ^ Vock, Casey (2024-04-19). "Live Review: Lee Fields @ 9:30 Club — 4/13/24 | Parklife DC". Retrieved 2026-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  74. ^ a b c Graff, Gary (20 Aug 2024). "Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short N' Sweet' and nine more things you must hear this week". Plain Dealer, The: Web Edition Articles (Cleveland, OH). Retrieved 31 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  75. ^ a b c Trokan, Benny. Do You Still Think of Me? LP / liner notes. Brooklyn, NY: Wick Records / The Daptone Recording Co., 2024
  76. ^ Pelly, Liz (2016-07-06). "New imprint brings Daptone Records' soul to analog rock'n'roll". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  77. ^ "New Music Reviews (8/26)". www.kexp.org. 26 Aug 2024. Retrieved 2026-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  78. ^ Kiley, Brendan (2022-04-29). "The many lives of KEXP, now a more diverse, online global phenomenon". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2026-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  79. ^ Wingfield, Nick (2015-11-09). "In the Stream of Internet Radio, Music Stations Hold Their Own". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  80. ^ ""KEXP Charts for the Week of Aug 16 - Aug 22"". www.kexp.org. 26 Aug 2024. Retrieved 2026-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  81. ^ "KEXP Charts for the Week of Aug 30 - Sept 5". www.kexp.org. 9 Sep 2024. Retrieved 2026-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  82. ^ Staff (2025-12-04). "Dec. 4-10". Style Weekly. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  83. ^ Robbers On High Street - Anything Could Happen, 2012-04-17, retrieved 2026-05-31
  84. ^ Magazine, Dork (2026-05-07), Spoon – Chateau Blues (2025) | Track profile, retrieved 2026-05-31
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.