Fresh off a summer tour that brought their desert-infused sound to audiences across the Southwest, SEAN WHALEN AND THE BENSON HIGHWAY BAND return with the release of “Familiar Forms of Protest” [EP], arriving this Friday, August 15th 2025. Features three previously recorded tracks alongside a brand new song, “Nothing, Anyway” which continues the band’s exploration of life in small towns marked by distance, longing, and the uneasy feeling of living through uncertain times.
The songs on “Familiar Forms of Protest” are drawn from the same creative period as the band’s acclaimed debut full length East Side Blues. Some were left off that record but have taken on new life here, standing together as a raw and reflective collection. Across these tracks, the band confronts the lingering shadows of trauma, the ache of loss, and the stubborn hope that flickers even in the most desolate landscapes. Sean Whalen’s songwriting, paired with the band’s dynamic mix of alternative country, garage grit, and psychedelic haze, turns stark imagery into something unshakably human.
With Familiar Forms of Protest, Sean Whalen & The Benson Highway Band close a chapter that began with East Side Blues while hinting at what is to come. The band will enter the studio in October to begin work on their next full length album.
Equal parts country traditionalists and psychedelic explorers, SEAN WHALEN AND THE BENSON HIGHWAY BAND bridges the gap between classic storytelling and modern-day sonic experimentation. Formed in late 2023, the band draws inspiration from the raw honesty of Tracy Lawrence, the hazy atmospherics of Galaxie 500, the poetic sorrow of Townes Van Zandt, and the lo-fi urgency of Guided By Voices.
The project came to life after longtime friends Sean Whalen and Lucas Steele reconnected—by chance—at a Mudhoney show. Whalen, having spent years in Brooklyn before returning to the Southwest, found himself bored at the gig, only to run into Steele after more than a decade apart. That meeting reignited a musical partnership that quickly found its footing in the Americana and alternative country scenes.
Their 2024 debut album, East Side Blues, was an autobiographical collection of songs steeped in grief, reflecting on Whalen’s post-pandemic life, divorce, and the passage of time. The album resonated with a growing audience, earning underground success and establishing SEAN WHALEN AND THE BENSON HIGHWAY BAND as a fresh yet deeply rooted voice in the modern country-psych landscape.
SEAN WHALEN AND THE BENSON HIGHWAY BAND has shared the stage with artists like Riley Downing of Deslondes fame and remains deeply connected to the Southwest-Americana and alt-country scene. As they continue to push boundaries while honoring tradition, SEAN WHALEN AND THE BENSON HIGHWAY BAND is carving out a space all their own.
| SEAN WHALEN AND THE BENSON HIGHWAY BAND is: |
| Sean Whalen – guitar, vocals |
| Lucas Steele – bass |
| Kevin Moynahan – lead guitar |
| Mark Pino – drums |
Visit SEAN WHALEN AND THE BENSON HIGHWAY BAND online:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/bensonhighwayband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bensonhighwayband/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577140951284
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sean-whalen-the-benson-highway-band
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7eBPr21rBXe5csMQOJ5oBw?si=qD4CQlOuQYO6NSqyDF_Hwg
Add Comment