Evolution of the Moth

Benny The Moth has been a stalwart of the Channel Islands music scene for decades. Known for their high-energy live shows and a genre-defying sound, the band’s name is a nod to its 2002 formation in Gorey, Jersey, drawing inspiration from the local nocturnal insect life.

For nearly two decades, Benny The Moth built its reputation primarily as a live act. They became a fixture at local music festivals, with multiple appearances at the Vale Earth Fair in Guernsey and at Jersey Live. After years on the stage, they made a significant transition with the 2020 release of their first full-length album, Life Among Plants And Fungi.

The band’s core line-up is a four-piece ensemble: vocalist and percussionist Lionel Gomes, electric guitarist Tom Kennedy, and a dynamic rhythm section with David Michel and James Evans interchanging on bass and drums.

Their 2020 debut album, Life Among Plants And Fungi, was rooted in dub reggae and ska with hints of fuzzy indie. This was followed by a major stylistic shift on the 2023 EP, Rise & Fall, which embraced punk vibes and a more directly rock-influenced feel. Tom Girard, a key chronicler of the Channel Islands music scene, likened the EP’s opening track, Flavour of ’95, to The Clash’s London Calling and Gorillaz, a comparison that highlights the band’s new creative direction. The band has also embraced collaborations, releasing remixes of their songs No War and Flavour of ’95 with electronic music producers Ian McCoy and Contagion.

This recent creative output is closely tied to their partnership with Jersey-based label, Bubblebrain Records. This collaboration saw Benny The Moth transition from a live-focused band to a studio-recording entity, fully realising their creative evolution. Their story serves as a compelling case study in the dynamics of regional music, demonstrating how a band with deep local roots can navigate the modern music industry.