LITTLE STEVENS DEBUT UNDERGROUND GARAGE LIVE SHOWCASE the Romantics, the Chesterfield Kings, Reigning Sound, the Fondas, and Cobra Verde The Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland Ohio Friday, Feb. 21, 2004

"Detroits" Fondas, whose tune "Wanna be" is spun heavily on Little Steven's show were the least known of all performing, which works to their advantage.

The Fondas stunning frontwoman Julie Benjamin exerts a Victorian sexual intensity the way she handles a microphone, brushes a hand across her thigh, or the way she fixes her eyes on you from the stage. She creates a disconnected tension that draws you in.

The set highlight is the new "Make You Mine," a fast, crunchy rocker sounding straight from the Kinks' "Lola vs. the Powerman" era."
...Walter Wasacz; MetroTimes

COMERICA 2004 TASTEFEST Detroit, Michigan; Saturday July 3, 2004 field report;
"After work, I went back downtown for another dose of Motown food and jams. After a quick bite, I shot over to the Pure stage to check out THE FONDAS one of the town's best bands. Many of us have caught this great act, but they introduced a few new tunes this go round. Singer Julie looked radiant as ever in her vintage boots. Backed by one of the most able bands in this town, they did MOTOWN proud as they revved up the crowd awaiting JET. Bedecked in a fly Hawkeye pierce outfit, Steve Shaw led the band in rock hit after rock hit. I enjoyed my umpteenth beer as I snapped aways.."
...Christopher Chouinard; Fotog INK Reviews

LITTLE STEVEN'S INTERNATIONAL UNDERGROUND GARAGE FESTIVAL
Randall's Island in New York City
SAT. AUG. 14, 2004
From Detroit, The FONDAS are one of those contemporary bands I'm not sure why they're called garage. That's not a knock--just confusion on my part. That comment out of the way, I like The FONDAS because of lead vocalist Julie Benjamin. Her soulful vocals give The FONDAS added depth, not only on CD, but, in concert as well. The FONDAS packed a lot of emotion into their brief set.
...Chip Lamey; Video Crypt

LOCAL BAND SPOTLIGHT: The Fondas
September 3, 2004

The lowdown: The Fondas are singer Julie Benjamin, guitarists Steve Shaw and Mark J. Niemenski, bassist Nick Sokolowski and drummer Chip Sercombe. The group's debut album, "Coming Now," was released last year and immediately became a staple of Little Steven Van Zandt's internationally syndicated "Underground Garage" radio show, heard locally 7-9 p.m. Sundays on WCSX-FM (94.7). The Fondas' appearance at Little Steven's International Underground Garage Festival in New York last month solidified their position as one of garage rock's leading new lights.

The name: While looking through a book of contemporary Japanese paintings, Shaw was drawn to a work called "The Fondas," a portrait of actor and family patriarch Henry with his children Peter and Jane. Its multigenerational theme, the balance between revered tradition and young blood, seemed to fit his unnamed band.

The setup: The band's basic format -- a five-piece fronted by a female singer and a repertoire culled largely from the more obscure corners of their record collections -- may recall the Detroit Cobras, of which Steve Shaw was a founding member, but the differences are striking. "It's not the result of anything conscious on my part," he says. "It's organic, a reflection of how I've grown and the character of the people I'm working with." Much of that character resides in the cool burn of Julie Benjamin's voice. The former Slumber Party drummer was a decidedly tentative performer early on, but the acquired vocal confidence she displayed at the New York festival was truly impressive and augers well for the Fondas' future.

Back to the basement: Though the group's album was full of great found material from the likes of Nolan Strong, Baby Washington, Del Shannon and Don Covay, it was Niemenski's original "Wanna Be" that emerged as the favorite. Sessions for the follow-up are well under way, and nine of the songs recorded so far are originals. "I hope we don't disappoint anybody, but this will definitely not sound like a basement recording!"

The show: Hear Fondas favorites old and new Sunday night at the Magic Stick, before they depart for their first West Coast tour. Opening are the Sunday Sinners (from Montreal) and Terror at the Opera. 9 p.m. 4120 Woodward, Detroit. 313-833-9700. $6.
...By Ben Edmonds, Free Press special writer

As the resident sexpert here at AMP HQ, I feel it’s my duty to tell all of you that the bands most of you enjoy are not, and I repeat NOT, sexy at all. The Fondas, a band none of you know or care about (yet), are sexxxy. After all, I should know. Featuring Mr. Steve Shaw of DETROIT COBRAS, The Fondas are another female-fronted combo that covers obscure, fantastic R&B tunes, throws in a pinch of garage, and a whole lotta fantastic, sultry vocals. “Coming Now!” will have you drinking, dancing and possibly making out with someone very good looking as soon as the needle drops. I can’t possibly give a better endorsement than that. And since most of you are zitted-out, Warped Tour attendees with no chance in hell of seeing any action any time soon, I suggest you put down that ATARIS CD and get The Fondas record ASAP. Also, the title is, uh, fitting. ...AMP MAGAZINE (MC)

The Fondas have more than a few things in common the The Detroit Cobras, coming from Motown, Steve Shaw on guitar, a sultry female singer, and covering old tunes. There's also some different stuff: Singer Julie Benjamin's voice sounds less whiskey-soaked and cigarette-tinged, and the songs are a little softer on the ears, neither of which is necessarily a bad thing. Their debut LP Coming Now, also on Sympathy, is kick-ass old-style R&B and rock and roll...Thrasher magazine

The Fonda's
The Shelter, Detroit
February 6, 2004

Headliners THE FONDAS took over at 11:00, just as the ice storm outside did likewise. Platinum haired lead singer Julie sashayed through the hits on their new cd, like a vixen. Ex-Cobra Steve Shaw wears his soul on his sleeve, and in his guitar. From the covers, to the originals - this is one band who never disappoints. Surprising the lucky audience (which featured John Szymanski of the Hentchmen and Paybacks, and members of The Sights) with their new composition "Make You Mine", the first run through in public. Lucky us, the tune rocked... the people danced, and the ice outside melted. A great night for rock n roll, for the lucky few who ventured out in the arctic cold of Detroit ...by Christopher Chouinard

......a pop group with roots in 60's music.....there's a chick with big sunglasses and a hot body who does the vocal work....she sounds pretty good.....actually the whole band really isn't that bad.......lotsa covers though....but this shit sounds pretty fucking good.....and I'm not just saying that cuz I'm loaded right now either!!!!!!! .....I'm serious people, my prick is REALLY QUITE STIFF!!!!! This record should've been called Coming Now....On Your Face.....!!!!!!! (SW) ...MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL; OCT 2003

Wow!! Great new band fronted by Julie Benjamin (ex SLUMBER PARTY) with her super soulful vocals!! Plus Steve Shaw of DETROIT COBRAS on guitar!! This is 60's Girl Group sound at it's best, Motown Soul & Garage a GoGo...incl. tracks by KING COLEMAN, Hank Ballard, Mose Allison, DEL SHANNON's "Hey Little Boy"..and a bunch more!! If you dig THE COME ONS, DETROIT COBRAS, etc..you'll LOVE THE FONDAS!! 14 tracks...and soon this one will be in the hall of Detroits R&R Hall of Fame! ...SoundFlat Mailorder

THE FONDAS: Coming Now, The Fondas! (Sympathy For the Record Industry) Detroit rock and roll and rhythm and blues purists with dashes of mild psychedelia. Former Detroit Cobras guitar helmsman Steve Shaw formed this group with Detroit rock vets and the addition of singer Julie Benjamin (Slumber Party drums). Similar to the Cobras, the Fondas favor revamps of obscure mid-century classic. Plus there's the damaged blond vocals and tube amped, primal R&B mannerisms; but their sound can pleasingly approach Shangri-Las/Blondie rough popisms. Hot cover ...Neptune Records newsletter

Artist Of The Week: The Fondas
By Melody Baetens / Special to The Detroit News
DETROIT -- The Fondas are one of the hottest bands to hit the Detroit garage scene recently. With an all-star lineup, and a hip, soulful sound, it is easy to see why the band has become such an instant hit. The group debuted in early 2002 to instant acceptance and accolades. "I love the Fondas," says local music lover and journalist Eve Doster. "They combine the best elements of rock 'n' roll without shoving aesthetics down your throat."

Part of the band's success has been the familiar faces in the lineup. Guitarist Steve Shaw has been playing in Detroit for a decade, and was the founder and original guitarist for the flourishing R&B cover group the Detroit Cobras. Drummer Chip Sercombe and guitarist Mark J. Niemenski are also veterans of the Detroit music scene. Stunning vocalist Julie Benjamin was the last of the Fondas to join. Benjamin also plays drums for the all-female psychedelic pop group Slumber Party. This weekend the Fondas will celebrate the release of their first full-length album, "Coming Now!," and the band already has plans to head back to the studio this fall for a follow-up.

Name: The Fondas
Lineup: Julie Benjamin, vocals; Steve Shaw, guitar and vocals; Chip Sercombe, drums; Mark J. Niemenski, guitar and vocals. Fred Bergman played saxophone on the band's new record, and often sits in with the band when they play live.
Sound: Most of the songs the Fondas play live are covers of classic R&B and soul tunes by artists like Nolan Strong, the Falcons and Del Shannon. The band also has original songs in the same sexy, vintage vein as the covers they choose.
Discography: "Coming Now!" CD and vinyl LP (2003, Sympathy for the Record Industry); "Wanna Be," vinyl single (2003, Sympathy for the Record Industry). Find out more about the Fondas at www.thefondas.net.

Garage pop with a ton of hip swinging action! Now that’s what I call a good time. The Fondas are another of Detroit City’s treats. They hit us with their debut full of party tunes with a 50/early 60’s swagger. This is an album for those that love a good time and want tunes for a great party vibe ...Crashin' In - Indie reviews

Coming Now, the Fondas! LP
Another band from Detroit with a girl-vocalist and a soulgaragerock-thing goin' on...you ask yourself how many of these does the world really need? Well, at least we need The Fondas 'cause they rock like mooses! There`s some familiar characters here like Joe Burdick (ex-Dirtys) and Steve Shaw (ex-Detroit Cobras) and yeah, they come pretty close to the 'Cobras sound. Vocalist Julie Benjamin is one sweet-operator and the covermaterial is well-chosen and played. There's even one original Fondas song, and it's good too. Other songs include covers by Nolan Strong, Don Covay, King Coleman, Del Shannon and the likes. Definitely worth hearing more of ...SAVAGE MAGAZINE

The new band of the ex-Detroit Cobras guitarist Steve Shaw takes off with a similar spectacular like the Cobras. Also here is Julie Benjamin, an endowed frontwoman, at the lead with their program based on cover versions of older obscurities from among others: Del Shannon, George Jones, or King Coleman- which is how one or more original numbers also found their way onto this debut.
Very Soulful, Garage Rock'n'Roll from Detroit's apparently, unquenchable hit fountain- and even if the Fondas are lacking the later, funky, lascivious lustful) erotica of the Detroit Cobras one can still with out a doubt recommend all fans of Rachel Nagy and Company. Awesome, classy Band!! (translated from German to English) ...Green Hell Records

MetroTimes - Detroit
by Fred Mills
9/3/2003

What if the Flamin’ Groovies had been fronted by Debbie Harry or the Runaways’ jail-bait fatale Cherie Currie? That’s but one of several retro-hypotheses that tickle the imagination while listening to the latest entry in the ever-expanding gee-rage sweepstakes. For, like the Groovies in their mid/late ’70s prime (particularly when Dave Edmunds was producing ’em), the Fondas are brazen altar-worshipers of the sounds of yesteryear. But also like the Groovies, they turn that worship into something vital and visceral — as opposed to revivalist or overly mannered.

With Julie Benjamin (also of Slumber Party, which has a new disc out shortly too) alternating between sex-kitten and tuff-girl mic chores, ex-Detroit Cobras guitarist Steve Shaw swapping fuzz and jangle licks with Mark Niemenski, and a killer freakbeat rhythm section by way of bassist Joe Burdick and trapsman Chip Sercombe, the Fondas make their debut with style and attitude to spare. In fact, they kinda play the early Kinks role to the Cobras’ early Yardbirds; where the Cobras incline to the soul/R&B side, the Fondas push a more pop/garage agenda.

As with the Cobras, the Fondas’ set list is composed almost exclusively of covers, barring the Niemenski-penned thumping anthem "Wanna Be." So across this 14-songer you get ace interpretations such as: Hank Ballard’s "Where Is The Love," served up like Paul Revere and the Raiders assaulting the Monkees’ "Last Train To Clarksville"; Justine "Baby" Washington’s sassy R&B strut "Work Out," custom-fitted for Benjamin’s mini-skirted vox; Mose Allison’s "Wildman On The Loose," re-tied and Southern fried with chicken-pickin’ guit licks galore; Carl Belew and W.S. Stevenson’s "Stop The World And Let Me Off," most famously done by Patsy Cline but here given a more high-energy Groovies vibe — not to mention some crucial girl-group nuances from Benjamin. Elsewhere are songs penned by Del Shannon, Don Covay, King Coleman and Nolan Strong, each benefiting from a unique, Fondariffic spin. (Worth noting is that many of the Fondas’ choices have Motor City roots; Shannon, Ballard and Strong, for example, were all born or worked extensively in the Detroit area.)

It’s not unusual to hear hipsters up in the peanut gallery sniffing, "But those are just cover tunes, oh, dear …" as regards records such as this. Bah. Said hipsters completely miss the goddamn point, just like the punks missed the whole point of the Groovies’ archive-trawling back in the day too. Oh, and FYI, collectors alert: Initial copies of the LP edition come pressed on brilliant blue wax. Shake some action, baby!

Quite young volume from the Soul city Detroit. And which should give to hear it also different one than Soulful 60's Rock'n'Roll of the grade! On your first Longplayer it gives some Soul to classical authors like e.g.. ' ' Del Shannon's - Hey Little Boy '' or ' ' Nolan Strong's - Yeah baby '' to hear in addition, enough own Songs, which are inferior to the evenly mentioned Songs in nothing. The Fondas, with which by the way among other things Julie Benjamins (ex Slumber party) at the micro and Steve Shaw are represented of Detroit Cobras at the guitar, created a set, with that them here each shop will probably blow up ...Greed Records
(translated from German to English through Babel Fish)