New Chums

⚡️⚡️Happy birthday to Joe. The dude can melt faces with that guitar ⚡️⚡️

These Chums had a blast playing music at people last Friday . Ya dig?

📸

Ain’t no party like a New Chums party! Come party with us, and on 9/27/25 . It’s going to be a riot… not literally. Ticket link in bio. Be there.

🎉🎉 SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT 🎉🎉

Phoenix! We’ve got a show coming up on 9/27/25 with and at ! Come hang with us.

Link in bio for tickets.

Happy birthday to Benji! Seen here smelling a hint of Joe.

Way to be born, guy. Also, we should play more shows…maybe.

Ready for the BEST NEWS EVER? Benji is back!

His intubation tube was removed early this morning and he is very carefully and cautiously “waking up”. We are overwhelmed and relieved and so happy!

I got to spend a half hour with him today and it really is remarkable. He’s one tough dude and we’re counting down until he’s playing drums on upside-down hospital bowls ⚡️

But here’s the thing about Benji: he isn’t one to ask for help.

In fact, the last thing he wants to do is inconvenience anyone at his expense but, funnily enough, he’s always willing to help everyone else whenever he gets the chance.

So, I’m going to go ahead and ask for help for him, because Benji is going to need a lot of love and support as he continues to recover. We’re not sure what it’s going to look like and we’re all just taking it one minute at a time.

That said, if you are able to contribute to the GoFundMe (link in bio), any little bit would be so appreciated.

I have asked Kate (Ben’s sister) to raise the goal to $20k, so that finances are one less thing to worry about right now. If you have donated or shared or sent good vibes our way, thank you! It means so much.

On a day like today, I am reminded that life is a gift and I am so grateful Benji is still here with us!

~ Seth

Donate to Hearts full of Hope for Ben, organized by Kate Hedlund-Groden On Tuesday night, January 14, 2025, Ben was at band practice with the New Chums. After… Kate Hedlund-Groden needs your support for Hearts full of Hope for Ben

Hey Chum Nation! Seth here. I was able to visit Benji today and it was good to be in the room with him, even if just for a few minutes. I reminded him we have band practice next Tuesday, so he better hurry this process up.

I’m happy to share that he was successfully removed from ECMO (life support), but we’re not out of the woods yet. Benji remains sedated and on a ventilator while his organs continue to rest and heal.

To add a little more context: Benji went BIG and had what is referred to as a “Widowmaker” heart attack. This means that there was a 100% blockage of the LAD (left anterior descending artery) but luckily for us, he is not giving up. He’s fighting! Classic Benji.

In an effort to help Ben and his family during this very critical and overwhelming time, a GoFundMe has been set up to raise money on their behalf. If you are in a position to donate to this cause (in any amount), it would mean the world to us, and to our very favorite drummer.

Keep sending your positive mojo. Benji is one of the good guys ⚡️

Donate to Hearts full of Hope for Ben, organized by Kate Hedlund-Groden On Tuesday night, January 14, 2025, Ben was at band practice with the New Chums. After… Kate Hedlund-Groden needs your support for Hearts full of Hope for Ben

PLEASE READ: we have some difficult news we’d like to share regarding our Chum, Benji.

After band practice this past Tuesday night, he suffered a life-threatening heart attack and is currently in critical condition in the fight of his life in the ICU.

Benji is loved by so many and we’re very grateful that he is surrounded by his family and closest chums during this time.

If you’ve got some extra love and positive energy to share, please send it Benji’s way. He really needs it and we do too.

We love our Benji.

P.S. how cool does Benji look in this picture?

For the three people that were planning on showing up (you know who you are)…this is for you. More updates in the coming days. Definitely still go support the other bands!