BUZZ BANDS

A soulful voice to bank on

Ask anyone who crowded into the Temple Bar on Dec. 6 to witness Rhian Benson’s showcase, and they’ll tell you a new voice soon will be echoing across the neo-soul/urban-music landscape. Benson’s debut album isn’t due until April, but her label, the fledgling Universal City-based DKG Music, has decided to rush out an EP next month. And her music, which is drawing comparisons to artists such as Jill Scott, Sade and Lauryn Hill, is getting top treatment, with James Poyser and Bob Power on the production team and former Weather Report bassist Alphonso Johnson as music director. Born in Ghana, West Africa, and reared in New Delhi, Benson, 25, was a business student at the London School of Economics and Harvard before concentrating solely on music. BET has asked Benson to play a show in Ghana. Short of winning the network’s trip-for-two contest, the best place to sample Benson’s work is www.rhianbenson.com.

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Heady Halos?

The Halo Friendlies have made great strides this year, releasing their debut album, “Get Real,” on Seattle-based Tooth & Nail Records and gaining momentum on three tours, the most recent this fall opening for red-hot Good Charlotte. That connection only solidified the band’s impressive resume -- the Long Beach quartet is managed by Elyse Rogers of the Dance Hall Crashers, and “Get Real” was produced by Muffs front woman Kim Shattuck. The album, a collection of taut, melodic rockers, hasn’t received much promotion, but the video for the catchy single “Sellout” has crept into rotation on MTV2, and the band earned an appearance on the network’s “All Things Rock” show.

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Fast forward

Two ambitious benefit shows this week in Long Beach benefit the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center in South-Central L.A. On the bill Friday at DiPiazza’s Lounge are John Doe, Peter Case and Keith Morris. Then on Monday at Alex’s Bar, eight local acts -- among them 12 Hour Mary, Helmut Stein, Gypsy Trash and Just Like Jesus -- take over. ... Ex-Weezer bassist-Rentals frontman Matt Sharp will stage a benefit for Honduran immigrant Carlos Ramos, who is suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease, at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Tamarind Theater in Los Feliz.

-- Kevin Bronson

E-mail us at buzzbands@latimes.com.