Renton band Bench Grinder considers itself “The band that would help you move a couch.” At least that’s what lead singer and guitarist Chris Collier says. He adds, “We’re always willing to help, and what we do best is music.” Collier is only 25, and none of his four band mates are older than 30. Still, the band has been together 12 years.

Named after the two-wheeled grinding machine in Collier’s parents’ garage, Collier calls Bench Grinder a pop-rock band, with “traces of blues, punk, country and folk influence.”

The band’s fifth album, “Clean is the New Dirty” comes out Aug. 8 on the band’s record label, Angry Chone Entertainment. The CD will be available at www.myspace.com/benchgrinder, and shortly after that on iTunes, CDBaby and other retailers.

The Renton Reporter recently got to the grind with Collier. Our questions and his answers follow.

How and why did Bench Grinder get together?

In our most impressionable teenage years, we were smack-dab in the center of the grunge movement. I think every teenager expresses rebellion in some form at that age. Grunge was the ultimate rebellion. After hearing Nirvana, Soundgarden and other Seattle products we had found something we identified with. What sealed it was when Bo, Zaous and I got to see The Posies in ‘96. That’s when we realized we really want to entertain people musically.

Who are Bench Grinder’s influences or favorite groups?

We’re influenced by all music. Currently our heaviest influences are Tom Petty, Fountains of Wayne, Ben Kweller, Foo Fighters, Super Deluxe and Mason Jennings.

Do you perform often?

We have played all over Washington and parts beyond. We play anywhere that will let us. We gig fairly often and rarely take breaks from performing. Our favorite shows are all-ages shows where no one is excluded, but venues for such events are getting harder to find.

Tell me about your new album.

Our new album will be called “Clean is the New Dirty” and will feature four songs recorded with a Grammy-winning producer, four remastered songs and two previously unreleased songs I recorded in my apartment in Seattle. The name is a cloudy metaphor for our band: it references all the trends that have come and gone during our existence while we’ve stayed the course. Maturing and improving but always staying true to what we believe in. That’s good music that everyone can enjoy. I think this will be a better-focused album than our previous four and it will expose our own sound. It’s still relatively diverse, but we’ve definitely honed our skills.

How has Bench Grinder grown over the years?

We’ve had somewhere around 12 different members in 12 years! While it’s always been Bo and me, we’ve finally found a group that shares our philosophies and dedication to making great music. This is also the first time we’ve been a five-piece. We’ve mostly been a trio with the occasional stint as a quartet. Our sound is much fuller now.

What is a favorite Bench Grinder memory or experience?

Our favorite moment being in this band has always been seeing the connection made between us and the audience through our music. Whenever we gaze up and see someone dancing to our music, it makes it all worthwhile.

What’s Renton’s music scene like?

Sadly, Renton doesn’t have much of a music scene. There are many talented musicians in Renton that we’ve met over the years, but Renton has never been very supportive of live music. There isn’t really a place for kids to go and hang out with their friends and have fun. That’s too bad because this city could really use something like that. All-ages clubs keep kids out of trouble and off the streets.

When kids are bored they find things to entertain themselves that aren’t always in their best interest. Instead of building another outlet store or strip mall, someone should put together a teen center where kids can learn about music and the arts.

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