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Forming in 2003 as a spacey guitar/violin duo, NYC’s Thirdborder has transcended to a three-piece that runs the musical gamut from drifting melancholia to jagged art punk. Tempering Ben Miller’s psyche-pop sensibilities, the pummeling rhythm section of Gerard Smith and Jarrod Ruby adds a sense of aggressive urgency. Their acclaimed 2006 album, “Sun of Water, Sea of Light” (Radial Records), is a strong and unpredictable effort. String-aided psychedelia alternates with dynamic mood and time shifts as the mania sets in again. WIRE Magazine wrote “as the driving force behind Third Border, Miller’s talent as a writer and performer becomes clear, and what leaps out is not without its own quirky charm” (Sept. 2006).

In late 2007, Gerard Smith joined the band to create a thick and angular backdrop along with drummer Jarrod Ruby. The band has since written a new set of songs, which are currently being recorded in Wharton Tiers new studio in Brooklyn.

Ben Miller / guitar, vocal
An accomplished songwriter, guitarist, prepared guitarist and saxophonist, Ben Miller has been musically hyperactive since 1969 when he co-founded the band, Sproton Layer, with his brothers Roger (Mission of Burma) and Laurence Miller. Ben, along with Laurence, later became members of the legendary Ann Arbor, MI avante punk band, Destroy All Monsters from 1976-78. The group also featured Ron Asheton (the Stooges) and Michael Davis (The MC5). After leaving the group, Ben has steered his own musical path embarking on a wide variety of projects including M3, Dirty Old Man River, Degeneration, and the forming of a saxophone orchestra. Thirdborder finds him playing a ‘standard' guitar while further developing his singular songwriting chops, which, at times, can be reminiscent of such luminaries as Syd Barrett and Robert Pollard.

Gerard Smith / bass
Gerard Smith has been playing in and around New York since co-founding the aggressive art-prog-punk power trio, Phantom Tollbooth, in the mid-1980s. Despite the fact that their records are long out-of-print, interest in the band has surged in recent years due to word-of-mouth amongst various blogs and e-zines. Their classic 1988 album, “Power Toy” was re-released with Robert Pollard (who once declared that PT would have been huge if he was their singer) re-tracking the vocals. The resulting album, “Beard of Lightning,” was released in 2003 and was on many critical ‘best-of’ lists for that year. Gerard has also played in notable bands such as Helmet, the Easter Parade, Burn (with John Easley of Sorry, and Mac McCaughan of Superchunk) and Down & Away.

Jarrod Ruby: drums
The other half of Thirdborder’s pummeling rhythm section, Jarrod Ruby, has been playing in and around NYC for the better part of the past decade. His playing with such bands as AM and Proton Proton prior to Thirdborder, has attracted favorable attention.

Previous members: Luke Kozikowski (bass), Pinky Weitzman (stroh-violin & viola), Jena Kim (violin).

"Sun of water, Sea of light" (Radial Records) Produced by Roger Miller (Mission of Burma) and Laurence Miller (Destroy All Monsters) is made available to you at finer independent record stores, Amazon.com , CDBaby and Ben Miller's website.

"Ben Miller played alto sax for Ann Arbor legends Destroy All Monsters during the group's second incarnation with Niagara and Ron Asheton at the helm. As the driving force behind Third Border, however, Miller's talent as a writer and performer becomes clear, and what leaps out is not without its own quirky charm. Rather than simply replay Miller's art punk past, Third Border mix Prog with 60s UK psychedelic pop. Their timely version of Syd Barrett's "Jugband Blues" is a fine example of the latter, an eccentrically orchestrated tribute which goes out in fine style with a mad marching band of saxophones and kazoos."
WIRE magazine Oct. 2006

"Rocking out since 1969, Ben Miller retains his youthful edge and energy while revealing an indisputable air of a seasoned musician with his latest band Third Border. Originally a duet comprised of Miller on guitar and vocals and Jena Kim on violin, Third Border developed into a mini orchestra by the time the band recorded its cinematic sophomore album, Sun of Water, Sea of Light. With viola, violin, cello, cornet, recorder, keys and clarinet on board with the standard guitar, bass and drums, the dichotomy between traditional and unconventional rock instruments collide to create a tight set of punk-tinged psych rock tunes."
Deli Magazine Jan. 2008

"Singer-guitarist Ben Miller might be less well-known than his Mission-ary brother Roger, but he has nearly as protean a career behind him. His quartet, Third Border, sets moderated emotional expressions in a field of compelling, barely off-kilter pop rock compositions, with enough strings and productions tweaks to keep the proceedings elevated above the common."
TIME OUT Jan. 2008

Third Border's song "Where Are You, Now?", off of their CD "Sun of Water, Sea of Light", is used as an ending theme song on ECO SENSE; a series of 30-minute studio-talk/documentary programs focusing on energy and environment issues for the Ann Arbor, Michigan community. Filmmaker Katsumi Nagae interpretes the song's message, which is actually based on Miller's personal experience, as a metaphor for the ambiguous expectation of the future of all of humanity.

NOTE: "Sun of Water, Sea of Light" was chosen as one of 48 candidates for possible Grammy nomination in the 2006 'Alternative Album of the year' category.

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