Kind of Like Spitting
| Company type | Indie rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 in Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Founder | Ben Barnett |
| Defunct | 2025 |
| Headquarters | Portland , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Kind of Like Spitting is an American indie rock group that originated in 1996 in Portland, Oregon. Fronted by vocalist and songwriter Ben Barnett, whose musical approach has been likened to artists such as Elliott Smith, Mark Eitzel, Billy Bragg, and Robert Pollard, the ensemble produced twelve albums within seven years and undertook numerous tours across the United States. Their song "Birds of a Feather" gained modest recognition in the UK through airplay by BBC Radio 1 presenter John Peel. The band dissolved initially in 2006 due to personal circumstances, reunited in 2012, and ultimately disbanded again in 2025.
History
Kind of Like Spitting issued a self-titled EP in July 1998 under Hush Records. Their album You Secretly Want Me Dead was released in April 2000. Beyond this project, Barnett participated in other musical ventures, including his tenure with The Thermals from 2002 to 2003 and leading Blunt Mechanic, which launched World Record in 2010. Since 2007, Barnett has been involved in music education at Seattle’s Paul Green School of Rock.
The band's 2014 reunion featured a three-member lineup comprising Brian Grant on bass and Dante Johnson on drums. During this phase, they debuted on Topshelf Records with the album It's Always Nice To See You and embarked on a two-week tour alongside Lemuria.
On November 8, 2024, Kind of Like Spitting released the EP Soon through Near Mint Records, marking their first official release after a ten-year hiatus.
On September 17, 2025, following accusations of grooming and sexual assault directed at Barnett, he declared the end of the band. Their final album, I Do It For My City, was released on October 3, 2025. Barnett subsequently denied all allegations.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Kind of Like Spitting (cassette) - Jealous Butcher Records (1996)
- You Secretly Want Me Dead – Jealous Butcher Records (1997) / Hush Records (2000) / Jealous Butcher Records Record Store Day reissue (2016)
- Kind of Like Spitting – Hush Records (1999)
- Nothing Makes Sense Without It – New American Dream (2000)
- Old Moon in the Arms of the New – Hush Records (2000)
- One Hundred Dollar Room – Ohev/Ganaarecordings (2002)
- Bridges Worth Burning – Barsuk (2002)
- Learn: The Songs of Phil Ochs – Hush Records (2005)
- In the Red – Hush Records (2005)
- Myspace Covers - self-released (2005)
- The Thrill of the Hunt – Redder Records (2006)
- Songs About Zombies and Trust Issues - self-released (2009)
- One Hundred Dollar Room (Reissue) - Count Your Lucky Stars Records (2013)
- It's Always Nice to See You - Topshelf Records (2015)
- Covers - self-released (2016)
- Learn 2: The Songs Of The Karl Hendricks Trio - self-released (2020)
- I DO IT FOR MY CITY - self-released (2025)
- EPs
- Kind of Like Spitting (The Blue EP) – Hush Records (1998)
- Insound Tour Support Series No. 14 - Insound Records (2000)
- Your Living Room's All Over Me – Art of the Underground (2006)
Singles
- Birds of a Feather 7" – Grand Theft Autumn Records (1999)
Live
- Live At CPOP Art Gallery - self-released (2002)
- Live & Acoustic At Fireside Bowl - self-released (2002)
- Live At The Electric Factory - self-released (2002)
- Live At Le Jive Music Café - self-released (2003)
- Live In Seattle - Hush Records (2005)
- Phoning It In - self-released (2005)
- Live In Woodland Hills - self-released (2006)
- Portland Lounge Series VIII - self-released (2007)
- Daytrotter - Daytrotter (2015)
Splits
- Tour CD - with The City On Film and Sterling Silver - Jealous Butcher Records / About Midnight Records / Slowdance Records (1998)
- Kind of Like Spitting / Rose of Sharon - Jealous Butcher Records (1998)
- City On Film / Kind of Like Spitting - Sport Records (1999)
- Home: Volume I - with Jeff London - Post-Parlo Records (2000)
- Your Livingrooms All Over Me - Lemuria / Kind of Like Spitting - Art Of The Underground (2006)
- Tour CD - with Des Ark and David Rovics (2016)
Compilation Appearances
- Nailed to the Stars - Jealous Butcher Records (1996)
- FLAG - Hush Records (1999)
- Slightest Indication Of Change - Slowdance Records (2001)
- Read: Interpreting Björk - Hush Records (2004)
- MILE - Hush Records (2005)
- Another Grey Christmas - LocalCut (2007)
- Metaphysics for Beginners - Redder Records (2007)
- DECA - Hush Records (2009)
- From the Land of Ice and Snow: The Songs of Led Zeppelin - Jealous Butcher Records (2010)
- Not The Same Old Songs: A Tribute To Motown - Artistic Integrity Records (2016)