Bend Sinister (band)

Bend Sinister
Bend Sinister
Background information
Origin	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genres	Indie rock, progressive rock
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Distort Ent; File Under: Music; Cordova Bay Records;
Members	Dan Moxon ; Joseph Blood ; Matt Rhode ; Nick Petrowich
Past members	Dan Goughnour ; Jon Bunyan ; Naben Ruthnum ; Dave Buck ; Kevin Keegan ; Mike Magnusson ; Jason Dana ; Joel Myers ; Henry Alcock White
Website	bendsinisterband.com

Bend Sinister is a progressive-indie band formed in 2001 now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The band takes its name from a novel by Vladimir Nabokov.^[1]

History

The band formed in 2001 and began playing as many bar shows as they possibly could in their home town of Kelowna, British Columbia. After their move to Vancouver BC, selling out a four-song EP, and acquiring a new drummer and guitarist, the band sought out local producer Shawn Cole to put together what is now their first full-length album Through the Broken City.^[2] The band did three consecutive nationwide tours in support of the album.

After gaining experience from the road, Bend Sinister returned to the studio to record a few new songs. These songs included the single "Time Breaks Down", which moved the band into uncharted territory and captured the attention of Distort Entertainment president, Greg Below.

In 2006, Bend Sinister switched labels to newly formed sister division of Distort Entertainment, Distort Light.

In January 2006, the band performed a set of six songs in session at CBC Television Studio 2.^[3] Later, CBC featured the band in a short film, "Meat the Band - Bend Sinister", on the television show ZeD.^[4] The band released its third album, a self-titled EP, on September 4, 2007 and toured Canada supporting it under the sponsorship of CBC Radio 3, including a stop at Pop Montreal on October 7, 2007.^[5]

After a few more changes to their lineup, Bend Sinister returned to the studio once again in 2008 in order to put together what was to become their second full-length album, Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers. It was released on October 21, 2008.^[6] Since then, the band has welcomed new guitarists Henry Alcock-White and Joseph Blood and released a music video for their song "The Same Things".

In March 2009, they joined the Sound of Fiction Tour^[7] along with Inward Eye and Mobile. Bend Sinister has played Sled Island Music Festival two consecutive years (2008 and 2009) in Calgary, Alberta. The band has also played at many small venues, and even schools like Tom Baines, also in Calgary.

Enter 2012, Bend Sinister left Distort Ent and released On My Mind and Small Fame with Vancouver label File Under: Music, with the addition of Matt Rhode on bass. Following two years touring in Germany, Canada and the US the band spent a month in San Diego recording Animals. Released in 2014, the band followed up with extensive touring supporting Electric 6, Bigelf and Flying Colors. Touring North America and Europe extensively.

The band is currently signed to Cordova Bay Records and have released albums in 2017 (The Other Way EP), 2018 (Foolish Games, Full length), as well as in 2020 with a follow EP Why Can't we Be Happy with lost gems from the Foolish Games era. Bend Sinister also kept the music festive with a couple of Christmas songs, featuring a holiday original 'If Christmas Comes This year'.

On July 14, 2023, the band released two singles: Price You Pay and Hot City from their upcoming album set for early 2024.

Discography

Studio albums

The Warped Pane (2002)
Through the Broken City (2005)
Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers (2008)
Small Fame (2012)
Animals (2014)
Foolish Games (2018)
Mostly Great Things (2024)

Extended Plays

Bend Sinister (EP) (2007)
Spring Romance (EP) (2010)
On My Mind (EP) (2012)
The Other Way (EP) (2017)

Compilations

Selected Demos & Rarities (2011)

References

^ Chong, Kevin. (February 28, 2007) "Naming rites", CBC Canada. Accessed September 24, 2007.
^ Bend Sinister Biography Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
^ Bend Sinister In Session^{[permanent dead link]} CBC Radio 3. Accessed September 24, 2007.
^ Meat the Band - Bend Sinister^{[permanent dead link]} March 14, 2006. Accessed September 24, 2007.
^ Bend Sinister Archived October 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Pop Montreal. Accessed September 24, 2007.
^ "Distort : Bands : Bend Sinister". Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2009-03-25. Bend Sinister On Distort Entertainment
^ https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46337692137 Facebook Page For Sound Of Fiction Tour ^{[user-generated source]}

External links

Bend Sinister Official Site
Bend Sinister on Distort
Bend Sinister on CBCRadio3
Bend Sinister at Myspace
Dundon, Kelsey. (May 5, 2005). The Return of 'Prog Rock' The Tyee Accessed September 24, 2007.
Newton, Tony. (June 2005) Bend Sinister: Prepare to Break the City The Nerve Magazine Accessed September 24, 2007.
Story, Jared. (September 20, 2007. "Bend Sinister" Review. Uptown Magazine. Accessed September 24, 2007.