Bend Sinister (band)
Encyclopedia
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
.
, 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
. 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. Later, CBC featured the band in a short film, "Meat the Band - Bend Sinister", on the television show ZeD
. 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.
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. 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 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.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
-indie band formed in 2001 now based in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The band takes its name from a novel by Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was a multilingual Russian novelist and short story writer. Nabokov wrote his first nine novels in Russian, then rose to international prominence as a master English prose stylist...
.
History
The band formed in 2001 and began playing as many bar shows as they possibly could in their home town of KelownaKelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. After their move to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
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
Through the Broken City
Through The Broken City is the debut album from Vancouver band Bend Sinister, released November 8. 2005.- Album line-up :* Dan Moxon - lead vocals/Piano Organ* Jon Bunyan - Guitar/keyboards vocals* Naben Ruthnum - Lead guitar* Dave Buck - Bass...
. 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
Distort Entertainment
Distort Entertainment is a Canadian independent record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The label specializes in hardcore punk bands such as Alexisonfire and Cancer Bats and metal bands such as Johnny Truant, but also represents lighter music with its sister division such as Bend...
president, Greg Below
Greg Below
Greg Below is the president and founding partner of Distort Entertainment, a well known Canadian show promoter, and talented music producer. Greg is known for his height and enthusiastic love of music .-Distort Entertainment:...
.
In 2006, Bend Sinister switched labels to newly formed sister division of Distort Entertainment
Distort Entertainment
Distort Entertainment is a Canadian independent record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The label specializes in hardcore punk bands such as Alexisonfire and Cancer Bats and metal bands such as Johnny Truant, but also represents lighter music with its sister division such as Bend...
, Distort Light.
In January 2006, the band performed a set of six songs in session at CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
Studio 2. Later, CBC featured the band in a short film, "Meat the Band - Bend Sinister", on the television show ZeD
ZeD
ZeD is a Canadian variety television program and website. The series premiered on CBC Television in March 2002 and ran to 2006. Hosted primarily by Sharon Lewis and Ziya Tong, ZeD publicized creative works from Canada and other countries, including a substantial portion of material created by...
. The band released its third album, a self-titled EP
Bend Sinister (EP)
Bend Sinister is the third release EP from Vancouver band, Bend Sinister released September 14. 2007. The video for first single, "Time Breaks Down", received moderate play on Muchmusic and was nominated for CBC Radio 3's 2007 Video of the Year Bucky award....
, on September 4, 2007 and toured Canada supporting it under the sponsorship of CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...
, including a stop at Pop Montreal
Pop Montreal
Pop Montreal is an annual music festival occurring in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the early fall, usually at the end of September or the beginning of October. More than 400 acts are scheduled to play in more than 50 venues across the city, mostly located in the Mile End area...
on October 7, 2007.
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
Stories Of Brothers, Tales Of Lovers
Stories Of Brothers, Tales Of Lovers is Bend Sinister's second album which was released October 21, 2008. This album could be classified as a follow-up concept album to their self-titled EP. The first single, "The Same Things" was released on September 16, 2008.The album was produced, and mixed by...
. It was released on October 21, 2008. 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 along with Inward Eye and Mobile
Mobile (band)
Mobile were a Canadian Alternative Rock band from Montreal initially composed of Mathieu Joly , Christian Brais , Pierre-Marc Hamelin , Dominic Viola and Frank Williamson . Their debut album, Tomorrow Starts Today, was released in 2006. The band was nominated for two Juno Awards in 2007 and went...
. Bend Sinister has played Sled Island
Sled Island
Founded by Zak Pashak in 2007, The Sled Island Music and Arts Festival is an annual independent festival held in over thirty venues in downtown Calgary, Alberta. Sled Island allows many generations of festival goers to gather for four days each year to celebrate the wealth of creative talent that...
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.
Discography
- The Warped Pane
- Through the Broken CityThrough the Broken CityThrough The Broken City is the debut album from Vancouver band Bend Sinister, released November 8. 2005.- Album line-up :* Dan Moxon - lead vocals/Piano Organ* Jon Bunyan - Guitar/keyboards vocals* Naben Ruthnum - Lead guitar* Dave Buck - Bass...
- Bend Sinister (EP)Bend Sinister (EP)Bend Sinister is the third release EP from Vancouver band, Bend Sinister released September 14. 2007. The video for first single, "Time Breaks Down", received moderate play on Muchmusic and was nominated for CBC Radio 3's 2007 Video of the Year Bucky award....
- Stories of Brothers, Tales of LoversStories Of Brothers, Tales Of LoversStories Of Brothers, Tales Of Lovers is Bend Sinister's second album which was released October 21, 2008. This album could be classified as a follow-up concept album to their self-titled EP. The first single, "The Same Things" was released on September 16, 2008.The album was produced, and mixed by...
- Spring Romance (EP)Spring Romance (EP)Spring Romance is the second EP and fifth studio release from the band Bend Sinister.-Reception:The opening track "Things Will Get Better" was named as #10 on Grant Lawrence's top 10 songs of 2010 on his weekly CBC Radio 3 Podcast...
See also
- Canadian rockCanadian rockCanadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
- List of bands from Canada
- List of Canadian musicians
- :Category:Canadian musical groups
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 TyeeThe TyeeThe Tyee is an independent Canadian online web magazine, which focuses on coverage of news and media issues in British Columbia.The Tyee was launched in November 2003 by David Beers, a journalist who had previously been associated with the Vancouver Sun...
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.