Bend Sinister

The Rivoli
Cost: FREE
Hand Stamp: None
March 24, 2010

After recently taking third place in the Peak Performance Project, sponsored by the Vancouver radio station, The Peak 100.5, Bend Sinister finds themselves living, recording and playing in and around Toronto for the next three months. On this particular night, they played a rather short notice set at The Rivoli, but as they noted on their website, they would be willing to play house parties as well. And with three months with ample time to play in between recording, it’s a great way for them to get their music out to as many people as possible.

After casually talking with what appeared to be friends and fans alike, at 8.30pm sharp, singer Dan Moxon took to the stage in his vintage looking headband and Michael Jackson t-shirt , while drummer, Jason Dana sported a ZZ Top shirt instead. They played a really great set, with Moxon even jumping off stage at one point, and into the rather laid back thirty-something crowd. He also dedicated one song to, “All the homeless people who never found their spring romance,” touching. Later in announcing a song from their new album, Moxon earnestly asked the crowd, “Please don’t steal it.” The song, “The Same Things” really had a Bachman Cummings feel. Even though they didn’t play it that evening, they also have a pretty impressive version of Bachman Cumming’s “These Eyes.”

One thing that can be said of Bend Sinister is that each of their songs really reflects a particularly distinctive musical ear, yet somehow their sound is still cohesive. Closing with the uplifting, “Things Will Get Better,” it was a great song to close the evening. Hopefully this BC based five-piece will enjoy the rest of their time in Ontario.