BEND SINISTER at Cherry Cola’s Rock N’ Rolla, Saturday, March 10. Rating: NNNN
Bend Sinister powerhouse vocalist/keyboardist Dan Moxon specializes in the kind of “we’re here for a good time, not a long time” lyrics that can really bring a hundred or so strangers together during a show.
Add in the Vancouver four-piece’s anthemic melodies, warm but energetic stage presence, pummelling drums and epic prog-informed (and maybe Billy Joel-informed) songs and, well, you can’t help but get into the spirit of things.
The exuberant hour-long set included tunes new and old, with Moxon dropping several references to their just-released EP, On My Mind, on sale for five dollars – “or say hi after the show and I’ll just give you one,” he said – as well as to their new album set for release in early summer. Quieter moments showcased their more soulful side and sometimes-cheesy lyrics. (“Hot-blooded Man?!” Oof.)
Huge applause brought them back for an encore. They used the opportunity to play one of the EP’s strongest songs, The Road Divided, and also let us in on the secret that they’d be playing another set… in two hours. Weird move, Cherry Cola’s.
