Bend Sinister Think Big

Bend Sinister's Dan Moxon is the type of person who doesn't mind tossing around grandiose ideas.

The concept for his band's latest album, Stories Of Brothers, Tales Of Lovers, took nearly four years to come to fruition. It first emerged as the quintet (who are rounded out by guitarist Naben Ruthnum, drummer Jason Dana, bassist Joel Meyers and guitarist/keyboardist/singer Henry Alcock White) wrapped up production on their Through The Broken City debut disc in 2005.

"I started developing all of these songs that stemmed from several characters that were having a romance and a fallout," says singer/keyboardist/guitarist Moxon. "When we got around to doing this record, I had a large group of songs that was geared into that.

"And then I had another set of songs that was geared towards different characters, so I kind of split the album into two parts — stories of brothers and tales of lovers... It all kind of has a flow to it, which would make it a concept record."

Moxon knew from the start that Stories was going to be a big-picture album, so he went out and found a correspondingly extravagant venue for the record's release party. He booked a 500-seat theatre that normally shows first-run films and invited all of the guest players from the album — a gospel choir, a horn section and a string ensemble.

"I'd say it's the best show we've played to date," Moxon exudes. "We did the album from start to finish, as it is on the record...

"We had all of those people come and join us on the stage, along with horns and guest people playing synths and Moogs. We played the whole thing to visuals that I had cut up from old '60s documentaries from this Italian box set called Mondo Cane. We had the full-on fog machine and light show and 15 people on stage."

While he was certainly pleased with the show's outcome, Moxon is a little saddened by the fact that they can't pull off a spectacle like that every night.

"If we could take that show on the road and had the funds to do that, I don't think anyone could come to that show and leave disappointed. It was the epitome of what I want our shows to be, but you have to have a lot of cash and help. At this point, we're stepping it up a little bit. We're bringing the visuals with us."

Bend Sinister are on the tail-end of a western Canadian tour and plan to traverse the rest of the country at some point in the new year. You can see them here:

Nov. 21 Nanaimo, BC @ Mt. Benson Legion
Nov. 22 Victoria, BC @ Fort Street Cafe w/The Poppies
Nov. 28 Vancouver, BC @ The Sweatshop w/Elizabeth and Bad Moves
Dec. 20 Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore Cabaret