Bend Sinister Working On New Material, Plotting Eastern Canadian Dates

This is shaping up to be a huge year for Vancouver's Bend Sinister.

They're hot off their Olympics performance, where they played to a crowd of 3,500 people. If that wasn't enough, the rockers finished third as part of the PEAK Performance Project contest in January, winning $50,000.

They're now working on new material and plan to spend the next three months on tour in eastern Canada.

CHARTattack caught up with guitarist/keyboardist/lead vocalist Dan Moxon to discuss his fears of singing, the days when the band's stage decor included garlic bulbs and his dream of focusing on the band full-time.

CHARTattack: What has the band been up to lately?
Dan Moxon: For the past two weeks, we've been in the studio doing new songs with Howard Redekopp [Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers], which has been our main focus, mentally. We're heading to Toronto next Tuesday, so I've been getting my life in order before we head to the east, where we'll be for the next three months.

A while ago, you guys were playing dive bars around B.C. What are some of the most memorable experiences?
Back when we first started the band, we'd play fruit stands, other divvy places like [Vancouver venues] Pat's Pub and Astoria. This wasn't really a dive bar, but our first show as a band was at a fruit stand around hanging cloves of garlic in the boiling summer. It made it almost impossible to play that close to the garlic [laughs].

You guys have gotten a lot of support from CBC over the years, performed a session for them and CBC Radio 3 sponsored a tour in 2007, which was in support of your self-titled EP. What did it mean to the band to have backing from such a prominent Canadian outlet?
I have mutual respect for CBC Radio 3. Radio is the best way for people to hear something new and they support Canadian music. It was a great chance working with them and to have the support of such a great institution.

Back in January, the band played [Vancouver venue] The Commodore Ballroom as part of the PEAK Performance Project and walked away with $50,000. Any ideas on how the money will be used?
The main thing about the money is that now, we can afford to focus on the band and bring the tour to Toronto. We'll use the money for tour expenses, like gas and hotels and putting money into publicity and marketing. Fifty thousand can be gone before we know it, but it's definitely a help. It gives us momentum to focus on the band and maybe leave our day jobs forever.

In the past, you said at first you were shy about singing. Have you warmed up to being the band's vocalist, or do you still have doubts?
I've been singing for a good seven years now and I'm pretty good with it. I was shy in the early days, but once you have to perform in front of people and get into performance mode, it gets better. I'm still the same shy person but it's almost like having to give a best man speech [Laughs].

Your last album, Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers, was released in 2008. Music-wise, what's in the future for Bend Sinister?
The album was released at the end of 2008, so it doesn't really feel like two years ago to me. It'd be really great to have a new record right away, but right now we're heading out on tour and focusing on touring.

Maybe we'll put out an EP a little sooner and put it out online since I have tons of new songs for the studio. As a musician and songwriter, you're always getting better over time and want to share your new music with people.

Bend Sinister will play these shows:

March 2 Kelowna, BC @ Habitat
March 3 Calgary, AB @ Broken City
March 4 Olds, AB @ Tracks Pub
March 5 Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos Cantina w/ The Dudes
March 7 Thunder Bay, ON @ Jack's
March 9 Peterborough, ON @ The Legendary Red Dog w/ Hot Hot Heat and Phantogram
March 10 Kingston, ON @ The Ale House w/ Hot Hot Heat and Phantogram
March 12 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern (CHARTattack's Canadian Music Week showcase)
March 25 Toronto, ON @ The Rivoli