Vancouver rock band Bend Sinister’s more or less annual show at the Slice is always something to look forward to, so I didn’t want to miss their Wednesday show, Oct. 18. Unfortunately I missed an opening set from fellow B.C rockers Band of Rascals.
But I arrived in time to catch a “greatest hits” show from a band that doesn’t have any hits, but who should have a lot of them.
The organ powered ’70s inspired groove rockers have been around for 15 -odd years and dedicated part of their show to playing a song from each of their recording right up to their current EP “ the Other Way.”
They were featured on local radio station 98.1 the Bridge and played the song they played there as well as a new song called “the Beach.”
As usual frontman/ keyboard/organist Dan Moxon jumped and danced behind his organ while delivering powerful, soulful vocals.
The band, drummer Dickey Neptune, bassist Matt Rhode, wearing his usual Daniel Boone hat and sleeveless T-shirt and guitarist Joseph Blood were joined by J.P Maurice on extra keyboards nad guitar, whose shirt Blood was sporting.
They played most of the new EP including the highlight “Get Along” and a variety of relentlessly optimistic sounding ’70s inspired (ranging from Deep Purple to Steely Dan) crowd favourites, which had most of the audience of about 40 people dancing in front of the stage.
Their older materiel showed more of their progressive rock influence.
They wound down an intense and entertaining set with crowd favourites “Be All Right” and “I Got You” before dedicating their song “Rock and Roll” to Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, who passed away last week.
