Bent Blue

The musicians behind Bent Blue are no strangers to the hardships of trying to play original music in NEPA. Three members of the band fought the good fight for years in the original band Mere Mortals, showing an impressive and admirable amount of dedication in the face of a local money machine with a vested interest in keeping bars and clubs stocked with radio-rock cover bands.

With Bent Blue, former Mortals Pay Flynn (lead guitar), Mark Kiesinger (bass), and Marko Marcinko (drums, percussion, piano) have teamed up with lead vocalist/guitarist Smith, elevating their sound to anthemic proportions. Now the band is once again taking chances on original material, and their commitment is evident on their recently released self-titled CD.

Bent Blue’s strength lies in a highly polished sound, lush production and stadium-sized dramatic hooks. Conjuring comparisons to everything from U2, Coldplay, Live, Doves to Creeper Lagoon, the band balances passionate guitar rock bombast with tenderness and gentle passages. Smith occasionally complements his silky-smooth Richard Ashcroft-meets-Bono voice with a Thom Yorke falsetto in “Against the Grain,” probably his best performance of the record. Marcinko delivers the most energetic and inspired drumming he’s done in years and the solid team of Flynn and Kiesinger seem to enjoy their job. Here’s to hoping Bent Blue and other local original bands keep fighting. - Phillip Price