It’s a muggy Thursday night in downtown Baton Rouge, La. The Basin, a popular music venue, holds the animated, electric, dorm-formed college rock band The Bends. Four Louisiana State University students fill the otherwise empty hall with the energetic sounds of their band practice. 

Young musicians Hayden Field, Ian Marmande, Chase Perkins, and Jacob Rhodes run through their newest single, “Weekend Love,” as they prepare for its release. They play several versions of each verse and chatter amongst themselves until they are all satisfied with the sound. 

“So, this is how it happens!” shouts lead guitarist Ian Marmande over the tuning of guitars and beating of drums.

Just over two and a half years ago, The Bends performed for the first time at Battle of the Bands at Fred’s in Tigerland. This year, they hit the ground running and set off to conquer their Southeast spring tour, earning credibility and industry buzz with each stop. The band recently broke through the walls of original songwriting and created a tidal wave of sound. 

“Kind of our golden ticket in a way, I think, was writing and releasing music that people were able to connect with,” Marmande said. “That kind of just put us on a whole new level.”

The Bends’ first single, “Makeup,” now has over 363,000 listens on Spotify and earned the boys some attention from musicians and record labels throughout the industry.

A Full Circle Moment

Kevin Griffin, a familiar face to the city’s music scene and the vocals behind the Baton Rouge born band Better Than Ezra, shared his experiences with The Bends. 

“I’m always keen to see what young bands are playing in the Baton Rouge area just for obvious reasons because that’s where we came from,” said Griffin.

He recalls starting at Murphy’s on Chimes in Baton Rouge, which reopened just in time for The Bends to take the stage. 

“It feels super familiar, and then also it’s nice that so many years later you can still be with some buddies and get together and start a rock band, and suddenly you start getting noticed by the industry,” he said. 

This past spring, The Bends played their hit single, “Makeup,” at the very same bar.

“I was hearing it sung back to me, and there’s something to be said for that,” said lead singer Hayden Field. 

Field played in a cover band before forming The Bends. Writing music and singing original songs to quickly growing crowds is a different type of beast, though. 

“Being the singer with the microphone in front of your face, you have to find a way to fill the void in between songs or kind of just interact with the crowd and get them engaged,” he said. “I’ve grown a lot doing that.” 

Harmony From The Beginning

The Bends dove headfirst into their stage presence and got more than a taste of what it means to perform live during their very first show in 2023.

“It was my first time being on a stage, and we played in front of around 800 people, which was crazy,” Marmande said. 

The crew’s musical chemistry exploded that night as the crowd of students chanted for an encore.

“We got up on stage. and my fingers were shaking,” said bassist Chase Perkins. “Since then it’s been a lot easier.”  

As The Bends navigate their newfound footing in the music industry, they stand on their firm foundation of chemistry and fun that started the process in the first place. 

Lively Performances For Excited Audiences

“When I got to our band’s first practice, it just felt right,” Perkins recalled. “It was like nothing I’ve ever played in before.”

The young musicians learned that having a good time on stage leads to a connection with the audience.

“Everywhere we go, we’re having fun. And I think that translates to the people that are watching us having fun and wanting to be a part of that,” drummer Jacob Rhodes said. 

Rhodes has played the drums since he was five years old and always dreamed of playing in a successful rock band. He said success comes with the variety of fun each live performance encapsulates. 

“It’s enjoyable every single time. It’s always a different situation,” he said. “Either Hayden says something different, or even if we change up a part, every show is always different.” 

The crowd’s reciprocation of energy brings a sense of validation for live bands that have stood the test of time.

“What’s great about what the guys are doing in The Bends is they’re proving that they have something that is the one thing you cannot manufacture—people who like to come see your band live,” said Griffin. 

As The Bends continue to hit the same circuit of college towns that Better Than Ezra once did, fans continue to flock their way. Griffin called the process “old school” because it is becoming more and more rare to start a band so authentically.

This year fans can expect more original releases and live shows throughout the Southeast. Conquering a music career may seem daunting, but The Bends appear to be on the right track.

“Rock n Roll and playing live is alive and well, and The Bends are evidence of that,” Griffin said. 

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Featured Image by Kaylie Cross