Featured Artists
Bond & Bentley
The line up has changed, but the sound remains the same...
Bond & Bentley formed in Baltimore, MD in 2005 when life long friends Ray Wroten and Stan Wetters came up with an idea to start a band based off Wroten's original acoustic songs. They met up with local drummer Cheech Berry via internet want ads and began practicing as a 3 piece in the basement of Berry's Maryland home. Strapped for time, and a name, they chose the nearest intersection to Berry's home (Bond St. and Bentley Hills Drive) as their band name. Soon after B&B began playing gigs in small rooms around Baltimore.
While playing at the Brass Monkey, a run down Fells Point bar, they met up with a sound man named Brice Dean. Dean showed interest in possibly playing piano and some guitar. The band soon realized that he was a sure fire Eddie Van Halen type talent and permanently added him to the line up.
Soon after adding Dean the band parted ways with Berry due to artistic differences. They soon added Alex Harrison to drum. With a new style and forward direction the 4 piece began playing venues all around Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
B&B independently released their first album in 2007 "Dreams Don't Pay the Rent". An 11 song LP featuring radio ready songs like "Sweet Intoxication", "Love by the Neon Light" , and local favorite "Glen Burnie Trash Girl". The band soon began playing packed shows at Rams Head Live, Fletchers, The 8x10, and Recher Theatre as well as playing college parties at Radford, Bucknell, Frostburg, Towson, and Salisbury University.
In the summer of 2007 the band added another member, a local Baltimore emcee named Fresh Competition. Not only did Fresh add in the hip hop flavor but also wound up playing assorted wood winds and harmonicas to fill the sound giving the band a round eclectic sound that ranged from rock, to funk, to straight hip hop and R&B. The band played close to 80 shows in a one year period between 07 and 08.
In the summer of 2008 the Bond & Bentley lineup would change once more as Brice Dean left to pursue a solo career and Alex Harrison exited to return to school to finish his degree. With a heavy heart and a half finished sophomore album the band kept on its journey and moved forward.
With 3 members remaining and a rack of new material the band went on a hunt for new talent. In late 2008 the band found drummer Chris "Cam" Aiken, now they just needed at lead player. After an exhausting search the band found Vernon Smith, a young Trey Anastasio type player who once played with Wroten in a garage band in high school. The two new members fit in easily, especially with a trial by fire tour of Florida and Ocean City, MD under their belts.
Now with a tight lineup and a more polished professional sound B&B are moving forward. They will be releasing a new album in 2009 affectionately called "Take Two:Nefarious Lizards" due to all the recent changes in their young careers.
In late 2009 the band made yet another evolution with the departure of drummer Cam Aiken due to a creative difference. Bond & Bentley now turns to former Pasadena alum Ben Cowdry for the back beat.
B&B always moving forward but proud of what they have accomplished.
Bond & Bentley formed in Baltimore, MD in 2005 when life long friends Ray Wroten and Stan Wetters came up with an idea to start a band based off Wroten's original acoustic songs. They met up with local drummer Cheech Berry via internet want ads and began practicing as a 3 piece in the basement of Berry's Maryland home. Strapped for time, and a name, they chose the nearest intersection to Berry's home (Bond St. and Bentley Hills Drive) as their band name. Soon after B&B began playing gigs in small rooms around Baltimore.
While playing at the Brass Monkey, a run down Fells Point bar, they met up with a sound man named Brice Dean. Dean showed interest in possibly playing piano and some guitar. The band soon realized that he was a sure fire Eddie Van Halen type talent and permanently added him to the line up.
Soon after adding Dean the band parted ways with Berry due to artistic differences. They soon added Alex Harrison to drum. With a new style and forward direction the 4 piece began playing venues all around Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
B&B independently released their first album in 2007 "Dreams Don't Pay the Rent". An 11 song LP featuring radio ready songs like "Sweet Intoxication", "Love by the Neon Light" , and local favorite "Glen Burnie Trash Girl". The band soon began playing packed shows at Rams Head Live, Fletchers, The 8x10, and Recher Theatre as well as playing college parties at Radford, Bucknell, Frostburg, Towson, and Salisbury University.
In the summer of 2007 the band added another member, a local Baltimore emcee named Fresh Competition. Not only did Fresh add in the hip hop flavor but also wound up playing assorted wood winds and harmonicas to fill the sound giving the band a round eclectic sound that ranged from rock, to funk, to straight hip hop and R&B. The band played close to 80 shows in a one year period between 07 and 08.
In the summer of 2008 the Bond & Bentley lineup would change once more as Brice Dean left to pursue a solo career and Alex Harrison exited to return to school to finish his degree. With a heavy heart and a half finished sophomore album the band kept on its journey and moved forward.
With 3 members remaining and a rack of new material the band went on a hunt for new talent. In late 2008 the band found drummer Chris "Cam" Aiken, now they just needed at lead player. After an exhausting search the band found Vernon Smith, a young Trey Anastasio type player who once played with Wroten in a garage band in high school. The two new members fit in easily, especially with a trial by fire tour of Florida and Ocean City, MD under their belts.
Now with a tight lineup and a more polished professional sound B&B are moving forward. They will be releasing a new album in 2009 affectionately called "Take Two:Nefarious Lizards" due to all the recent changes in their young careers.
In late 2009 the band made yet another evolution with the departure of drummer Cam Aiken due to a creative difference. Bond & Bentley now turns to former Pasadena alum Ben Cowdry for the back beat.
B&B always moving forward but proud of what they have accomplished.
