The Bends is a rock band formed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during the sophomore year of its members at Louisiana State University (LSU). Childhood friends guitarist Ian Marmande and drummer Jacob Rhodes connected with frontman Hayden Field and bassist Chase Perkins through campus encounters, leading to their first show in 2023 before a crowd of 800. The quartet draws from early 2000s garage rock, featuring catchy choruses rooted in college-town experiences. The band has performed nearly 100 shows across the Southeast US college circuit, including a sold-out hard-ticket debut at The Varsity in Baton Rouge in May. Their latest track, “Virginia,” released recently, was co-written and produced by Hayden Field with Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra, another LSU-originated act. Known for high-energy live performances that reflect their jam-session origins, The Bends has built a following in student-filled venues.