I started out as a bassist in Against Time (punk rock). That didn’t really satisfy me and after the guitarist left, I took over. We went to Canada, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, France and Belgium and played a lot in the Netherlands as well. I became a close friend of mr. El Pino at The Academy of Art & Design in Rotterdam. El Pino left to gain experience in Canada and found himself a soul mate in country music. He brought back the knowledge (and guts!) to play that kinda music in his home country and convinced me that I could play an important role in his graduation project: El Pino and the Volunteers, a fictional Dutch country band: it didn’t even really exist, but in no time it grew into a true band of immensely dedicated and inspiring musicians. Since then, some volunteers came and others left…And ever since then the times of Dunant drinking sessions, music till early morning and smoke fed lungs became a part of us.

• Purpose: Guitar, lapsteel, accordeon, vox
• Guitars: Gibson SG Standard, Fender '83 Blonde Telecaster, Ibanez '78 Artist Acoustic
• Amp: Fender '97 Blues de Ville 4x10"
• Effects: Elektro-Harmonix (EH) Pulsar Tremelo, EH Memory Man Deluxe Delay, Xotic RC Booster, Durham Electronics Sexdrive Boost, Ibanez TS-9, Volume Pedal, Boss TS-2 Chromatic Tuner.
• Other Stuff: Spectraflex cables, D'Addario XL10 Electric Guitar Strings, Martin 0.12 Acoustic Guitar Strings

B.Bender's Top 5 Modern-Day Favorites:

1. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
2. Patrick Watson – Close to Paradise
3. Interpol – Our Love to Admire
4. MeWithoutYou – Catch for us the Foxes

Say something nice to B.Bender at bbender@elpinoandthevolunteers.com.

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