Jon Sortland (born September 12, 1973) is an American musician, record producer and video director, currently playing the drums for

indie rock Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the music they produc ...

band

The Shins The Shins is an American indie rock band formed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1996. The band is the project of singer-songwriter James Mercer, who has served as the band's sole constant member throughout numerous line-up changes. The band's cu ...

. Sortland has also played drums, bass, keyboards and backing vocals in the band Broken Bells. Sortland also writes and performs in his own bands, EV Kain and Cigar. Sortland is endorsed by

Paiste Paiste (English pronunciation: , ) is a Swiss musical instrument manufacturing company. It is the world's third largest manufacturer of cymbals, gongs, and metal percussion. is an Estonian word that means "shine". Apart from cymbals and gong ...

and C&C Drums.

History

In the late 1980s Sortland started The Circus Tents, a northern California skate punk band with Matt Wedgley (The Force, Dirty Filthy Mugs, Viva Hate), Scot Pickering, Jeff Jones and Chad Cox. The band self-released their 12-song cassette tape in 1991, followed by their EP (''Hard Up'') in 1992. Both releases had songs featured in several skateboarding videos ('' Powell'', '' Toy Machine''). In 1996, Sortland formed Cigar with Rami Krayem on guitar and lead vocals, and Jason Torbert on bass. Cigar, produced by

Fletcher Dragge Pennywise is an American punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band took its name from the antagonist in Stephen King's horror novel '' It'' known as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Between their 1991 self-titled ...

of Pennywise, released their debut album, ''Speed is Relative'', in 1999 on Theologian Records. Throughout the 2000s, Sortland performed and recorded with several other bands and producers until starting his current band E V Kain. E V Kain released their "Clear" 7-inch in late 2012 and is currently active. The most recent release from E V Kain is a split 7-inch record with Mike Watt and

The Secondmen Mike Watt and the Secondmen is the punk rock trio formed by former Minutemen and Firehose bassist Mike Watt to perform and record his third solo album, '' The Secondman's Middle Stand''. Formed in 2002 in Watt's hometown of San Pedro, Californ ...

. In 2022, Cigar released their debut

Fat Wreck Chords Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is a San Francisco, California-based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) in 1990. The label has released mater ...

release, The Visitor.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sortland, Jon 1973 births Living people American rock drummers American rock singers American multi-instrumentalists People from Vancouver, Washington Musicians from Washington (state) The Shins members Broken Bells members Record producers from Washington (state) Songwriters from Washington (state)