Jon Sortland


Jon Sortland is an American musician, producer and director currently playing the drums for indie rock band The Shins. 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 and C&C Drums.

History

In the late 1980s Sortland started The Circus Tents, a northern California skate punk band with Matt Wedgley, Scot Pickering, Jeff Jones and Chad Cox. The band self-released their 12-song cassette tape in 1991, followed by their EP in 1992. Both releases had songs featured in several skateboarding videos.
In 1996 Sortland formed Cigar with Rami Krayem on guitar and lead vocals, and Jason Torbert on bass. Cigar, produced by Fletcher Dragge of Pennywise, released their debut full-length Album "Speed is Relative" in 1999 on Theologian records.
Throughout the 2000s, Sortland has performed and recorded with several other bands and producers until starting his current band E V Kain. E V Kain released their "Clear" 7" in late 2012 and is currently active. The most recent release from E V Kain is a split 7" record with Mike Watt and The Secondmen.