Author’s note: Before we get started, a quick note on some changes to this column. I’m going to move away from shorter news items in favor of longer profiles and reviews in order to give readers a deeper sense of what’s going on in our local music scene.
If you’re looking for quick bits of news, follow @Jsbhammusic on Twitter and I’ll do my best to get information out there. If there’s someone making music around here you think I need to cover, please do reach out and let me know.
Also, we’re moving the Picks of the Week directly into the calendar section. Events I want to make sure you know about will be marked as hot takes. For the full calendar, be sure to check the online version of the listings.
The Hobby have only been around in their current lineup for around a year, but they are making some serious waves. They have a new single out entitled “I Do Not Dream of Labor,” a blast of noisy rock which should appeal to fans of the mid-aughts pop-punk and emo scenes.
Gabe Massey started the band 10 years ago, but primarily as a solo recording project. Bassist and recording engineer Calla Avens and drummer Eric Anderson came onboard in 2021 and the three began developing a powerful group sound and connection. They released their first single, “Faith In Strangers,” in February, serving notice that they were going to be a force in the local scene.
Compared to their last single, the new one eases up on the tempo and drops in some more atmospherics without sacrificing any emotional intensity. Upon close listening, it reveals a remarkable range of sounds, balancing aching high harmonies and jangling guitar melodies with dissonant squawks and ferocious drum fills.
On top of that, Massey’s lyrics take what could be a fairly cliché topic (hating your day job) and bring it to a deeper level by evoking the challenges posed to topics such as creativity and community when your job is sucking out your soul. Don’t let their name fool you, these folks are taking this music seriously. They are hard at work on an album for release later in the year.
The Bellingham Arts and Music Fest (BAMF) lineup is out! The slightly scaled-back event will return to the Lookout Arts Quarry for 24 hours of excitement Aug. 20–21. Headliners include Mr. Twin Sister, King Youngblood and Instant Crush. More details on that as it gets closer.
In addition to Downtown Sounds kicking off this week, keep an eye on After Sounds at Boundary Bay. Local label Black Noise Records are curating lineups of outstanding local hip-hop to keep the party rolling on Wednesday nights.
Jesse’s Picks of the Week
Wednesday, July 6
Bar Cicotti: 6 p.m., Casolary, Harris and Hunter (jazz)
Big Stick BBQ: 5 p.m., Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
Boundary: 6 p.m., Aaron Guest on piano, 8:30 p.m., S. Tone, Slap Serif, OG Neeks (hip-hop)
Downtown Sounds: 6 p.m., döp (electronic), 7:30 p.m., Nite Wave (’80s New Wave covers)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Open Mic
Juxt: 8:30 p.m., Invitational Open Mic
Thirsty Badger: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Thursday, July 7
Barkley Market: noon, J.P. Falcon Band (folk/rock/blues)
Blue Room: 6 p.m., Open Mic
Boundary: 5 p.m., TBA 8 p.m., North Country Highway (country/rock), Sweet Goodbyes (folk)
Elizabeth Park: 6 p.m., Dr. Jimmy and the Swingtime Serenaders (big band swing)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Jazz Jam
Hotel Bellwether: 6 p.m., Chris Eger Band (blues/ rock)
Mount Vernon Riverwalk: 6 p.m., Stacy Jones Band
Shakedown: 9 p.m., Planet Asia, Fashawn, Mitchy Slick, Sir Veterano, Flii Stylz (hip-hop)
Twin Sisters: 6 p.m., TBA
That’s What I Like: 6 p.m, J.P. Falcon and Friends (folk/rock)
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Player Dave, Keages, MOPe, Full Package, Ajota (electronic)
Friday, July 8
Aslan: 8 p.m., Midnight Theory (jazz/funk/hip-hop)
Beach at Birch Bay: 6 p.m., Wicked Timing (acoustic covers)
Big Rock Woolley Market: 7 p.m., Pacific Twang (country)
Birdsview: 6 p.m., Cory Vincent (acoustic rock/blues)
Blue Room: 9 p.m., Neffy 3600, Yogirlcallmesenpai, Cash McClane, more (hip-hop)
Boundary: 6 p.m., Miles Harris and the Deep Cuts, 8 p.m., Down North
Fireside: 7 p.m., Young Kidz
Guemes Island General Store: 6 p.m., Handsome and Gretyl
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Karen Kunkel (theatrical folk)
Lighthouse: 5 p.m., TBA (jazz/lounge)
Seafarers’ Memorial Park (Anacortes): 6 p.m., Eden
Semiahmoo: 6 p.m., Ron Herdhardt
Shakedown: 9 p.m., Gone Sugar Die, Hutch Harris (synth-punk)
Skylark’s: 5 p.m., Mike Faast Trio (jazz)
Vault: 6 p.m., Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
Saturday, July 9
Beach at Birch Bay: 4 p.m., Fantasy Band
Big Rock Woolley Market: 7 p.m., J.P. Falcon Band
Birdsview: 6 p.m., Lil’ Joe Argo
Blue Room: 7:30 p.m., BroHamM (funk/soul/R&B)
Boundary: 1 p.m., Larry Murante, 4 p.m., Nobody’s Peach (country/rock) 6 p.m., Bilongo (Latin jazz), 9 p.m. Cozmic Sauce (R&B/funk)
Brown Lantern: 8 p.m., 7:20 String Band
Conway Muse: 8 p.m., Mark Dufresne Band (blues)
Fireside: 3:30 p.m., Singers’ Saturday
Greene’s Corner: 7 p.m., One Lane Bridge (classic rock)
Guemes Island General Store: 6:30 p.m., Karl Blau Band, Jacob Navarro
Heart of Anacortes: 6 p.m., The Atlantics (classic rock)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Kevin Murphy, Matthew Brouwer, Louis Leford (poetry and music)
Lighthouse: 5 p.m., TBA (jazz/lounge)
Make.Shift: 5:30 p.m., Hattie Bakke, Where’s the Exit, Book of Shred, Felix the Hammer Pure Halcyon (rock)
Pioneer Park (Ferndale): 6 p.m., Blistered Earth (Metallica tribute)
Rockfish: 7:30 p.m., CD Woodbury Trio (blues)
Samson Estates Winery: 3 p.m., Flashback Nation (classic rock)
Semiahmoo: 6 p.m., Lindsay Street (traditional folk)
Shakedown: 9 p.m., Monstress, Bad Optics, Laamb (rock)
Skylark’s: 5 p.m., Penny Stinkers (classic rock)
Sunday, July 10
Beach at Birch Bay: 1 p.m., Lost at Last (classic rock)
Culture Cafe: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Gilkey Square (La Conner): 1 p.m., BrohamM
Kulshan: 5 p.m., Devilies (Irish/folk)
Old Edison: 5:30 p.m., Randy Weeks and the Silent Treatment (country/rock)
Paws for A Beer: 2 p.m., Michael Dayvid
Semiahmoo: 4 p.m., Jordyn Johnson
Shakedown: 8 p.m., Actionesse, Dana Ives, Analog Brass
Skylark’s 1 p.m., Odd Mood Jam Band
Monday, July 11
Kulshan: 6 p.m., BJ Block Trio (funk/jazz)
Tuesday, July 12
Aslan: 8 p.m., Jazz Night
Beach at Birch Bay: 6:30 p.m., Open Mic
Boundary: 3 p.m. Out of the Ashes, 6 p.m., Dr. Jimmy and the Swingtime Serenaders
Farmstrong: 6:30 p.m., Lost at Last
Lincoln Theatre: 7:30 p.m., Jesse Colin Young (singer-songwriter)
Wild Buffalo: 8 p.m., Blind Pilot, Lake Jiroudek (indie folk)
Before heading out to listen to live music, check with individual venues to make sure the event is still taking place as scheduled.
Jesse Stanton’s music column, The Beat Goes On, runs Wednesdays. Email: jsbhammusic@gmail.com or Twitter: @JSBhamMusic.
