When Mount Saturn’s founding members — Violet Vasquez and Ray Blum — first started dating, they hit on an unusual way to spend time together: performing a set of My Chemical Romance covers for one of Make.Shift’s annual covers shows.
When it became clear that they had both musical and personal chemistry, they brought in a few other members and created Mount Saturn, a metal band with strong psychedelic and doom influences. They released a demo in 2018, the EP Kiss The Ring in 2019, and last year they put out a well-received full-length album, O Great Moon.
Bassist Cody Barton has been with the band since the beginning. Mount Saturn has had a few different drummers, with that position held for the last few years by Josh Rudolph.
Along the way, they made quite a splash locally and around the world, tapping into the international doom metal community via the internet. (For the uninitiated, the term “doom” typically implies slower tempos, thick and bluesy riffs, and epic but melancholy lyrics.)
The band members describe their take on the style as being “feeling-oriented.” The lyrics don’t just describe abstract or fantastic scenarios, they connect those scenarios to everyday emotions.
They opened shows for musical heroes of theirs such as High on Fire and Holy Grove, and had a particularly memorable show playing for the notoriously wild crowd at Mt. Baker Ski Area’s Legendary Banked Slalom event. Vasquez also mentions seeing strangers wearing Mount Saturn T-shirts as a moment when they felt extra supported by the local scene.
Unfortunately for us in Bellingham, Vasquez and Blum (who are now married) have decided to move to Portland, bringing an end to Mount Saturn in its current incarnation. They’ll wrap up their run with a celebration Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Shakedown featuring Dryland and Swamp Lantern, and then a final performance at the Sh’Bang Festival on Friday, Sept. 1 — attend and drink a toast to everything they’ve accomplished so far, and to whatever the future might hold for their talented members.
Mount Saturn’s members describe their take on the style as being “feeling-oriented.” The lyrics don’t just describe abstract or fantastic scenarios, they connect those scenarios to everyday emotions. (Photo courtesy of Rob Eves)
To editorialize for a little bit here: Those Make.Shift cover shows spurred so much creativity in this town. Putting together a short cover set of songs by your favorite band was a great way for musicians to come together with relatively low commitment, which led to all sorts of connections.
Personally, I’m in a band now that never would have come together if it weren’t for those shows, and I know there are several others that started the same way. I’m sure they were a lot of hard work to put together but it would be great if some venue could find a way to bring some version of that back. (Either that or some kind of band scramble.)
Also, speaking of doom metal, Dryland just released the first single from its upcoming album — and it’s a doozy. Check out A Dying Thing now to get excited for the band’s first full-length album, Weekend in the Swamp, coming soon.
I missed this when it first came out, but Bellingham Girls Rock Camp is happening in person this year. There’s one session left, the week of August 14–19. If you know someone who might benefit from being a camper, learning the basics of an instrument and starting a band in a week, it may not be too late.
Here’s a fun thing to look forward to: Saturday, Aug. 26 is International Play Music On the Porch Day. Bellingham has always been the sort of community where you are more likely to hear people out playing on their porches, so it seems like the sort of event we could really embrace.
JESSE’S PICKS
The National Parks
8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 15, Wild Buffalo
Fans of epic folk/rock melodies, foot-stomping percussion and cinematic, nature-themed lyrics will want to head to the Wild Buffalo for a show by Utah’s somewhat confusingly named The National Parks.
North Sound Soul will play at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17 at Elizabeth Park. (Photo courtesy of Tommy Calderon)
Marie, The Band and North Sound Soul
11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 17, Barkley Village Green
If you have any free time during the work day, stop by the Barkley Village Market from noon to 2 p.m. and catch Marie, The Band playing delightfully clever folk music outside while you browse. Later that day, head over to Elizabeth Park at 6 p.m. for an evening of danceable soul classics with a full horn section, courtesy of North Sound Soul.
Rock at Make.Shift
8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 18, Make.Shift Art Space
Make.Shift hosts a triple bill of powerhouse young rock bands featuring Pure Halcyon, Counterproductive and Where’s The Exit.
Acid Ball Music Festival
3–10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19, Kulshan Trackside
The Kulshan Trackside stage is, for the second year in a row, being taken over by the Acid Ball Music Festival, a six-band celebration of psychedelicized rock and pop sounds. Headliners include the sweet pop of California’s Sugar Candy Mountain and the ’60s-inspired garage rock of The Shivas.
LIVE MUSIC LISTINGS
Friday, Aug. 11
- Beach at Birch Bay: 6 p.m., Jack Benson Band
- Bellewood Farms: 6 p.m., Mark Wagner with John Brazell
- Birdsview: 6 p.m., Ray Neyens (country)
- Bistro at Shuksan: 5 p.m., Julian MacDonough Jazz Quartet
- Blue Room: 8 p.m., Lazy Acres, Dead End Rhythm Section, Culloden
- Boundary: 6 p.m., Diego Romero Band (blues/rock)
- Burlington Summer Nights: 6 p.m., Mary Ellen Lykins Band (blues/R&B/rock)
- Deming Log Show Grounds: 11 a.m., Subdued Stringband Jamboree ft. The Sons of Rainier, Kitty & Rooster, Fog Hollow and many more
- Eagle Haven: 7 p.m., Goodtime Hustle
- Fireside: 7 p.m., Young Kidz
- Seafarers’ Memorial Park (Anacortes): 6 p.m., Dusty 45s
- Semiahmoo: 5 p.m., The Problem (jazz)
- Shakedown: 9 p.m., Scott Pemberton O Theory, GLYF
- Skagit Cellars: 6 p.m., Jaden
- Skylark’s: 5 p.m., Lisa Temcov Band (classic country)
- Station 49: 3:30 p.m., Cascade Cody (country)
- That’s What I Like: 7 p.m., Carly Ann Calbero
- Vault: 7 p.m., Song Wranglers (acoustic Americana)
- Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Clinton Fearon, Blessed Coast Sound (reggae)
Saturday, Aug. 12
- Beach at Birch Bay: 3 p.m., Blind Fate
- Beach Store Cafe: 5 p.m., Nuages
- Birdsview: 6 p.m., Brittany Collins (singer-songwriter)
- Blue Room: 8 p.m., The Cosmic Neighborhood, Full Color Dream
- Conway Muse: 8 p.m., Christy McWilson & The Picketts
- Deming Log Show Grounds: 9 a.m., Subdued Stringband Jamboree ft. Peter Rowan, Petunia and the Vipers, Shpilkis, Eugenia Riot and many more
- Eagle Haven: 7 p.m., Sweet Emotion (Aerosmith tribute)
- Edgewater Park (Mount Vernon): Brewfest on the Skagit ft. 2:30 p.m., Aardvarticus Zeus; 4 p.m., David and Ken’s Citizen Hurricane; 5:30 p.m., Yogoman Burning Band
- Fireside 4 p.m., Singers’ Saturday
- Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., Mighty Bayou Opossums (music of New Orleans)
- Guemes Island General Store: 6:30 p.m., Scott Pemberton O Theory
- Heart of Anacortes: 6 p.m., Pension King & The Dependents (classic rock)
- Kulshan Trackside: 6 p.m., Mom Sport, Paperheart
- NW Washington Fair: 7 p.m., .38 Special (classic rock)
- Rockfish: 7:30 p.m., Ebb, Slack & Flood (reggae/funk/rock)
- Semiahmoo: 5 p.m., Dial Up (alternative rock covers)
- Shakedown: 9 p.m., Mount Saturn, Dryland, Swamp Lantern (metal)
- Skylark’s: 5 p.m., JP Falcon Grady Band
- Station 49: 4 p.m., The Shannanagins (rock covers)
- Stones Throw: 6 p.m., Song Wranglers (acoustic Americana)
- Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Nite Wave (tribute to Billy Idol, Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls)
Sunday, Aug. 13
- Beach at Birch Bay: 3 p.m., Little Big Band
- Beach Cat Brewing: noon, Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
- Birdsview: 4 p.m., Cascade Cody
- Gilkey Square (La Conner): 1 p.m., Cozmic Sauce (funk/R&B)
- Karate Church: 7:30 p.m., The Hobby, North by North, Biff Got Killed (rock)
- Main Street: 6 p.m., Open Mic
- NW Washington Fair: 7 p.m., Los Chicos Del 512 (tribute to Selena)
- Old Edison: 5:30 p.m., The Bow Diddlers
- Wild Buffalo: 8 p.m., Treepeople, Prism Bitch, Itchy Kitty
Monday, Aug. 14
- Boundary: 6 p.m., Delta Promenade (acoustic blues)
Tuesday, Aug. 15
- Aslan: 8 p.m., Jazz Night
- Barkley Village: 6 p.m., JP Falcon Band
- Blue Room: 8 p.m., Jam:30 (open jam night)
- Boundary: 3 p.m., Out of the Ashes; 6 p.m., Paul Klein on piano
- Culture Cafe: 7 p.m., Open Mic
• Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., Open Mic - Horseshoe Cafe: 9 p.m., Michael Dayvid
- Menace: 7 p.m., Invitational Blues Jam
- Wild Buffalo: 8:30 p.m., The National Parks, Jordan Moyes (folk/rock)
Wednesday, Aug. 16
- Bar Cicotti: 6 p.m., Alicia Dauber (jazz)
- Beach at Birch Bay: 6 p.m., Open Mic/Jam
- Boundary: 6 p.m., Aaron Guest on piano
- FireHouse: 6:30 p.m., Connections Jazz Series ft. Christian Casolary, Thomas Harris, Connor Helms, Roger Yamashita
- Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Open Mic
- NW Washington Fair: 7 p.m., NEEDTOBREATHE (rock)
- Rockfish: 6 p.m., Baker and West
- Shakedown: 8 p.m., Well Well Well, Spin Factory, guests (coastal pop)
- Stones Throw: 6 p.m., The Alger Rhythms (rock covers)
Thursday, Aug. 17
- Barkley Village Green: 11 a.m., Marie, the Band (folk)
- Bistro at Shuksan: 5 p.m., High Peak Trio (jazz/funk)
- Boundary: 5 p.m., Robert Sarazin Blake and the High Wide & Handsome Band; 8 p.m., Sons of Rainier, Serafima & The Shakedowns (country)
- Brown Lantern: 8:30 p.m., Open Mic
- Elizabeth Park: 6 p.m., North Sound Soul
- Farmstrong: 6 p.m., Sweetwood
- Hotel Bellwether: 6 p.m., Chris Eger Band (blues/rock)
- Kulshan Trackside: 6 p.m., TBA
- Mount Vernon Riverwalk: 6 p.m., Pacific Twang (country)
- NW Washington Fair: 7 p.m., Chase Rice (country)
- Thirsty Badger: 7 p.m., Open Mic
- That’s What I Like: 6 p.m., JP Falcon and Friends (folk/rock)
- Wild Buffalo: 8:30 p.m., Andy Coe Band, guests (Jerry Garcia celebration)
- Zeeks: 8 p.m., Ruby Flambe (cabaret folk)
Friday, Aug. 18
- Beach at Birch Bay: 6 p.m., Michael Dayvid
- Bellewood Farms: 6 p.m., Queen’s Bluegrass
- Birdsview: 6 p.m., Goodtime Hustle
- Bistro at Shuksan: 5 p.m., Julian MacDonough Jazz Quartet
- Boundary: 6 p.m., The Problem (jazz)
- Burlington Summer Nights: 6 p.m., Billy Appleton Band (blues/rock and roll)
- Eagle Haven: 7 p.m., Midnight Hour (classic rock and soul)
- Fireside: 7 p.m., Carr Parker
• Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., Deadlot (Grateful Dead tribute) - Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Gruv (instrumental jazz/funk/rock)
- Karate Church: 7:30 p.m., Wolfchild, Claire Furtwangler, Eli Willis (folk/rock)
- Make.Shift: 8 p.m., Pure Halcyon, Counterproductive, Where’s The Exit (rock)
- NW Washington Fair: 7 p.m., Ne-Yo (hip-hop/pop)
- Seafarer’s Memorial Park (Anacortes): 6 p.m., Victims of Love
- Shakedown: 9 p.m., Paydirt, Tuesday’s Refuge, Sweetwood (rock)
- Skagit Cellars: 6 p.m., Eric Kosarot (bluegrass/Americana)
- Skylark’s: 5 p.m., Badd Dogg Blues Society
• Station 49: 3:30 p.m., Charlie Partin - That’s What I Like: 7 p.m., Jeffrey Slough (acoustic covers)
- Vault: 7 p.m., The Unknowns (jazz/pop/folk)
- Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., 40 Oz. To Freedom (Sublime tribute), Perfect by Tomorrow
Saturday, Aug. 19
- Beach at Birch Bay: 3 p.m., Mutiny Bay (hard rock covers)
- Birdsview: 6 p.m., Nick Anthony
- Blue Room: 8 p.m., Atomic Affair, Marla Hooch, No Mars, Cuttlefish (rock)
• Brown Lantern: 9 p.m., Johnny Lawhorn and the Pentagram String Band - Eagle Haven: 7 p.m., Full Spectrum
- Fireside 4 p.m., Singers’ Saturday
- Guemes Island General Store: 6 p.m., Andy Coe Band, Jacob Navarro
- Heart of Anacortes: 6 p.m., Savage Blues Band
- Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Ruby Flambe
- Kulshan Trackside: 3 –10 p.m., Acid Ball Music Festival ft. Sugar Candy Mountain, The Shivas, Acid Tongue, King Youngblood and more (psychedelic rock)
- NW Washington Fair: 7 p.m., Russel Dickerson (country)
- Pioneer Park (Ferndale): 6 p.m., Locust Street Taxi (pop/rock)
- Rockfish: 7:30 p.m., The Dunton Sisters (country/bluegrass)
- Skylark’s: 5 p.m., Three for Silver
- Stones Throw: 6 p.m., Tyler Clarke
- Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Beats Antique, guests
Sunday, Aug. 20
- Beach at Birch Bay: 3 p.m., Jim Buk Tu
- Bellingham Cider Co: 6:30 p.m., The Best Intentions
- Birdsview: 4 p.m., Ryan Doty
- Gilkey Square (La Conner): 1 p.m., Pacific Twang (country)
- Kulshan: 5 p.m., TBA
- Kulshan Trackside: 3 p.m., TBA
- Main Street: 6 p.m., Open Mic
- Old Edison: 5:30 p.m., Ron Bailey & The Tangents
• Station 49: 3 p.m., Cascade Cody (country)
Before heading out to listen to live music, check with individual venues to make sure the event is still taking place as scheduled.
The Beat Goes On is published online Tuesdays and in print Fridays. Email: jsbhammusic@gmail.com or Twitter: @JSBhamMusic.
