Warp Detour plays punk rock covers, specifically focusing on the late ‘90s/early 2000s “skate-punk” scene. They made their live debut just under a year ago, and they’re already getting ready to celebrate that anniversary with a headlining show at the Wild Buffalo at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 23.

That’s a fantastic rate of growth, which speaks both to their talents as musicians and to the hunger among a certain audience to hear these songs live. 

The band came together in 2022 through a combination of Craigslist ads and personal connections. Lead singer Jesse Goodwin had just moved back to Bellingham in 2019 and was looking for a social and musical outlet when he met guitarist Josh Loeffler, who had also been jamming with bassist Ryan Richardson – who then brought drummer Jason Tobin into the fold. All four had previous experience touring with punk bands, some quite extensively, so the music came together quickly. Since then they’ve done a few short regional tours, and played some absolutely packed shows around town. 

In addition to the music, the band has a bunch of tricks up their sleeves for keeping their shows entertaining. Their shows feature games, giveaways, surprise guests on lead vocals and something they call the Wheel of Punk (where band or audience members spin a wheel to be assigned dares, stunts and prizes). 

As much fun as the band is having, they can’t quite get away from the idea that, as Goodwin puts it, “Being in a cover band, even one as niche as Warp Detour, is kind of cheating.” So they go out of their way to make sure a local original band is on every bill they play, to give a platform to original music. For the show at the Buffalo that’s going to be Boxcutter. They’ve also got I Scream Social on the bill, a band that focuses more on the emo and screamo variants of punk.

So whether you ever went to the Warped Tour or just wish you had, a Warp Detour show is your chance to reenact it in a microcosm.  Just make sure to treat each other right in the mosh pit.

News

We’ve got some interesting new releases this week. Triacs have a new EP, “Hangman,” showcasing their unusual style of intricate, highly technical rock. Could we call it psychedelic metal?  Acoustic singer-songwriter Traesti Darling has a new live album, “Live at The Heartland,” up on Bandcamp, capturing his delicate, literary originals in front of a small crowd. I appreciate the way he blends the political and the personal with a dash of humor. 

For a great taste of some local country, check out the three new videos featuring Sons of Rainier on the Western AF YouTube channel. My personal favorite of the batch is probably “Orion.” Lipstitch also just dropped an excellent new music video for their single “Runaway.” I’ve said it before, but I’m just really looking forward to their new album coming out next month. 

Mutiny Bay mostly play hard rock covers in bars around the area, but they’ve got a new album out of their originals. It sounds exactly like a hard rock band from the ’80s that was somehow preserved in time and traveled 40 years into the future to keep shredding just how they had been. In case you can’t tell, I absolutely mean that as a compliment. 

When I talked to the folks at Washingtones Records last year they mentioned how they were looking for a way to put out LPs that would be better environmentally than vinyl. Turns out they’ve found it. Their upcoming reissue of Tim Mechling’s The Vandal Hands of Man is going to be made with PET, making it recyclable, non-toxic and more durable. And you can still play it on a standard record player! That sounds pretty interesting, it might be something that other artists should investigate when they’re thinking about how to release physical recordings. 

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JESSE’S PICKS

Lúnasa

7:30 p.m. Monday, March 18, Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. 1st St.

If you didn’t get your fill of St. Patrick’s celebrations over the weekend, head to the Lincoln Theatre on March 18 for Lúnasa. This all-instrumental group features standard traditional melody instruments like fiddle, flute and pipes, but also uses acoustic bass to add a level of groove not normally seen in this style of music.

Petty or Not

7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23, Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St.

Petty or Not are the only locally based group who play the mainstage at the Mount Baker Theatre. Their show there last year was such a hit they’re doing it again on Saturday, March 23. Last year’s show included the Bellingham High School band as surprise guests, we’ll just have to see what they’ve got up their sleeves for this one. As always, expect high quality versions of your favorite Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac songs. 

Reverend Horton Heat

7 p.m. Sunday, March 24, Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St.

If Warp Detour doesn’t go far enough back for you, grease back your hair and head back to the Wild Buffalo on Sunday, March 24. The Reverend Horton Heat has been cranking out his brash, relentless brand of rockabilly for almost 40 years now, and he’ll take you for a ride. 

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LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Friday, March 15

• Aslan Depot: 7 p.m., BJ Block Trio (jazz/funk)
• Bistro at Shuksan: 5 p.m., Thomas Harris Quartet (jazz)
• Conway Muse: 8 p.m., North Sound Soul
• El Capitan’s: 8 p.m., Tenderpile’s Smile Aisle (jazz)
• Fireside: 7 p.m., The D’vas
• Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Augie Ballew, Adam Greenberg
• Hotel Bellwether: 6 p.m., Walt Burkett
• Main Street: 8:30 p.m., Dial Up (90s alt rock covers)
• Make.Shift: 8 p.m., Maldisdeun, Maneater, Verota, Slag Hive (metal)
• McIntyre Hall: 7:30 p.m., John Reischman & The Jaybirds (bluegrass)
• **Mount Baker Theatre (Walton Theatre): 7:30 p.m., Gallowglass (sold out)
• New Prospect Theatre: 7 p.m., Mbrascatu
• Ramble Tamble: 8 p.m., Shady Groove
• The Shakedown: 8 p.m., Les Lullies, Energy Pyramid, guests
• Skagit Casino: 8 p.m., Dana Osborn Band
• Skylark’s: 8 p.m., Badd Dogg Blues Society
• Stones Throw: 6 p.m., Neighborhood Songwriters Showcase ft. ?
• Thirsty Badger: 8 p.m., Michael Dayvid
• Tokyo Monster Sushi: 5:30 p.m., Cheryl Hodge (jazz/blues)
• The Vault: 7 p.m., JP Falcon Grady

Saturday, March 16

• **Barley & Brew: 9:30 p.m., The Devilies
• Birdsview Brewing: 6 p.m., Jack Mattingly (singer-songwriter)
• The Blue Room: 9 p.m., Meldrop, pantsuitguy, Justin Harden
• **Boundary: 11 a.m., The Devilies, 1 p.m., The House Wrens, 6 p.m.,  Bottle of Smoke (Pogues tribute), The Moving Hats
• Brown Lantern: 9 p.m., Cozmic Sauce (funk/R&B)
• Conway Muse: 8 p.m., Friends for the Ghost, Cascade Cody and His Unpulled Bootstraps 
• Eagle Haven: 7 p.m., Billy Appleton Band (blues/rock)
• Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., Quickdraw Stringband (folk)
• Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Marlo Mudd, Harlow, Sunflecks
• Hotel Bellwether: 6 p.m., Blake Angelos
• Main Street: 8:30 p.m., Thermal Blues Express
• Mount Baker Theatre: 7:30 p.m., Sugar Does Broadway (cabaret)
• Old Edison: 8 p.m., Stacy Jones Band (blues/rock)
• Ramble Tamble: 8 p.m., Kyle Alan Hobbs, The Preacher and the Freight Train, Pete Ruble (folk/alt-country)
• Rockfish: 7:30 p.m., Pacific Twang (country)
• The Shakedown: 9 p.m., Helms Alee, Heiress, Melancholia (metal)
• Skagit Casino: 8 p.m., Dana Osborn Band
• **Skagit Cellars: 6 p.m., Eric Kosarot & Harper Stone (folk)
• Skylark’s: 8 p.m., Ryan Sandholm
• Stones Throw: 6 p.m., Paige Woods
• Swinomish Casino: 8 p.m., Hell’s Belles (AC/DC tribute)
• **Temperate Habits: 6 p.m., The Devilies
• That’s What I Like: 6 p.m., Michael Dayvid
• Tokyo Monster Sushi: 5:30 p.m., Cheryl Hodge (jazz/blues) 
• Underground: 8 p.m., SpaceBand (hip hop/R&B covers)
• Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., BUNT., guests
• Zeeks Pizza: 7 p.m., The Hip (funk/R&B)

Sunday, March 17

• The Admiralty Lounge: 7 p.m., Sarah Goodin
• **The Blue Room: 3 p.m., The Devilies
• **Boundary Bay Beer Garden:  1 p.m., Rosin and Reed, 6 p.m., Robert Sarazin Blake and the Dublin Letters
• **Boundary Bay Taproom: 12 p.m., Shiv Tim, 2:30 p.m., Lindsay Street, 4 p.m., The Moving Hats, 6 p.m., The Devilies 
• **Conway Muse: 7 p.m., The Whateverly Brothers (folk)
• **Glynns: 6 p.m., Lindsay Street, 8 p.m., The Moving Hats
• **Kulshan: 3 p.m., Calaskan, Decolletage (Celtic)
• Old Edison: 5:30 p.m. The Flaming Pies (Beatles tribute)
• Ono Kitchen: 3 p.m., Tenderpile’s Smile Aisle (jazz)
• Ramble Tamble: 7 p.m., Open Mic
• **Stones Throw: 2 p.m., Flattery (Celtic)
• Tokyo Monster Sushi: 4 p.m., Singers’ Sunday
• Wild Buffalo: 7 p.m., Gone Gone Beyond, Cassandra Lewis, Wolfchild

Monday, March 18

• FireHouse Arts and Events Center: 3:30 p.m., Simon Llewelyn Evans (singer-songwriter)
• **Lincoln Theatre: 7:30 p.m. Lunasa (traditional Irish)
• Ramble Tamble: 7 p.m., Wild Geese of the West (acoustic Grateful Dead)

Tuesday, March 19

• Aslan Depot: 8 p.m., Jazz Night
• Menace Brewing: 7 p.m.,  Invitational Blues Jam
• Ono Kitchen: 7 p.m., Open Mic ft. Cullen Gray
• Tokyo Monster Sushi: 5:30 p.m., Marvin Johnson
• Underground Coffehouse: 7 p.m., Open Mic

Wednesday, March 20

• The Blue Room: 7 p.m., Message Received (jazz) 
• Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Open Mic
• New Prospect Theater: 5:30 p.m., Open Mic
• Rockfish: 6 p.m., Andre Feriante (flamenco/classical guitar)
• Stones Throw: 6 p.m., Badd Dogg Blues Duo
• Tokyo Monster Sushi: 5:30 p.m., Marvin Johnson

Thursday, March 21

• The Admiralty Lounge: 7 p.m., Morgan McHugh (singer-songwriter)
• The Blue Room: 9 p.m., The Hobby, True Stars, Biff Got Killed (rock)
• Brown Lantern: 8:30 p.m., Open Mic
• Farmstrong: 6 p.m., Sweetwood
• Mount Baker Theatre: 7:30 p.m., Led Zepagain (Zeppelin tribute)
• The Shakedown: 9 p.m., Bog Ore, MEM//BRANE, Maxx Shredroom
• Thirsty Badger: 7 p.m., Open Mic
• That’s What I Like: 6 p.m, JP Falcon and Friends (folk/rock)
• Tokyo Monster Sushi: 5:30 p.m., Diane Leigh
• Wild Buffalo: 8:30 p.m., Sam Outlaw
• Zeeks Pizza: 7 p.m., Tea Seas Trio

Friday, March 22

• Aslan Depot: 7 p.m., Cardova
• Bistro at Shuksan: 5 p.m., Thomas Harris Quartet (jazz)
• The Blue Room: 8 p.m., Sour Fuzz, Smooth Kiwi, Tim Mechling, Nurhachi (rock)
• Conway Muse: 8 p.m, Levi Ware, Joe Day
• Corner Taphouse: 7 p.m., Song Wranglers
• Eagle Haven: 7 p.m., CC Adams Band (blues)
• El Capitan’s: 8 p.m., JP Falcon Grady 
• Fireside: 7 p.m., Carr Parker
• Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Cabin Fever NW
• Hotel Bellwether: 6 p.m., Marvin Johnson
• Make.Shift: 8 p.m., Beautiful Freaks, Forever Chemicals, Fog Bodies  (rock)
• Main Street: 8 p.m., The Problem (jazz/pop)
• Mount Baker Theatre: 7:30 p.m., Kim Richey
• The Shakedown: 8:30 p.m., Tribute Night featuring tributes to Blondie, Green Day, and Paramore
• Skagit Casino: 8 p.m., Sixtiesmania  (60s tribute)
• Skylark’s: 8 p.m., Octavia McAloon
• Stones Throw: 6 p.m., Tenderpile’s Smile Aisle (jazz)
• Thirsty Badger: 7 p.m., Simon Llewelyn Evans (singer-songwriter)
• Tokyo Monster Sushi: 5:30 p.m., Cheryl Hodge (jazz/blues)
• The Vault: 7 p.m., Free Harmony
• Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Fleetmac Wood (electronic remixes of Fleetwood Mac)

Saturday, March 23

• Birdsview Brewing: 6 p.m., Keith Howard
• The Blue Room: 6 and 8:30 p.m., BJ Block Trio and rioT Trio present Between Two Worlds  (jazz/chamber music collaboration)
• Conway Muse: 8 p.m., Doug Lynn Band (blues)
• FireHouse Arts and Events Center: 4 p.m., Reid Jameison and CVM
• Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Dream Goats, Spoon River(folk)
• Hotel Bellwether: 6 p.m., David Feingold
• Jansen Art Center: 7:30 p.m., Jason Stoll (classical piano)
• Main Street: 8 p.m., Shannanigans (classic rock)
• Menace Brewing:  5 p.m., Michael Dayvid
• Mount Baker Theatre: 7:30 p.m., Petty or Not
• Ramble Tamble: 8 p.m., Spin Factory, Only Tree, Hooksie (indie rock/pop)
• Rockfish: 7:30 p.m., Joel Astley Band (blues)
• The Shakedown: 9 p.m., Late Lunch, Bennycamps and the Bastards, Verboten (rock)
• Skagit Casino: 8 p.m., Sixtiesmania
• Skylark’s: 8 p.m., Chuck and Carr
• Stones Throw: 6 p.m., Jeffrey Slough (acoustic covers)
• Tokyo Monster Sushi: 5:30 p.m., Cheryl Hodge (jazz/blues) 
• Underground: 8:30 p.m., Antishock, Dancifer
• Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Warp Detour (punk covers)

Sunday, March 24

• The Admiralty Lounge: 8 p.m., The Moving Hats
• The Blue Room: 8 p.m., Ann Annie, Kazmyn, Cumulus (sinnger-songwriters)
• Kulshan: 5 p.m., Katie & Kevin (bluegrass/folk)
• Littlefield Celtic Center: 3 p.m., Hanneke Cassel Band (traditional Scottish)
• Old Edison: 5:30 p.m., The Davanos
• Ramble Tamble: 7 p.m., Open Mic
• Tokyo Monster Sushi: 4 p.m., Singers’ Sunday
• Wild Buffalo: 7 p.m., The Reverend Horton Heat (rockabilly)

Jesse Stanton's music column, The Beat Goes On, and his compilation list of live music events in Whatcom County appear weekly. Reach him at jsbhammusic@gmail.com; @JSBhamMusic. Check with individual venues to make sure events are still taking place as scheduled.