The band Kitty Obsidian represents a fresh new voice in the Bellingham music scene. Playing a blend of neo-soul, R&B and pop, they were crowned the champions of the Sounds of the Underground competition at Western Washington University’s Underground Coffeehouse in February.
This week, they’re claiming part of the prize from that win in the form of an opening slot at Lawnstock. Check them out for free at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 3, on the lawn by the Communications building. It’s a big event, with headliners Skating Polly and TeZATalks, but be sure to get there early to check out this talented local group.
The band was formed two years ago by lead singer Levi Moore, keyboardist/vocalist Tima Deen, and guitarist Liam Grim. After a few gigs as a trio, they added bassist Eric Anderson and drummer Elliot Cross to fill out the sound. (Those two also play in Triacs, a band that couldn’t be more different in style.) Most of the members live together, so they are always hanging out and working on music.
Kitty Obsidian has developed a style all its own. Moore glides between melodic rapping and soul crooning, Deen adds harmonies, occasional lead vocals, and gorgeous keyboard lines, and the rest of the group lays down sweet, laid-back grooves.
They don’t have any official recordings online yet, but they’ve got plans to do some serious recording this summer. In the meantime, if you want a preview, check them out on Western’s Wavelength podcast, where they did a live performance of four of their best songs. Although they’ve mostly been focused on Bellingham so far, they are looking forward to starting to make some inroads in Seattle and around the region. They truly stand alone in the area for their style, so if you’re looking for something different, make sure to check them out.
There’s another neat event happening at Boundary Bay Brewery this weekend. The Brother Ray Benefit is a fundraiser that supports music education in Bellingham schools, specifically sixth-graders in their first year of band. Music goes from 2–9 p.m. Saturday, June 3, in the beer garden, mostly big-band jazz with The Atlantics wrapping it up with classic rock and roll at the end of the evening. The annual event honors the late musician and educator Ray Downey.
Kulshan Trackside is starting back up with live music in a major way. For the next few weeks it will be DJs on Friday nights and live music on Saturdays, then by the middle of June they will add live music on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons (aka String Band Sundays) as well. This week kicks off with OG Neeks DJing Friday and horn-driven soul with Seattle’s Hard Maybe on Saturday.
Live music listings
Tuesday, May 30
Archer: 7 p.m., The Piper’s Despair (Irish folk)
Aslan: 8 p.m., Jazz Night
Blue Room: 6 p.m., Open Mic; 8 p.m., Jam:30 (open jam)
Boundary: 6 p.m., Paul Klein on piano
Culture Cafe: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., RJ Rex’s Gruv (funk/jazz/blues)
Menace: 7 p.m., Invitational Blues Jam
Wednesday, May 31
Boundary: 6 p.m., Aaron Guest on piano
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Open Mic
Rockfish: 6 p.m., Pension King & The Dependents (acoustic classic rock)
Stones Throw: 6 p.m., Simon Llewelyn Evans (folk)
Wild Buffalo: 7:30 p.m., Bellingham Idol auditions
Thursday, June 1
Bistro at Shuksan: 5:30 p.m., High Peak Trio (funk/jazz/surf)
Blue Room: 9 p.m., Mostafa, CHRVNS, Jesus Chris, Deadly D, Ca$h McClane, more (hip-hop)
Boundary: 5 p.m., Hot Tomatoes (vintage jazz); 8 p.m., Caleb Klauder Country Band, The Old Fashioned Aces (country)
Brown Lantern: 8:30 p.m., Open Mic
Farmstrong: 6 p.m., The Enthusiasts (folk/rock)
Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Jazz Jam
Shakedown: 9 p.m., Duos, Throw No Stereo, TBA (rock)
Thirsty Badger: 7 p.m., Open Mic
That’s What I Like: 6 p.m., J.P. Falcon and Friends (folk/rock)
Friday, June 2
Admiralty Lounge: 8:30 p.m., Calaskan (Celtic)
Aslan: 8 p.m., BJ Block Trio (jazz/funk)
Beach at Birch Bay: 6 p.m., Dial Up (alternative rock covers)
Birdsview: 6 p.m., Uncle Doug
Boundary: 6 p.m., Whalien (jam rock)
Conway Muse: 8 p.m., Petunia and the Vipers (country/honky-tonk)
Eagle Haven: 7 p.m., Michael Dayvid
Fireside: 7 p.m., Fritz and the Freeloaders (acoustic rock)
Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., Odd Mood Jam Band
Guemes Island General Store: 5:30 p.m, Tenderpile’s Smile Aisle (jazz)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., The Librarians, Hermit Mabon (alternative folk)
Shakedown: 8:30 p.m., Salt Pine, North Country Highway, Jay Irwin and the GP Sunsets
Skagit Cellars: 6 p.m., Jolene Gayle
Skylark’s: 5 p.m., Dry Martini (jazz)
That’s What I Like: 7 p.m., Michael Longeneker
Vault: 7 p.m. J.P. Falcon Grady
Wild Buffalo: 8:15 p.m., Shiba San, Cat Passidy, Given Peace, Ellie Wilde, Skahzka
WinkWink: 7 p.m., The Tonins, Cat Valley
Saturday, June 3
Aslan: 4 p.m., North Sound Soul, 6:30 p.m., The Whags
Beach at Birch Bay: 3 p.m., Blind Fate (classic rock)
Birdsview: 6 p.m., Queen’s Bluegrass
Boundary: 2 p.m., Bellingham Youth Jazz Band; 3:30 p.m., Squalicum High Jazz Band; 5 p.m., Swing Connection Big Band; 7:30 p.m., The Atlantics
Conway Muse: 8 p.m., Nick Vigarino (blues)
Eagle Haven: 6 p.m., Austin Jenckes (country)
Fireside: 4 p.m., Singers’ Saturday
Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., Quickdraw String Band (folk)
Guemes Island General Store: 6:30 p.m., Cardova
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Chris Aiken Band (roots)
Kulshan Trackside: 7 p.m., Tenderpile’s Smile Aisle (jazz); 8:30 p.m., Hard Maybe (soul)
Main Street: 8 p.m., 4TENS (classic rock)
Rockfish: 7:30 p.m. Sheri Roberts Grimes and Jo Mamma (blues)
Shakedown: 9 p.m., Wet Temple, Breath, Feral Moon (doom metal)
Skylark’s: 5 p.m., Badd Dogg Blues
Station 49: 3 p.m., Side Hustle (classic rock)
Stones Throw: 6 p.m., Jasmine Greene Band (blues/R&B)
Thirsty Badger: 8 p.m., Sam Halbert and Friends
Underground: 8:30 p.m., The Takers, Dad Co. (hard rock covers)
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Shwayze, Joe Samba, Claire Wright
WWU Comm Lawn: 5 p.m., Lawnstock featuring Skating Polly, TeZATalks, Black Ends, Lemon Boy, Kitty Obsidian
Sunday, June 4
Beach at Birch Bay: 3 p.m., Jimmy Wright Band
Gilkey Square (La Conner): 1 p.m., Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers (blues/R&B)
Kulshan: 5 p.m. The Devillies
Main Street: 6 p.m., Open Mic
Mount Baker Theatre: 3 p.m., Bellingham Symphony Orchestra
New Prospect Theatre: 7 p.m., Traesti Darling, Mountain Holler, Cedar Dreamer (alt-folk)
Old Edison: 5:30 p.m. Randy Weeks and The Silent Treatment
Paws for a Beer: 2 p.m., Michael Dayvid
Station 49: 2 p.m., Cascade Cody
Monday, June 5
Blue Room: 8 p.m., In Motion Quartet (jazz)
FireHouse: 3:30 p.m., Simon Llewelyn Evans (folk)
Kulshan: 6 p.m., Heron & Crow (folk)
Tuesday, June 6
Archer: 7 p.m., The Piper’s Despair (Irish folk)
Aslan: 8 p.m., Jazz Night
Boundary: 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
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 Tuesdays. Email: jsbhammusic@gmail.com or Twitter: @JSBhamMusic.
