North Garden Street is already well-known in Bellingham for hosting some of the best views on this side of the bay. But on the night of December 18th, it also hosted what some called “The End of The World.” It wouldn’t be a bad place to be if the Earth was actually at its demise, with 10 individual artists showing up to perform right next to the Western Washington University campus. The lineup was ambitious, for a first-time venue especially, but with an ample amount of teamwork and coordination from friends, the show was a success.
If one was to try and pin down the vibe of the show, they would probably need to utilize quite a few different adjectives. The words ‘engaging’ and ‘hyper’ come to mind with the first few acts, with Wenatchee rappers Ghostin, Willard, Kiddo Blazee, and Aujin running through their songs with passion and energy. Bellingham doesn’t host a lot of rap shows, so the beginning of the night being captivated by the boys added a unique twist. Following shortly was Zach Norris, also known as Bird Calls. A Bellingham regular, their performance was highly anticipated by many audience members. Their newest song, “Rocco,” is a fan favorite, with the whole crowd jumping and screaming the words to the track.
That momentum carried into the next act, Jerry Springfield as Eoe Vice, who has a similar cult following in the area. As the birthday boy and guest of honor for the night, the living room filled with people eager to watch Springfield do his thing. While a select few knew the words to all his songs, it was clear that “Jump” got everyone aerial and singing along the most. The track is available for streaming and secured Springfield’s spot as a favorite for the night.
Those six artists comprised the portion of the night dominated by beats bumping out of the speakers, and after Springfield, it was time to get some live instruments involved like a traditional Bellingham house show. Kicking off the more rock-focused portion was singer-songwriter Caid Ashton. Backed up by house member Lauren Miller on drums, Ashton brought the grime quintessential to shows around here. The three-song set consisted of self-written pieces that had the whole room nodding their heads to the beat. Decked out in a crop top and studded belt, Ashton had the old school rock look and sound that appropriately transitioned us all into the last few acts of the night — the bands.
Establishing themselves on Halloween at their first show, Madrona came through for the end of the world to play the longest set of the night. With an encore of their crowd favorite, “Grapefruit,” this Bellingham band knew exactly what to do. Comprised of five members, Finn Petrak, Axel Sundstrom, Ryan Greenwalt, Jalen Haynes, and Bennett O’Loughlin, the indie rock band sounded right at home in a living room full of Bellinghamsters.
After Madrona made everyone sweat, there was just a sliver of time before it was time to do it again, this time with Seattle band Public Theatre. This was not their first rodeo, as Logan Britsch, Matthew Tran, Corey Meldrom, and Grayson Malone have been playing shows for years up and down Washington and have amassed over 90,000 listeners on Spotify. From old favorites like “Grim Reaper” to new unreleased songs, the energy was infectious, and lead singer Britsch engaged with the crowd like no other. Giving a performance remembered by all, Public Theatre was certainly a big gem in the crown of the night.
After the curtains closed on them though, the night was not over. Ferndale band Not You finished the evening off, with indie punk rock stylings that tied everything together with an immaculate bow. Members Grayson Thompson, Stew Freeman, Dylan Phillips, and new addition Allison Meyer played both covers and originals, closing out the night with an epic rendition of “Constant Headache” by Joyce Manor. This was the third show by the band and their first in the Bellingham city limits. After their performance, their spot as one of the hottest upcoming bands in the area was secured and the sonic love they produced was warmly accepted and reciprocated by the audience.
Overall, there were many factors that made “The End of The World” what it was. Friends coming together to play music is always a beautiful thing, and coupled with a colorful and unique set-up at the house, over 100 members of the Bellingham community flowing in over the evening, and pure intentioned energy, December 18th was a night to remember. Bellingham is a special place for music, with a place for everyone no matter what, and this was just another special little pocket of that music doing what it does best, bringing people together and creating something special.