There’s a common sequence of events that happens with good musicians around here: Once they get to a certain level of popularity and ambition, they almost inevitably end up moving to Seattle or Portland.
It’s nice to see when a performer the caliber of Jenner Fox decides to make Bellingham his home base, even as his music career continues to grow. The singer-songwriter has a new album, “Anything,” coming out soon, and will have two big shows in the area to help put it out into the world.
Fox has been around for a while now, with this being his seventh full album. After previously living in Seattle and Sisters, Oregon, he moved to Bellingham last year to be close to friends and some of his bandmates.
His carefully-crafted songs see-saw between epic and subtle, finding poetry in the mundane. One of my favorites on the new album is “Someday,” a plaintive lament for all the things you’re hoping to do someday but never quite get around to. Fox has got the talent a lot of the best songwriters have for taking a familiar image or situation and delivering a surprising, personal take on it.
But in addition to being an outstanding songwriter, Fox has assembled a fantastic band. On top of the bed provided by his solid rhythm guitar and Aaron Moore’s bass, three skilled and inventive players dance and weave riffs and countermelodies: guitarist Jeremy Elliott, keyboardist Aaron Guest, and lap steel/dobro player Benji Nagel. Bellingham music fans will recognize Guest and Elliott from Polecat, Petty or Not and other local projects.
There are a lot of neat instrumental moments, but a highlight for me is the way Elliott’s epic solo on the title track gradually gives way to ambient keyboards and mandolin. Everyone in the band also sings backing vocals, so they’re able to do some beautiful multi-part harmonies.
This band lineup came together back in 2021. On a few occasions now, they’ve done week-long tours using only electric cargo bikes for transportation. Fox cited those experiences as crucial bonding moments for the group that helped them develop the camaraderie they have now.
The geographical separation of the band (Moore and Nagel live near Bend, Oregon) means that they get together for short, intense bursts of rehearsal and touring several times a year. A lot of the recording for the new album was done with minimal rehearsal; in some cases, the other musicians were hearing the songs for the first time when they got to the studio. The recording was done live without headphones, just down the road at Sage Arts in Arlington.
In addition to original material, the band has an alternate identity as National Guitar, a tribute to Paul Simon. Their March shows include two in this area: first in Mount Vernon, then in Bellingham.
On Thursday, March 20 at the Lincoln Theatre, they’ll play two sets: the first all originals, then a set of Paul Simon songs. On Friday, March 21 at the New Prospect Theatre, it’s just the originals (with an opening set by the duo of Guest and fiddler Cayley Schmid).
They’ve also got a tour of Oregon and California booked for May, but these are your best chances to see them around here. The full album won’t be on streaming services until May, but they’re hoping to have the vinyl back in time for the March shows. You can preview the first two singles, “Water Settles,” and “Heart Tattoo,” now, though, and they’ll give you a pretty good sense of the quality of the album.
This is a group with a great deal of depth to their songwriting and playing, and they draw on a wide enough range of influences that just about any music fan ought to find something to enjoy.
The fact that they tour by bike feels like not just a cool trick, but a pretty good indicator of what they’re all about, with songs that evoke the outdoors and the feel of the wind rushing by. Check them out, either live or on their recordings, and see if you want to hop on board.
News
Mallard Ice Cream is bringing live music back. It’s going to be all acoustic, but interested performers are encouraged to reach out to them to set something up. It’s always nice to see music happening in less obvious places.
The venue formerly known as the Conway Muse is now going to be known as the Arcadian Public House. Not sure what sparked the change, but I like the new name.
The debut album by Skagit County rockers Nurhachi is out on streaming services now. It’s melodic, anthemic rock that manages to avoid tipping over into obnoxiousness, a tricky balance to strike but they do it well. Lead singer Jack Mattingly, who some of you might know from Whiskey Fever, has a great voice and a wide ranging approach to songwriting. I think it also helps that they sound like they are genuinely having a lot of fun playing music, and that’s surprisingly rare these days.
Jesse Stanton's music column, The Beat Goes On, appears weekly. Reach him at jsbhammusic@gmail.com; @JSBhamMusic. Check with individual venues to make sure events are still taking place as scheduled. Live music events in Whatcom County: http://www.cascadiadaily.com/category/living/arts-and-entertainment/music/music-calendar
