Bass Area Crew Celebrates One Year Anniversary at LIFTED show
Audra Howerton and B Side Magazine Reporting
The Wild Buffalo as seen from the stage
A Bellingham local group of electronic DJs and producers blew a fuse at The Wild Buffalo on Friday, May 29th. The culprit, an elaborate set of computer programed LED lighting rigs, spotlights and sound systems all powered at once. Bass Area Crew, or BAC, creates a visually stimulating and physical experience for patrons of the EDM scene here in Bellingham. Collaborating with lighting and production companies Sensebellum and Groove Merchant Northwest, they produced an evening of back-to-back sets of DJs and continuous dance floor expression by audience participants. Cake was also involved.
The Cake in question
“[The shows] just get better and better”, said BAC co-founder Trevor Weidenbacher, known by his stage name FXL (Fear and Loathing), sharing a name with the novel by Hunter S. Thompson.
“We started with six members and are now up to 14,” said Weidenbacher. “I wanted BAC shows to be quality where people show up and are impressed.” The original BAC co-founders include Weidenbacher, Pat Cassidy, Leeban Ahmed, Haakon Taylor and Jordan Stambaugh.
BAC members were ecstatic with the conjoining of Sensebellum and Groove Merchant Northwest for a night of music. This show is the first collaboration at the Wild Buffalo for this trio of organizations, brought together by a mutual appreciation of the other’s equipment.
The booth
“We worked with both [Sensebellum and Groove Merchant Northwest] individually and they liked the others’ lights,” said Pat Cassidy, known by his stage name SWRV.
“They are both amazing at what they do,” said BAC co-founder Leeban Ahmed, known by his stage name Shadow Variable.
FXL and Shadow Variable on stage
Set up began in the early afternoon, providing time for the complicated rigging of pre-programed lights on-site. FXL and Shadow Variable played back-to-back sets with DJs transitioning every few songs, giving audiences a chance to experience the difference in styles between DJs. BAC is no one-trick-pony. They’re known to consistently throw down a diverse night of music.
“Everyone has a different sound and different taste,” said Weidenbacher. BAC lineups often perform a variety of electronic genres including bass music, trap, dubstep, trump, twerk, future bass and open format (a true menagerie of styles).
One of the newest members Taylor Kimball, known by his stage name Acid-Bass, has been a part of BAC for about five months. He initially started as a promoter then began filling time slots at their shows. He performed a back-to-back set with HAAKEYE at the anniversary party. Other DJs/Producers that performed included 49th Parallel and Evertrill.
“I was a little nervous doing a back-to-back set with [HAAKEYE],” said Kimball, reflecting on the Anniversary Party. “But it went way better than it possibly could have.”
BAC regularly plays shows such as LIFTED at The Wild Buffalo, Fresh Thursdays (previously titled Twisted Thursdays) at Glow Night Club, and Leveled at Rumors Cabaret.
FXL and Shadow Variable
Influenced by the Bay Area music scene of San Francisco with artists such as E-40, Too $hort and Mac Dre, BAC worked together to build credibility amongst clubs and bars while accumulating a following along the way.
“BAC is about helping each other get to where we want to be,” said Kimball.
Gaining traction in fan base and membership, the success of these DJs/Producers, promoters and graphic designers is well earned.
“[Trevor] is the reason for BAC,” said Cassidy, who was previous roommates with Weidenbacher last year. “Trevor, being the driven guy, saved up money and bought turn tables. Then I played with them and learned from [him]. Haakon was into it too.”
Shadow Variable first started by opening up for another DJ/Producer named Felix at Rumors, which opened the door for shows at The Underground.“There was a definite lack of electronic shows in Bellingham,” said Ahmed, which contributed to BAC initiative to bring electronic music to the area. “I just try to play a mix that I know will get people dancing.”
Previous to the anniversary party, they held a memorial benefit called Living the Dream in honor of crew member Aaron Bornemann, who passed away earlier this spring. They raised over $1,000 and donated the proceeds to musical non-profit organizations.
The one year anniversary party was Weidenbacher’s last show as a member of BAC, as he focuses on finishing his marketing degree at Western Washington University and his upcoming show at this year’s 2015 Summer Meltdown Festival in Darrington, WA. Although Weidenbacher’s involvement with BAC will be missed, Ahmed, Cassidy, Taylor and Kimball continue to produce shows every week. They plan on releasing a BAC compilation EP later this summer.
“I love what we’ve done so far,” said Ahmed. “We’ll see where it goes.”
FXL jams with BAC
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B Side images by Audra Howerton
Images and video donated by Jordan Stambaugh @ jordanstambaugh.com
For more information on Bass Area Crew, the DJS/Producers and their upcoming events, check out their links below!
Bass Area Crew Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BassArea1?fref=ts
DJ’s:
Acid-Bass: https://soundcloud.com/taylor-kimball-1
HAAKEYE: https://soundcloud.com/haakeye
SWRV: https://soundcloud.com/swrv
FXL: https://soundcloud.com/fearandloathingmusic
Shadow Variable: https://soundcloud.com/shadowvariable
49th Parallel: https://soundcloud.com/49th-parallel
Evertrill https://soundcloud.com/vjashbaugh
Production by:
Sensebellum – www.sensebellum.com
&
Groove Merchant NW – www.groovemerchantnorthwest.com
The B Side Music Blog 