What's Up! Magazine

Band members Nika Munn, Bradley Lockhart and Shawn Stalberger. Photo by Marty Watson

For many of us, 2009 was a year of loss and saying goodbye. Continuing in a constant state of flux, Bellingham’s music community saw the death of two of its most prominent bands as The Russians and Black Eyes & Neck Ties both decided to end their reign. Never ones to stay idle, BENT vocalist Bradley Lockhart (also of The Mark) has kept busy with Wooden Wings, while Shawn Stalberger (The Nicest Guy In Town and former drummer for The Russians) formed Tear Me Apart.

“Shawn and I, when we were living together on New Street, just started jamming together one day,” Brad explains. “This was around the time that I had found out that Black Eyes was going to break up, and Kyle [Russians] was moving to Snoqualmie.” Enter violin prodigy Nika Munn, who had previously played with Stalberger in Cheetah Speed.

“Brad just texted me: I have these songs. You should bring your violin over and we’ll see how it sounds,” says Nika. Thus Baltic Cousins was born. This was September, only a few weeks after Brad and Shawn had begun practicing. Merely two weeks later, Baltic Cousins made their public debut: the much discussed and YouTube-viewed Make.Shift bicycle generator show at Glass Beach on Oct. 9. Since that debut, Baltic Cousins have garnered much attention through their powerful performances in atypical settings.

“We’ve played some weird shows,” says Lockhart. “We played at the Eagles Hall the night our friend was becoming an Eagle. That was real f#!king awkward, but a lot of fun. We’re pretty quiet compared to most of our other bands, but we still kept being asked to play quieter. There was also a Native American pool team there that night, and I didn’t think they liked us at all, but one of them told us we sounded like Nirvana and he thought we were really cool…”

While Baltic Cousins do not sound like Nirvana, they are one of the most powerful three-pieces this writer has seen in some time. If you’ve witnessed Wooden Wings, consider it a precursor to Baltic Cousins. If you’ve witnessed Baltic Cousins than you already know this: 1) they are the shit, and 2) Lockhart is one hell of a singer-songwriter. At their most recent show at the Cabin Tavern, Baltic Cousins blasted through a set that was reminiscent of a late-70′s Bruce Springsteen, only louder, faster and better this is mostly due to Stalberger. Munn’s contribution to Lockhart’s songs are extraordinary, with seafaring melodies that rival the best of guitar players.

This year is scheduled to be a busy one for Baltic Cousins, who are already finishing recording with John Brooks (Brunette Sweat).

“It only took a couple days to track the music but we’re still mixing it ’cause his computer keeps dying, but it should be ready in a week. It’s all overdubbed, which is probably why it’s taking so long,” says Lockhart.

Don’t plan on seeing anything on the shelves quite yet, though, as the demo is mostly so the band can book shows out-of town. However, if all goes to plan 2010 will see Baltic Cousins recording a proper album. “We just need some money first. We’ve played like eight shows and we have $80 dollars, but I ordered some stickers the other day so now we have $50.” Meanwhile, the band plans to continue their growing popularity through more and weirder shows. Possible locations?

“I really want to play the bus terminal,” Brad says. “Or a ferry; we could just put the bike generator in the back of a truck. We’d have to check with our friend JD first though, ’cause it was his idea.”