Home Live Review Live Review: Veronica North @ Wild Buffalo House of Music (Bellingham, WA) — 1/16/25

Live Review: Veronica North @ Wild Buffalo House of Music (Bellingham, WA) — 1/16/25

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Live Review: Veronica North @ Wild Buffalo House of Music (Bellingham, WA) — 1/16/25
Veronica North performs at Wild Buffalo House of Music on Jan. 16, 2025. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

In a recent turn at the Wild Buffalo House of Music, Veronica North’s deep and enduring connection with her audience was on full display. The Pacific Northwest based singer-songwriter has cultivated a significant Bellingham following and to say it showed would be the understatement of this still young new year.

I first saw Veronica perform back in October 2024 during Bellingham Exit at Mallard Ice Cream Shop. With just an acoustic guitar and a few lovely, disarming songs, she captivated that small audience. At the Wild Buffalo, with a full band and a significantly larger crowd on Jan. 16, Veronica made a bold musical statement, cementing her reputation as one of Bellingham’s most promising pop artists.

Any time I see a local musician, perhaps just starting out or already having trod a long and frustrating road, I’m reminded of LA Times critic David Ackert’s quote: “Singers and Musicians are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth…Why? Because musicians and singers are willing to give their entire lives to a moment — to that melody, that lyric, that chord, or that interpretation that will stir the audience’s soul. Singers and Musicians are beings who have tasted life’s nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another’s heart.” On this night, we were treated to countless crystal moments.

Bellingham’s richness in musical talent, for a somewhat isolated town in a far corner of the continental United States, continues to surprise and impress. Billed as a night of local music, three of Bellingham’s musical acts would be sharing the Wild Buffalo stage. Arriving at the venue early, I thought the pre-show house music, Bham’s own Death Cab for Cutie (DCFC), was a nice touch.

The Wild Buffalo sits just a couple blocks away from the intersection of Holly and Railroad streets mentioned in DCFC’s song “A Movie Script Ending.” Although DCFC’s influence on Bellingham’s music scene is today somewhat muted, the proximal significance of the Wild Buffalo to that intersection wasn’t lost on me. In a 2019 interview, Gibbard said, “I wrote [“A Movie Script Ending”] as a love letter to Bellingham in 2001. I had just moved away and I missed it so much.”

Filling Bellingham’s large musical shoes (Death Cab for Cutie, ODESZA and the Posies come to mind) may seem a daunting task. Veronica North and the two openers, Corey Silversmith and Bellflower, may not have risen to Death Cab’s commercial and artistic level (yet), but on this night they admirably upheld the town’s reputation for rich, varied music and performance.

Veronica North (Corey Silversmith), Bham, 2025-01-16

The 8pm show opened with a solo performance by Corey Silversmith on keyboards. The rather subdued opening to the evening may have been due to Corey recovering from illness (“but let’s just keep going!”). However, that didn’t stop him from returning on bass duty for Veronica’s set. After a quick stage set change, Bellflower was up next. Bellflower’s music occupies that space between dream pop (sublime harmonies), indie rock (crunchy guitars), and grunge (booming bass, thundering drums), all wrapped in pleasing catchy melodies. From my perspective, the sense of joy and fun Bellflower brought to the stage confirmed what this night was about: celebrating Bellingham music.

Veronica North (Bellflower), Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North (Bellflower), Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North (Bellflower), Bham, 2025-01-16

Following the introduction by Allan Fee, KAFE 104.1’s morning DJ and full-fledged Veronica North supporter (a Northie, perhaps?), Veronica hit the stage just after 9pm. Clad in a lovely pink gown (the night’s color theme was pink) with her accomplished backing band, she opened with “My Number One” from her 2022 debut album, Candles and Forest Fires. Fans quickly crowded the stage rail, singing every word of the song (a pattern that would be repeated throughout the night). Strapping on her acoustic guitar for “are you happy” (from the 2024 EP, double bar line), “Time,” and “Wildfire” confirmed Veronica’s musical and songwriting gifts. Technical difficulties early in the set didn’t interrupt or slow the musical proceedings, another testament to Veronica’s professionalism as well as that of the band — Giancarlo Bussani (drums), Andy Klassen (guitars), Alex Potter (keyboards), Taryn Kaely Potter (backing vocals), and Corey Silversmith (bass).

Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16

Stream Veronica’s latest EP, double bar line, on Spotify.

When Taylor Swift performs to her massive stadium audiences, she manages to somehow establish a deep and genuine connection. In an industry known for its cynicism and brutal economic realities, those moments of real emotion, intimacy, and community, even from multi-millionaire performers, are to be cherished and celebrated. As Veronica performed, I sensed the same level of commitment to, and from, her fans. Though she may not command the same stadium-sized legions, Veronica’s ability to establish a meaningful bond with her supporters at the Wild Buffalo struck the same note.

While introducing “Most Days,” Veronica revealed that her day job as a mental health nurse can weigh heavily, both because of the despair and suffering she sees and has experienced herself. When artists and/or public figures step back from their professions (Kathleen Edwards, Simone Biles, among others) due to depression or other mental health concerns, we sympathize from a distance. But when someone we know from our own community appeals for compassion, empathy, and support, the plea is that much stronger and meaningful. We all experience mental health issues in way or another, and when artists like Veronica (regardless of their platform’s size), stand up publicly for treatment, it matters, even if only to one person in the room.

Watch the official music video for “Woman” by Veronica North on YouTube.

As the show began to wind down, Veronica acknowledged her Mom’s support (handling merch table duties and the inspiration for “Woman”), singing “from my mother” before launching into a raucous and joyful North/Swift/Roan mashup of “Say That You Love Me/Champagne Problems/All Too Well/Pink Pony Club,” and ending with the new single, “Coffee at Your Place.” Although no encore was forthcoming, a visibly drained but happy crowd filed out with huge grins on their faces and, I’m sure, laughter in their hearts. As a bonus, Veronica mentioned a new album coming out in March. Perhaps we can look forward to a springtime record release show?

Watch the official lyric video for “Coffee at Your Place” by Veronica North on YouTube.

For more music, video, and tour information, please visit Veronica’s website.

Here are some more photos of Veronica North at the Wild Buffalo House of Music on Jan. 16, 2025. All photos courtesy of and copyright Mark Caicedo.

Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16
Veronica North, Bham, 2025-01-16

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