Crowded rooms, killer riffs: How Dollarbird became a staple of Bellingham’s music scene
By Liam Britt
Illustration of four members of Dollarbird playing instruments. // Art by Liam Britt
Friday nights in Bellingham aren’t complete without $5 tickets to a packed show at the Blue Room or a floor-bending mosh pit at a house party. Amid the usual noise that serenades these venues, a band has found its footing in Bellingham’s music scene.
Dollarbird, an indie rock band formed in early 2024, has earned a following through melody-driven guitar ballads and memorable covers. The band comprises four members: vocalist and guitarist Eric Ormseth, guitarist Riley McMonigle, bassist Bryson Bernardin and drummer Jordan Major.
The band has become a staple of Bellingham’s indie scene this past year, playing major venues and helping promote new bands. In a rapidly evolving scene, the four musicians have found success.
Venues like the Blue Room, Green House and the Shakedown are staples of Bellingham’s music scene that host local bands and DJs.
“The sound quality at a venue like that is so good,” Bernardin said. “The Blue Room is definitely a favorite of ours; It gets better every time. They get to know us and how we sound better.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Bellingham’s music scene looked drastically different.
“I’ve been hearing a lot about how Bellingham used to be pre-COVID,” Bernardin said, “it was a lot more alive and a lot more wild as far as the house music scene.”
There were more venues, bands and gig opportunities for new bands. Now, there are fewer spots for lesser-known acts and larger crowds at the remaining shows.
“A lot of iconic house show venues shut down in the last few years,” Bernardin said.
In recent years, this has culminated in small house shows with crowds too big for the building. Many people show up expecting a party, not understanding the importance of the music, said Felix Collins, a partygoer outside a house show.
“There’s too many people who don’t know the scene,” said Collins . "You gotta respect the equipment. You gotta respect the set.”
Dollarbird entered the Bellingham scene around this time, releasing their first song on April 15, 2024. Bernardin said the four members “just sort of met at Eric’s house.” When the group eventually jammed, they quickly realized how well they played together.
“I think we wrote four or five songs in the first month we were together,” Bernardin said. “It was the first group of guys I played with where it was really easy. You could trust everybody to play their parts well. We were just able to jam and started making music we really liked.”
Although the band found its groove quickly, it didn’t come without challenges.
“The first show, nobody came to because it was spring break,” Bernardin said.
Within a few months, though, Dollarbird gained traction and improved its turnout. The band found success in its “jammy” nature, playing memorable sets with crowd-favorite covers. Playing covers has been educational, Bernardin said.
“[Covers] are just full of decisions that we would not make on the same songs,” he said.
One of these songs, “Peaches” by the Presidents of the United States of America, became a crowd favorite when it was first performed.
Bernardin recalled the set: “When we were brainstorming covers, somebody suggested it and we were like, ‘Fuck yeah, let’s do that!’ It was the first cover we played where people sang along. It was a really easy song to sing to. It was also ridiculously fun to play.”
Ormseth writes most of Dollarbird’s songs. He brings them to the rest of the group, and they all collaborate on refining it.
“Eric writes the songs, we just follow him,” Major joked. “He gives us sheet music and drills us until unconscious.”
Through the jokes, it’s clear Ormseth cares about the music. When asked about “I Don’t Work Here Anymore,” a song released on Dec. 25, 2024, he said: “It’s about a lot of things. Every verse is about something else, but it all glues together.”
The audience notices the care Dollarbird puts into their music.
“It’s very easy music to get down with,” said Reece Culliney, an audience member at a Dollarbird house show. “The guitarist, Riley—he freaking rips.”
Recently, Dollarbird has started playing with new bands, hoping to grow the scene.
“The more, the merrier. Any band that wants to play a show should,” Bernardin said.
Ormseth has equipment that allows him to host shows, which the group uses to help promote other acts. The group’s collection of amps, microphones and stage gear allows them to play in a wide variety of shows. He’s hosted shows in his backyard and used the gear countless times for pop-up venues.
“Eric has the ability to amplify voices. He has the ability to play all these shows,” Bernardin said. “I think we all equally love playing house shows because it’s just really fun. It’s like, no rules, no pressure, really. It’s supposed to be about having fun in someone’s house or backyard.”
Despite playing together for the past year, the band has stayed focused.
“In my head, we just gotta keep writing songs,” Ormseth said. “Once we have a good body of work, we can start working on the album.”
When asked about the band’s future, Ormseth replied with a beer in hand: “I think we just want to play shows and have a good time.”
The band is looking forward to what the future brings, hoping to one day release that hit debut album. Until then, Dollarbird will be in Bellingham playing beloved local venues.
Video footage of a Dollarbird show. // by Liam Britt