About Us

What do an insurance agency owner, a software solutions consultant, a fireman and a community club employee all have in common? They are all members of Deerswerver, one of Ocean Shore’s hottest new bands, named after life with the town’s well-known four-legged friends and the defining theme behind the band’s diverse playlist. Channeling original musical artists from the 1970’s to present day, this band puts its own unique twist on songs including the mellow tracks of Van Morrison and Johnny Cash, the legendary classics of Led Zeppelin and ZZ Top, the iconic hits of Prince and the Beastie Boys, the pop melodies of Olivia Rodrigo and Brittany Spears, the frenetic punk rock of The Ramones and Violent Femmes, and the grunge rock sounds of Alice in Chains and Green Day.

So how did all these talented musicians get their start before finding their way to Ocean Shores? 

• It began with Brian Bachman, the band’s bass player, who started his first band at 14 with friends from school. Why did he choose the bass? “From the drop, I picked the bass guitar and found it was the glue that held a band together.” And he has never looked back! At an early age, Brian found himself playing bass in a variety of punk, rock, blues and alternative rock bands everywhere from the seedy bars of Southern California to the top floor of the Capitol Records building, fine-tuning his playing and earning his chops along the way.  Playing bass in a country music band based out of Ocean Shores during an extended visit in the 90’s, he met Deerswerver’s drummer Taylor, just five years old at the time, while playing with his older brother Lyle. When he finally moved back to Ocean Shores to take over the family’s insurance business in 2017, Brian reconnected with Taylor, who had become an Ocean Shores fireman and a great drummer in his own right.  Together, Brian and Taylor became an inseparable rhythm section, beginning with the formation of a local band called Working Class Heroes, and playing together again now, keeping the beat for the high-energy Deerswerver hits.

• Taylor comes from a family of musicians dating back to his father, Miles, who played the drums and taught his big brother Lyle. When Taylor was five, Lyle showed Taylor the basics and also introduced him to the band Green Day, inspiring him to sing and play along on his “air guitar” and paving the way for his authentic versions of Green Day covers today. “To this day, I am mostly self-taught, and have not had any formal lessons,” he reveals.After college and paramedic school, Taylor came back to Ocean Shores and continued playing, taking advantage of local open mic nights and creating a YouTube channel dedicated to performing drum covers. Several years later, Brian invited Taylor to sit in with some other musicians at the Galway restaurant. The group became the Working Class Heroes and played gigs all over town before the band’s lead singer moved away. Soon after, encouraged by their musical chemistry, Taylor and Brian began their search for a replacement. Little did they know that he had been watching them play at a festival show!

• Kevin, a software solutions consultant for Zendesk by day and table-jumping singer and guitar hero by night, got his first red plastic electric guitar from the Sears catalog when he was nine. “It came with a little amp and microphone, and I would play rock star in my living room for hours,” he remembers fondly. Kevin played in the Kent-Merdian Jazz band and then joined a funk cover band in high school called Prodigy, playing dances, street fairs and theaters in Seattle. Around 1985, Kevin left Prodigy to join the Eagertones, playing all the rock clubs in the pre-grunge Seattle era. As the band became more popular, they enjoyed some national fame and even opened for the Ramones, Romantics and Del Lords, touring from California to New York City before the band broke up in 1991. Kevin continued playing in various cover and tribute bands before moving to Ocean Shores in 2022. “I was new in town and went to check out the local bands playing at the Razor Clam festival,” Kevin remembers. Impressed after hearing Working Class Heroes, he reached out to Brian to set up some jam sessions and the two musicians connected instantly. And with Taylor sitting in as their drummer, Deerswerver was officially born!

The band began performing around town, entertaining audiences with their danceable playlist and energetic style. It’s not uncommon to see Kevin engaging their fans by jumping off the stage and onto their tables so that everyone is involved in the fun! Once they became part of the local music scene, Deerswerver often invited other musicians and singers to accompany them. 

• And that’s how Jacob Wikan came into the picture. Like the other members of the band, Jacob’s love of music and performing began at an early age. “Music has been a big part of my life ever since I discovered I had a talent for piano at age 10,” Jacob said with a smile. “So, I started taking lessons and joined up in pep band and choir at school.” At 14 years old, Jacob started learning guitar, bass, and drums, taking advantage of any musical opportunity there was at Darrington High School. In his senior year, he played keyboards in Arlington High School's Jazzmine group and became well-known for his ear for music and precise playing style.  In 2015, Jacob became a staff member of the Ocean Shores Community Club and continued his passion for music, playing solo shows and singing karaoke around town. He also became a frequent guest player with Deerswerver. 

The band soon realized how Jacob’s talent could both add depth to their existing playlist and expand their song catalogue with more originals and grunge covers. They agreed to invite him to become a permanent member of the band and the new Deerswerver was born! Today, these four talented and passionate singers, musicians and friends combine decades of experience to collaborate and play with the freedom to incorporate their individual styles and personalities and create music that has something for everyone

Want to add some musical fun to your beach weekend?! Deerswerver can be found playing at various indoor and outdoor venues and local festivals like Razor Clam Fest, Sand and Sawdust, Harley Hog Wild, and Clean Shores..