Navy band

High schools ... nightclubs.

Uniforms ... Hawaiian shirts.

Elvis ... Sublime.

Such is the double-life of a Navy musician.

Northwest Passage Navy Band members, also known “on the outside” as Temporary Addiction are hoping to make a splash on the cover band scene.

Jon Beebe (keyboard and vocals), Rob Marquis (guitarist), Scott “Sasquatch” Wise (drums), Dave Bogart (bass), Ellysia Flores (vocals) are all stationed at Subase Bangor.

The band formed in January and have had a steady stream of in-uniform gigs. As for the alter ego Temporary Addiction, it’s a little trickier to find work.

The musicians spend five days a week rehearsing or performing and their schedule fluctuates so much they can’t book something too far in advance.

Need a band pronto? Temporary Addiction is ready to go.

“We’re quite an interesting collage of ideas and sounds,” Beebe, an Olympic High School grad said. Miami, West Virginia, Tri Cities and California are represented in this musical melting pot.

Whether on the clock or off, the music is exactly the same Beebe said. Well basically.

System of the Down and Eminem’s controversial lyrics while in uniform are a no no.

“The military side does come into play,” Beebe said. Although they are not required to go on sea duty, their purpose is to boost sailor morale and serve as a public relations tool.

The Navy band side of the coin plays at high schools, dances and other community functions. The group recently played at Poulsbo’s Mudstock, which raised thousands of dollars for the Nelson house restoration.

Aside from donating their time and talents Beebe said “We just want to rock out.”

Temporary Addiction also wants to get paid.

They have been spotted at the Empire and Pitstop night clubs in Kitsap County, but welcome more venues.

“The party definitely picks up when we’re around,” Beebe said.

Marquis auditioned for a musician spot while in boot camp about six years ago.

Before that he spent 15 years performing in a hair band in Miami.

Guns N Roses, Whitesnake, Poison and synchronized hair tossing ruled.

“It was the 80s,” Marquis said.

Northwest Passage is hitting the road playing a fair in The Dalles, Ore. and are about ready to go on a two-week, Montana tour. They will play for high school crowds, which is fine by Marquis.

During his time in the Navy he has played at New Orleans’ Mardi Gras.

Since then nothing surprises him or Beebe.

“We played for three bums on the big island of Hawaii,” Beebe said of his stranger experiences of being a Navy musician.

On the other hand, one of the more rewarding gigs was playing for an orphanage in Thailand. where music penetrated the language barriers.

The group knows about 75 songs of all genres and are constantly learning new songs as their popularity increases.

While the two guys say they are not young enough to contend for the next round of American Idol, they do have some goals in mind.

“I would like to us play a high school prom,” Beebe said.

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