The live music scene on the North Coast has always been fluid. Change is inevitable and most acts last only a few years. Venues come and go, musical associations evolve, and players, as well as fans’ lives, evolve. Normally, there are others to take their places.

One local band has emerged from the doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic with a splash. Dr. Onion & The No-No Mamas, a foursome of talented Astoria players, has steadily increased the frequency of their appearances and spread their name across the local music scene.

They stand out from some other groups by incorporating elements of theater in their performances. They sport costumes onstage and identify with their alter-egos. This spotlights each member as a caricature and sets up the scene in which they all play.

Dr. Onion & The No-No Mamas

Dr. Onion & The No-No Mamas

Featuring Cisco Karpé, Evan Brandon, Nick Long and Taylan Brooking.

Performing 7 p.m. March 7 at the Columbian Theater, 1102 Marine Drive, Astoria, with Pulsar and IT&I.

Dr. Onion is Cisco Karpé, rhythm guitar and vocalist, the ostensible leader. He fronts the band and is their public voice. The other caricatures are the “Evalovin’ Oven” — Evan Brandon on bass guitar and vocals, “Nurse Richard” — Nick Long on lead guitar, and “Grandpa” — Taylan Brooking on drums. All members are local players who grew up in the local music scene. This lineup has been together for over two years.

Funk is on the menu when the “doctor” and his staff take the stage. The band came to the funk bag naturally. Karpé is the son of Howie Karpé, a blues guitar standout of the ’80s and ’90s.

“I was raised on the funk and soul masters,” he said. Brandon and Brooking say they also were influenced by their elders’ musical tastes. Long, the guitarist, has taken up the funk bag anew, coming from an esoteric rock music background.

It’s difficult to label the band’s music, but when pressed for characterization, Karpé says, and the band agrees on “experimental funk and soul”. Elements of other hard rock influences shape the mix, too. Brooking, who came to the band two years ago, agrees that they are a democratic group who try not to put limits on each other. Guitarist Long emphasized, “We’re not just a band, we’re good friends who can jam together and lose track of time.”

Unlike many musicians in their 20s, Dr. Onion’s crew brooks no amount of dark, brooding angst. Instead, the band is tilted to the sensual, rhythmic, fun side of modern life.

The life of a young musician is not the easiest or the flashiest existence. Since performance pay in non-urban places is often on the low side, nearly all players are forced to work “day gigs” to support their “habit,” which limits rehearsal and performance time.

This has not seemed to hamper this band since they’re known to rehearse twice a week. Making art takes dedication.

The next performance for Dr. Onion & The No-No Mamas will be on March 7 at the Columbian Theater in Astoria. As usual, the band’s promotion includes the tag “Be There or Be Square,” a slogan rooted in the 1940s jazz scene and bantered about through the ’50s and ’60s.

Make no mistake. This band is decidedly unsquare.