Junebug & Josh Going Away Party
Set One:
| Pay the Toll to Ride the Junebug Flow | Poet Who Didn't Know It | Another One Bites the Dust [Queen] | Refrigerator | Underneath the Sweet Love | I'm a Bad MammaJamma (Who Works at Wendy's) [feat. Drew Bertch] | Passing the Torch Jam (feat. Dan Hartung) | Funk #49 [Joe Walsh] (feat. Dan Hartung) | I Love Rocky Road [Joan Jett / "Weird Al" Yankovic] (feat. Dan Hartung) | M'Lady | Downtown Liquor Store | Sweet Potato [Cracker] | Stan | It's Been a Long Time | Like a Spy | Sledgehammer [Peter Gabriel] |
| Pay the Toll to Ride the Junebug Flow | Poet Who Didn't Know It | Another One Bites the Dust [Queen] | Refrigerator | Underneath the Sweet Love | I'm a Bad MammaJamma (Who Works at Wendy's) [feat. Drew Bertch] | Passing the Torch Jam (feat. Dan Hartung) | Funk #49 [Joe Walsh] (feat. Dan Hartung) | I Love Rocky Road [Joan Jett / "Weird Al" Yankovic] (feat. Dan Hartung) | M'Lady | Downtown Liquor Store | Sweet Potato [Cracker] | Stan | It's Been a Long Time | Like a Spy | Sledgehammer [Peter Gabriel] |
Set Two:
| Jumpstart My Rocket | Last Night | The Date | Place | Chosen Ones | Money [Pink Floyd] | Give Me Some Truth | Clone You | Play That Funky Music [Wild Cherry] | Soul Shaker | To the Next Episode | Found My Boogie (feat. Jeremy Burckhard, Marcus Hoox) | Piss Up a Rope [Ween] | Crossroads |
| Jumpstart My Rocket | Last Night | The Date | Place | Chosen Ones | Money [Pink Floyd] | Give Me Some Truth | Clone You | Play That Funky Music [Wild Cherry] | Soul Shaker | To the Next Episode | Found My Boogie (feat. Jeremy Burckhard, Marcus Hoox) | Piss Up a Rope [Ween] | Crossroads |
Encore:
| Everlong [Foo Fighters] |
| Everlong [Foo Fighters] |
Tonight was a big night. It is one of the important days in the history of Junebug. It was a huge going-away party. For tonight was our final show as residents of Aberdeen, South Dakota, before relocating to the Twin Cities. Furthermore, tonight was the final show with Josh Rieck as a member of our band, before he moves to Vermillion, South Dakota to attend graduate school at USD. Both Josh and I (tony) currently work at the Best Western Ramkoa Hotel here in Aberdeen, so we were able to obtain the inexpensive rental of event rooms at the hotel for tonight. It was all ages, and there was a bar for those 21 and older. This tends to be an ideal situation for Junebug shows, since we seem to appeal to both younger audiences as well as drinking bar crowds.
We had high hopes for this show, but we got a bit worried early on since there was the very strong possibility of inclement weather. There were sever weather warnings all over the area and there were pretty dark clouds looming in the distance as we were loading in. Luckily, it didn't deter anybody, as it ended up being one of the biggest Aberdeen crowds we have ever had. Late in the show, Dustin commented on this saying, "Look at all these people. This is fantastic! There could be a tornado right now and wipe us all out, and you came!" I responded, "At least we're going out happy."
Tonight's show was locally star-studded, meaning that we had a number of guests perform with us tonight. Our old friend Drew Bertsch, a very bad mamma jamma who used to be a manager at Wendy's, joined us on the song about his employment alma mater. It was his birthday, too, so that made it extra special. Elizabeth Andrews, whom I referred to as the "Fifth Bug" since she played with us so often, joined us for "The Date" and "Place". On "Found My Boogie" tonight, Jeremy Burckhard played guitar and Marcus Hoox played bass. We had hoped that there would be people in the crowd capable of playing the song completely without us, but only those two people of that description came forward. Furthermore, another guest of the evening was the band Dr. Versatile. Whilst we took a set break, they played to keep the crowd there and entertained. Finally, at the very end of the night, DJ Rad Jackson finished off the night with the after party entertainment. He did my wedding just a couple months ago and it was one of the greatest parties I've ever attended.
One of the very notable guest appearances tonight was by twelve-year-old Dan Hartung. Dan was one of Dustin's guitar students, and he is really exceptional. Since we are leaving Aberdeen, Dustin thought that we would bring him onstage to pass the torch to the younger generation. He played with us on the "Passing the Torch" jam, as well as a portion of "Funk #49" by Joe Walsh. We then all ripped into "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett, but with me on lead vocals for this tune, it became "I Love Rocky Road" by Weird Al. The kid could wail. After his performance as he was leaving stage, Dustin said, "The Aberdeen music scene is now in your hands." "Don't screw it up," I advised.
You know, it happens at every show. Some clown yells out "Freebird" and you're forced to either ignore it and look like a jerk or address it and look lame. Tonight, we chose to address it. Anthony sang some of the lyrics while Dustin, Josh and I tried to accompany him. It was half-hearted at best. We stopped abruptly and Anthony said, "That's all you get." Thank god.
As a going away present to Josh, we let him have a microphone tonight. We played "Sweet Potato" by Cracker at his request and he sang lead vocals, so he kind of required one. In all of his time with us, I believe this was only the second time he got a mic.
A super-rarity of ours reared its head tonight. Out of absolutely nowhere, we started playing "It's Been a Long Time". If you've never heard of it, don't worry. Most people haven't. It's a reggae tune about a dude who lives in a garbage can and that's how he avoids the man keeping him down.
Tonight during "The Date", Josh wandered into the crowd for a dollar dance. Anyone wishing to pay a dollar (which would go toward his gas money to Vermillion tomorrow) could dance with him while he played the song. I didn't catch whether or not he made any money on that. Then, during the next song, he played an upright bass that he built with his own hands, sweat and tears. Because that's what he does.
Tonight, we decided to play two brand new songs that we've never played before. They were "Stan" (on which Dustin plays a baritone guitar) and "Give Me Some Truth". While this show marks the end of our Aberdeen chapter, we wanted to show that this was not the end. It is simply the start of something new, with new songs and albums on the horizon. We've got plenty of new material that you all will here. It's certainly not the end.
We thought it would be appropriate to close tonight's show with "Crossroads". We were saying goodbye, but we will meet again. Maybe there will be adventures and sorrows, but we will all see one another again one day. After this was over, the crowd began chanting, demanding one more song. It was equally fitting to play "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters. "If everything could ever feel this real forever / If anything could ever be this good again / The only thing I'll ever ask of you / You've got to promise not to stop when I say when."
We love you, Aberdeen.
