10/6/12 - Sidestreet Grille & Pub - Fargo, N.D.

Set One:
| Beards | Destiny, She Drives a Rolls | M'Lady | Poet (Who Didn't Know It) | I'm a Bad Mamma Jamma (Who Works at Wendy's) | Let's Dance [David Bowie] | Refrigerator | Give Yourself | Mystic Princess | Downtown Liquor Store | Handlebar Mustache | Modern Age |

Set Two: 
| Soul Shaker | Chosen Ones | Fluffy Little Hands / Time [Pink Floyd] / To the Next Episode |  Hell-Bent Woman | Found My Boogie | Golden Girls Theme [Andrew Gold] | Law & Order Theme [Mike Post] | Crossroads |

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Poster designed by Tony L. Kollman.
Original Hot Glue artwork by Robb Main.

So it was that we found ourselves at the Sidestreet in Fargo yet again. This time it was to play a joint show with an Anthony side project called Hot Glue.

We ended up taking multiple vehicles again, due to conflicting schedules and plans. Because of my work schedules, and since I had to work until 4:00 p.m. today, I didn't get a chance to get to Dustin's place to load my drums, so he was kind enough to pack them up and bring them for me. Immediately after getting off work, I got in my car and booked it out to Fargo.

I got to the venue in enough time. It was a very uneventful drive, thankfully. When I arrived and we began setting up, it occurred to me that I couldn't find my cymbals. I asked Dustin where they were. After a moment to think he responded, "In my basement." We then went into scramble mode, trying to contact drummers we know in the Fargo area. It turns out that the Kamikaze Snowmen came through for us. Paul, their drummer, was out of town, but I was able to contact Josh who had planned on attending our show anyway. He got ahold of Paul, and went to Paul's place to get his cymbals. They were life savers tonight. It is proof positive that they are a force for good in the universe.

We got the party started and rocked it, as usual. It was a mix of stuff off our upcoming album and all the Junebug classics you've come to expect. And we rocked them hard. In fact, after "Refrigerator," Anthony said, "I'm so worn out by that song! Does anyone have a Nuprin?" Little. Yellow. Different. Better.

Before we played "Handlebar Mustache" I took a look at Dustin's face and saw a very real, very tangible handlebar mustache. I figured I'd go for the cheesy intro. "Say, Dustin! That's some mighty fancy facial hair you've got there. Whaddaya call that?" There was a moment of silence, while I waited for his response. "You've got a lot of growing up to do, Tony. I'm kind of sick of your childish bull." Point taken.

The rocking kept happening and we kept rolling. It was hot, and I was getting worked up and thirsty. There were some wonderful boys from the San Haven Chuckle present, and they were providing me with refreshments, but at this point I really needed some water. I asked for some. Dustin spoke up. "The way this guy pees, just don't do it. Please."

Even so, the bartender brought me a full pitcher of cold water with ice. It was glorious. I poured myself a glass and set the pitcher down on the floor next to my hi-hat. That cold goodness really hit the spot.

Anthony kept having some technical difficulties tonight pertaining to his guitar cable and output jack on his guitar. And one point he became frustrated during a song and just gave the cable a heavy yank without looking where he was yanking. The cable flew up and wrapped around the top of my hi-hat stand. I took a brief half-second and removed it from the hi-hat. What I didn't realize is that when it went to the floor, it looped around my refreshing water pitcher. Anthony gave the cable another yank and the pitcher toppled to the floor, spilling all the cool goodness all over the stage. Luckily nothing was ruined. The amps were on stands and his pedals were far away. The bartender rushed up with towels immediately following the song. But of course, our Mr. Anthony had no idea any of this happened. 

The technical difficulties carried over into later on. We attempted to start "Crossroads" about three times before Anthony decided he would just sing it and not play it.

And thus ended the show at the Sidestreet. We laughed. We cried. We spilled our beverages. Family and friends gave us love and we gave it back. Then Hot Glue performed. And the sleep happened. And then we drove home.

8/11/12 - Sidestreet Grille & Pub - Fargo, N.D.

Set One:
| M'Lady | Beards | Destiny, She Drives a Rolls | Poet (Who Didn't Know It) | I'm a Bad Mamma Jamma (Who Works at Wendy's) | Let's Dance [David Bowie] | Refrigerator | Downtown Liquor Store | Mystic Princess | Handlebar Mustache | Jumpstart My Rocket | 

Set Two:
| Soul Shaker | Chosen Ones | Fluffy Little Hands / Time [Pink Floyd] | To the Next Episode | Hell-Bent Woman | Found My Boogie | Golden Girls Theme [Andrew Gold] | Crossroads | 

Encore:
| Say It Ain't So [Weezer] |

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Hide your daughters, because... These guys.

Fargo has always been good to us, so we try to get back whenever we can. Notably, this particular trip marks only like the third time or so that we've all traveled to an out-of-town gig in just one vehicle. Seems odd, but that's us. 

Lately, when we've been coming back to Fargo, we've been playing shows with our good friends, The San Haven Chuckle. However, this time around, we've realized that we've been inadvertently neglecting another great group of friends: The Kamikaze Snowmen. The 'Snowmen started in Aberdeen, back in the day and lately, they've been blowing up the Fargo comedy scene. They've got a podcast called the Kamikaze Snowcast, and they've been consistently putting out new music. They were even played on the Dr. Demento Show, which is kind of a big deal. Two of them live in Fargo, and the third lives out of state. We played tonight's show with them, and as a pleasant surprise, their performance included their full lineup. It was a bit of a momentous occasion for us and them, since we haven't actually played a show together in about a decade.

Another interesting tidbit regarding tonight's show is that I played with a badly injured hand. Less than a week ago, I accidentally put my right hand through a window and sliced it up. It was a horrible, bloody mess, earning me ten stitches. So, I'm still healing, and I've got big old gauze, wrap, and bandages happening, but that doesn't stop the rock. The show must go on. And it did. And it rocked on quite nicely. And though I did feel the effects of the rock afterward, my hand lived to tell the tale.

We got our set underway, and it was a gay ol' time. Since we were playing with friends who do comedy in their band, we were feeling squirrely and silly. After "Destiny, She Drives a Rolls," which was our third song, we thanked the crowd and informed them it was our last song of the night. Someone called for an encore, so we obliged with about eighteen more songs.

The 'Snowmen and the 'Bug join
forces on an improvised song for their
podcast. Song title:"Sasquatch
Cheerleaders of Doom"

When I was in high school, I was always fascinated watching Max Weinberg on Late Night when they'd throw to commercial. On the way out and on the way back, his face was always so stiff -- frozen into a cheesy smile, his lifeless eyes staring at one fixed point beyond the camera. I decided to try this myself during "Refrigerator." The fixed point I chose to stare at was the face in the crowd of Paul Tebben, drummer for the Kamikaze Snowmen. I didn't look away once during the song. He said he wasn't uncomfortable at all, but I think that may speak more to his crazy than my own. How can you not be unnerved when dead eyes are staring at you, bearing a fake smile? Paul. 

We kept rockin' and making the people keep a-dancin'. We ended our first set on "Jumpstart My Rocket." At the end of the song, if you've heard us play it live, Dustin likes to make fun sounds happen with his effects pedals, to make it sound like a rocket lifting off. Tonight, he did that as he normally does, but then he just kept playing with it. Anthony and Dillon both set their guitars down and started visiting with folks. I was pretty interested in what Dustin was doing, so I stayed behind the drum kit and listened to him doodle. After it had been happening for nearly five minutes, the sound engineer had to ask if the song was over. He was wondering if he could turn up the house music. "Yes," Dustin replied. "We've been done for a long time." 

After visiting with my family members, Anthony's family members, and other people who I'm sure are someone's family members, we got back up and got it started. We played some standards, as well as a cover tune we've been kicking around lately: "Time" by Pink Floyd. Tonight it was dedicated to Josh Trumbo and Paul Tebben, two of the 'Snowmen who are also former bandmates of Anthony's  in the Cosmic Kibosh. "Time" used to be in their set, too.

Anthony poses next to a sign for a
very fortunately named rest area.

We kicked into our old hit, "To the Next Episode." There's a part in the middle that changes show-to-show, and just when we were about to get to that part, we realized that we hadn't planned for it. We didn't know what was going to happen. It pretty much fell apart. But, hey. It's "Episode." It's not supposed to be beautiful. When it was over, Anthony asked, "Can we all agree that we just rocked it to the next episode? Otherwise, we'd be stuck in the last episode, and where would we go from there?"

We continued on, and delivered the gooey goodness we were contractually obligated to provide. We rocked them well. We rocked them hard. And when it was over, they demanded an encore. We've always got "Say It Ain't So" in our pocket, so we whipped it out and gave them what they wanted. It was a good night.

Afterward, we partied late into the night. I literally fell asleep to the sound of Anthony and his mom singing Cracker songs a capella. In the morning, we recorded an interview for the Kamikaze Snowcast. Then we got back on the road to home. Mission accomplished.