Junebug Show Diaries

Saturday, December 30, 2006

12/29/06 - Wild Oats - Aberdeen, S.D.

December 29, 2006
Wild Oats
Aberdeen, SD

Soundcheck:
| Piper |

Show Closer:
| With a Little Help from My Friends [as performed by Joe Cocker] (with Pops Blue Rhythm Band) |

After playing a show already tonight at the Aberdeen Eagles, we hightailed it over to Wild Oats for a pre-New Year's party with BlacKat Bone and Pops Blue Rhythm Band.

Our dear friend Molly from the old days was present tonight and she requested that we play "Piper". So there it was, just for her! It was also Tony's friend Erin's 21st birthday, so he shouted out to her.

After stunning the crowd with "Pay the Toll...", we dedicated "Bad MammaJamma" to the hardest working bad mammajamma in show business - the late, great James Brown. It was only tonight that we realized we should have actually played one of HIS songs.

The balance was good, and the sound was good too. The energy was there and the crowd was a pretty decent size. We worked our way through a pretty rockin' set. There were definitely people gettin' their grooves on during "It" and it continued through "Money" and "Dr. Phunk".

After "Jumpstart", Tony and Josh unitentionally hijacked the set and went into "Last Night". We followed up with a very abbreviated version of "Bullet" that went quickly but still got the point across. We finished our set with the classic, "Sledgehammer" which met with very fine reception. Who doesn't love Sledgehammer...really?

After we were done, Pops Blue Rhythm Band took the stage and played the night out. The final number, however, was a conglomeration of Pops and Junebug for the Joe Cocker version of "With a Little Help from My Friends". After a couple false starts, it was underway and it was a blast. Later reports said that it didn't necessarily sound the best, but it was really fun. It was indeed.

Thanks to BlacKat Bone, Pops Blue Rhythm, Randy and Wild Oats.

12/29/06 - Eagles - Aberdeen, S.D.

December 29, 2006
The Eagles
Aberdeen, SD

Soundcheck:
| Piper |

Tonight's show was the "Christmas Breakdown" featuring Groove Reflex with Junebug - an A-List event. Following the great success of the Halloween Hoedown, Groove Reflex invited us onboard for this show and we readily accepted. It was at the Eagles again, but in the big bingo room this time.

It was a little slow getting started. The crowd was a bit small at the beginning and most were hanging out toward the middle of room where all the tables were set up. The energy level started a little low. Anthony informed the crowd, "Dance floors do not bite, ladies and gentlemen." He later let everyone know that there actually is "no legal limit on ass-shakin'."

Tony mentioned later that he had trouble hearing the rest of the band. He stated that about 95% of the time, he was simply running the songs through his head and playing by memory. However, members of the crowd said it didn't necessarily sound like it. In fact, Josh mentioned that "Chosen Ones" was perhaps the tightest we've ever played it. Listening back to the video, it sounded way better than we had thought.

At one point in the show, Tony came out from behind the drum kit to the foot of the stage and removed his pants. [Un]forunately nobody but Liza and Katie seemed to notice. How strange.

We pushed on, rawking our way through the set and as the night went on, some familiar faces showed up at the front, but perhaps we didn't see much of the faces for all the dancing and bouncing and jiggling. We ended on a positive note with our version of Joe Cocker's version of a song done in a different version by the Beatles. Anthony hopped up on top of the subs and finished the crowd off in near-rockstar fashion.

Thanks to the Eagles, A-List and Groove Reflex.

Saturday, December 2, 2006

12/1/06 - Red Rooster - Aberdeen, S.D.

December 1, 2006
Red Rooster Coffee House
Aberdeen, SD

After taking over a month off from performing in order to practice and plan for recording, we came back with a vengeance and rawked that ol' Rooster one more time. This was what Dan Cleberg referred to as his "dream gig." However he and his wife couldn't make it because they were ill. The show started off with the lovely Georgette - a violin and accordian duo - with their hit song "Ghost Cat" and their unique version of the Cure's "Love Song". Next up were a very fun synth rock band from Brookings, called Welcome to the Cinema. A good time was had by all, but the night was just beginning.

The show started out pretty high-octane with such hits as "Chosen Ones" and a little known hit of ours from the 1960s called "Paint it Black". That was of course the era in which we were known as "The Rolling Stones".

After ripping through "Pay the Toll...", Anthony announced to the crowd that we are a band that believes in Hope. Dustin added, "Hope...Charity...Grace...and all the other characters on Passions." Indeed.

In the midst of the band intros (in the middle of "Bad MammaJamma"), in the place where Tony usually introduces Anthony, he drew a complete blank and had nothing to say. Then, because Tony forgot Anthony's name, it was up to Cheryl Tullis, Red Rooster regular and Junebug fan, to announce him for us. It was a very loud and boisterous introduction indeed.

Tonight, good ol' Dr. Phunk made an appearance. The Rooster got its first taste of the good doctor, and we got to experience him with a brand new groove, never before heard. And just when the funk was too much to handle, we rocked it to the next episode. Now, if you follow our shows at all, you know that in the middle of "Next Episode" Dustin generally plays a different guitar solo - generally something well-known. Tonight was no exception, but it was exceptional. At Dustin's solo break, he retrieved a music stand and a book of Christmas music. He opened to a random song and with the help of a couple spectators, set the book up on the stand. He then began sight-reading "O Come All Ye Faithful". During this beautifully awkward moment, Josh, Tony and Anthony all left the stage and left the spotlight to Dustin. The crowd sang along with his performance, and finally, we kicked back in to complete a dancetastic version of "Next Episode".

Just when we thought we were going to end the show tonight, Anthony and Tony suggested that we play "Downtown Liquor Store". However, Dustin was tired. He set down his guitar and rested for awhile. He soon came back to it, but laid down on the couch next to the stage to play out the end of the song. Tony didn't know where he was though, and spent most of the song very confused. He could hear the guitar, but not see him anywhere.

Tonight we played a special request for the birthday girl. Sarah requested that we play "Bumblebee" and it sure went out to her.

Tonight we also debuted a brand new song, "Crossroads". This will be the closing track of the forthcoming epic, Stan. If you missed tonight, you missed a good show.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

10/27/06 - Eagles - Aberdeen. S.D.

October 27, 2006
Halloween Hoedown
The Eagles Club
Aberdeen, SD

Halloween shows are inherently fun. But few shows have been as enjoyable and entertaining as tonight's. It may not have been the best show musically, but as far as the crowd, the energy, and the atmosphere, this show was one of best and most fun we have played.

First things first - and that is the costuming. Anthony was a Slaughter superfan with mullet, sleeveless t-shirt and white trash moustache. The rest of the band were members of Kiss dressed up for Halloween. Josh was Gene Simmons as a gangster, Dustin was Ace Frehley as a pirate, and Tony was Peter Criss as a ghostbuster - complete with inflatable proton pack. From my perspective (Tony's that is), it was pretty amazing to be playing a show and look over at Ace Frehley, or to have Gene Simmons turn around and smile at me. In addition, it was pretty strange and sweet to have Alice Cooper in the front row for nearly the whole show. After the show, I (tony) even autographed a drumstick for him.

It was a star-studded evening, to be sure. Not only was Alice Cooper in attendence, but both Beavis and Butthead were seen finding their boogie. Also spotted were Jason Voorhees, Leatherface and Waldo. Where's Waldo? In the Junebug crowd, that's where. There's also got to be a shout-out to Drew B. That guy is a total Junebug superfan, and his white trash getup did not disappoint.

It's also safe to say that this is the most skin we've seen at a Junebug show - because apparently at Halloween, females like to dress as sexy kittens and slutty nurses and the like. Lots of short skirts and low-cut tops and such. So to those scantily-clad ladies who are "of age" rather than "jail bait", thanks for that further boost into the rock 'n' roll lifestyle.

It has been nearly two months since we've played a show, and in that time, we were able to work up two new tunes that we debuted tonight. "Last Night" and "Good Vibes" met with great approval tonight.

We played for about an hour and a half, ripping through a high-octane set - no slow stuff for this party. Bad MammaJamma, Jumpstart My Rocket, Found My Boogie, Damn the Man...the rawk was there. Also, what would a Halloween show be without some good ol' Halloween music? Even though Urban Revue played it earlier in the evening, we had to go ahead with our rendition of "Ghostbusters". And to close the show, we played a rockin' version of a classic: "The Monster Mash".

At the end of the night, the final crowd tally for the night was approximately 450. That's probably the biggest crowd that we've played for. It was a freaking fun show.

Saturday, September 9, 2006

9/8/06 - Red Rooster - Aberdeen, S.D.

September 8, 2006
Red Rooster's 10^th Anniversary
Red Rooster Coffee House
Aberdeen, SD

Tonight was part of the fantastic ten-night Red Rooster tenth anniversary celebration. Junebug's first real show was at the Rooster on May 6, 2000 and the Rooster has been a huge part of our existence thus far - this was our 27th show at the Coffee House. When introducing us tonight, Dan referred to us as a "quintessential Rooster band". Them's big words m'friend.

After starting them off with some real rock and funky rhymes, we invited Fed By Doris onstage to recreate an old tradition - a communal performance of "Da Bomb". Talk about high octane. View it here.

Next was the energetic combination of "Sweet Love" and "Bad MammaJamma", followed by the reason we do this. That's right - money. We certainly are good little capitalists. The Money Medley came out in full swing for the first time in front of the Rooster's crowd.

After playing our newest song, "M'Lady", we had a really intense workout, closing the first set with three doozies of rock-fest. "Found My Boogie", "Refrigerator" and "Chosen Ones" really did the job and our break was well earned. (When we started "Chosen Ones", a fan could be heard exclaiming, "FINALLY!")

Elizabeth Andrews lent her beautiful talents to the first four songs of the second set. She is wonderful on the violin and we love her.

Before we played the most country-fied version of "Cake" ever, Dustin was tuning his guitar to a slide tuning. He said, "I'm going to attempt something that I've never really done before, and I KNOW for a fact I'm not good at it. But that's half the fun, right kids?" Anthony replied, "Well that's just the flavor of this band, you know? We can't do anything wrong." Indeed.

We found that after Liz's set, we really didn't have a lot of time left, so we played three more tunes. "Another One Bites the Dust" is always a crowd pleaser. As is our own mega-hit, "Jumpstart My Rocket".

We closed our set with another popular Junebug tune, but a different start than usual:
Anthony: Thanks for coming out...we are now rockin' you to the end of the night. But it's another episode of your life.
Dustin: And it's the end of ten years, and the beginning of who knows.
Anthony: Of another episode of another ten years.
Dustin: Of the next decade.
Tony: The next what?
Dustin: The next decade!
Tony: Oh, decade. I thought you were gonna say,
ALL: TO THE NEXT EPISODE!

We didn't even plan it. We are simply amazing.

But even more amazing is the Red Rooster Coffee House. Thank you, Red Rooster for the great times and all the shows.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

8/26/06 - Wild Oats - Aberdeen, S.D.

August 26, 2006
Wild Oats
Aberdeen, SD

Set Three:
| Rapper's Delight [The Sugarhill Gang] (with elements of "The Humpty Dance" [Digital Underground]) / To the Next Episode | Jumpstart My Rocket | The Money Medley (For the Love of Money [The O'Jays] / I Need Some Money [John Lee Hooker] / Gimme Some Money [Spinal Tap] / Money [Pink Floyd] ) | M'Lady | The Date | Another One Bites the Dust [Queen] | Damn the Man | Downtown Liquor Store | With a Little Help from My Friends [The Beatles (Joe Cocker version)] |

Tonight was the Sizzlin' Summer Nights car and bike show in Downtown Aberdeen. When we all arrived at the Oats, there was a big parade of classic cars and motorcycles happening outside. Wild Oats was packed with families still eating dinner and enjoying the event. Very many of these people stuck around for the show - which was cool.

We got a bit of a late start because the Oats was doing pretty good business and people were still being served at the tables. When Randy gave us the go-ahead, he asked that we start out a bit quieter than we were last night. Oh, but we picked it up later on in the night, let me tell you. And stuff. The crowd seemed a little bemused when the "3 furious" portion at the end of "...Junebug Flow" reared it's head. But everything was okay when we played "Back in the USSR". I mean, who DOESN'T love the Beatles? The first set was short but sweet (only 44 minutes) and only a tiny portion of folks left at the break.

The second set was a great set suitable for finding one's boogie, and find boogie they did. "Paint It Black" was a good shade faster tonight, to the delight of Sarah and Liza. It apparently made an impression, since midway through the third set, a man was heard shouting, "Play some more Stooonnnes!" "Found My Boogie" seems to have re-emerged as a dancetastic superhit for us, with a solid beat and bouncy lick.

Just before "Clone You", Anthony's guitar cable started throwing out some static. As he worked on it, Tony, Dustin and Josh threw out a killer jam that segued perfectly into the song. Hear it now by clicking here.

The show was so fantasmic that during the second break, Josh had to run down the street to his shop to get super glue for his blistering fingers. In spite of his precautions, he still ended up playing out the show with a pick. That's some true RAWK, if you ask me.

The third set started with a funky, danceable version of "Rapper's Delight"...but not surprisingly, we delighted ourselves all the way to the next episode.

We offered a little therapy session as well tonight in the third set with an installment of the destined-to-be-classic "Dr. Phil" series. Tonight was Part Two: Dr. Phunk. Afterward, the same man who wanted to hear more Rolling Stones music asked Sarah if the Dr. Phil number was on the "soundtrack". Apparently, it should be because it was the best song to that point in the show. At least we're making a difference in that man's life.

Tonight's peformance of "The Date" was crazy-fast, but good like that. Who knows if it will be that fast again, but it was appropriate for this show. Later on, Dustin played the riff from "Another One Bites the Dust" and a person in the crowd asked incredulously, "Are you REALLY gonna play that?" Anthony replied, "No, we don't play that song." But Josh picked it up and Tony kicked in and Anthony shouted, "Oh no we didn't! SNAP!" And we rocked it. Solid.

After Damning the Man, we Robbed a Liquor Store in Ashton Kulesa's honor. And finally, we closed the show with a powerhouse, high-octane performance of Joe Cocker's version of "With a Little Help from My Friends." WE got a little help from OUR friends as well. We invited folks to come up and sing along, and all participants were known members of the Aberdeen music scene. Jason Hill (Urban Revue and solo work), Joel Burckhard (Pops Blue Rhythm), Will Brown (solo music and The Blue Orange), and Nick Howell (Urban Revue) all came out and sang their hearts and their lungs out. It was a fantastic, high-energy ending to a real kick-ass show, if I may say so.

The Aberdeen music scene COULD be so amazing. There are so many great musicians in this town that need support and we truly and deeply THANK Randy and Wild Oats for taking a chance on us. We loved playing this venue and we hope that we can play there again. If more venues could do what Randy did and take a chance, they may find that people in this town will come out for a show like this.

Thank you, Randy. Thank you, Wild Oats. Thanks to everyone that came out and supported us and rocked out. Good times.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

8/25/06 - Wild Oats - Aberdeen, S.D.

August 25, 2006
Wild Oats
Aberdeen, SD

We finally got our first shows at Wild Oats in Aberdeen. This is a very good thing for us because people actually go to this bar and most of them are people around our age that have an appreciation for local music. So if we want to play around town, this is a good venue to have available to us.

We decided it would be worth it to rent some gear from Pauer Sound to blow the crowd away and make us sound amazing. Enter Joel Burckhard. He helped us set up and set levels on the sound board. According to him and the crowd, we sounded amazing.

We played three sets tonight, featuring our best known songs as well as a few new covers we whipped up for this very occasion. Tonight was the debut of our versions of "Paint it Black", "Another One Bites the Dust", the Joe Cocker version of "With a Little Help from My Friends" and the "Money Medley" which includes a full version of Pink Floyd's "Money". These all went over well - and we later found out that the crowd kept expecting "Next Episode" to pop out of any of them! Ah, our goal was finally achieved.

It was a good night. People came in and stayed (with the exception of the table of women that exited past us single file during the first song). It took a little while, but the crowd bought enough beers to fall into the music and find their boogies. It was a really great experience to play in front of a largely different Aberdeen crowd. The night ended with the great closer, "Sledgehammer". There was no sitting with arms crossed or bored brooding. Everyone was dancing, bobbing, nodding or moving in some capacity. It was tons of fun. Afterward, a few regular Junebug show-goers went so far as to say it was one of the best 'Bug shows they had ever seen. High praise indeed.

And Josh got a mic for the first time tonight.

Huge thanks go to Pauer Sound, Joel Burckhard, and Randy from Wild Oats.