Sunday, April 30, 2006

4/29/06 - Nestor Bar - Fargo, N.D.

April 29, 2006
The Nestor Bar
Fargo, ND

Soundcheck:
| Underneath the Sweet Love |

Set One:
| Pay the Toll to Ride the Junebug Flow | Casanova | Dream Baby [Roy Orbison] | Modern Day Fairy Tales | Cake | Downtown Liquor Store | Crystal's Answering Machine | Breathe You In | Sunshine Superman [Donovan] / Piper | Poet Who Didn't Know It | Like a Spy |

Set Two:
| Raise Your Voices | Jumpstart My Rocket | It | Dr. Phil (Part One) | | Every Rose Has Its Thorn [Poison] / To the Next Episode / Theme from Inspector Gadget [Mike Piccirillo] / In the Hall of the Mountain King [Edvard Grieg] | Underneath the Sweet Love | I'm a Bad MammaJamma (Who Works at Wendy's) | Place | Spring Fever / The Date | Breasts | Dr. Phil (Part Two) | Potion |

Set Three:
| Rich & Poor | Back in the USSR [The Beatles] | Chosen Ones | Clone You | Found My Boogie | Bullet in Your Head | Li'l Red Riding Head [Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs] | The Golden Girls Theme [Andrew Gold] | Bumblebee | Damn the Man |


Tonight was the longest show we've played thus far. We had the stage from 10:00pm until closing. We played three lengthy sets and rawked Fargo good and hard. Then we were pooped.

We broke out a couple oldies tonight. We opened with "Pay the Toll" and also threw in "Crystal's Answering Machine". The third set started with an oldie called "Rich & Poor" that was thrown out to Chris and Bud from the old Jamestown band Meddle, who were present tonight and really wanted to hear it.

Tonight we debuted parts one and two of a three part series about a particular man possessing eternal wisdom: Dr. Phil. The first was a free form jazzy sort of jam while Anthony read from a Dr. Phil book. The second was a little more sexy and a lot more funky.

At one point tonight, Dustin started playing "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" by AC/DC and a guy in the crowd yelled, "Play that! Don't tease us!!" Tony then explained that we as a band actually DO believe that rock and roll IS noise pollution. "We're gonna be bold and say that."

Later, while Anthony was tuning, the other three began playing "Another One Bites the Dust." We stopped and Anthony started "Poet" and the crowd was heard groaning in protest of our not continuing with Queen. Bam! Got 'em again!

Thanks go out to Seth the soundguy for being cool and making us sound good. Also, props and big ups to the faithful Junebuggers who came to Fargo just to catch our show. Your loyalty amazes us.

Monday, April 24, 2006

4/23/06 - Melgaard Park - Aberdeen, S.D.

April 23, 2006
First Annual Spring Jam
Melgaard Park
Aberdeen, SD

Set:
| Modern Day Fairy Tales | I'm a Bad MammaJamma (Who Works at Wendy's) | Casanova | Poet Who Didn't Know It | Spring Fever / The Date | Every Rose Has Its Thorn [Poison] / To the Next Episode | Back in the USSR [The Beatles] | Chosen Ones | Jumpstart My Rocket | Clone You | Damn the Man |


Today's event was organized by a fellow named Spencer Dockery. Tony actually knows him from a few years ago when they did a play together (Shakespeare's R&J for anyone who cares). The event was referred to as the first annual Spring Jam and was sponsored by the NSU Multicultural Student Affairs Office and the NSU Rugby Team, with the sound system provided by Pauer Sound.

The event started at noon and went until sundown. We weren't actually sure of what to expect before we got there today, but it was really cool. The bands played in the Melgaard Park band shell and many many people sat out on blankets and lawn chairs. People danced and threw frisbees. There were all types of people there of all ages. It was like a bona fide festival, but free and right here in Aberdeen. It's something we'd like to see again. From stage Josh said, "I just want to say that this is really kick ass and if we could make this a more regular event...this is one of the most beautiful things I've seen in this town in a long time."

Junebug took the stage at roughly 5:00pm for a 5:30 start. We played a very fun and strong set today that lasted just under an hour. It was a beautiful day for an outdoor show.

Nothing too out of the ordinary happened today, except that during "Damn the Man", a man was cuffed and arrested by three police officers. I smell some unfortunate irony.

Thanks to Nick Howell for the use of his drum kit and Spencer Dockery for setting this baby up.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

4/15/06 - Nestor Bar - Fargo, N.D.

April 15, 2006
The Cosmic Break Tour
The Nestor Bar
Fargo, ND

Set:
| Jumpstart My Rocket | I'm a Bad MammaJamma (Who Works at Wendy's) | Clone You | Spring Fever / The Date | Back in the U.S.S.R. [The Beatles] | Chosen Ones | Place | Damn the Man |


This was the big night we've been gearing up for. It was the Cosmic Break Tour's stop in Fargo, N.Dak. at the Nestor. It was a competion amongst four bands; The Public Market (Bismarck, N.Dak.), WBPN (Fargo, N.Dak.), The Legionnaires (Fargo, N.Dak.), and of course JUNEBUG. The winner receives a "substantial" package from D'Addario strings and Evans drum heads and a slot on the Saloon Stage at this summer's 10,000 Lakes Festival.

The night started out with an amazing surprise for us. Our dear friend and chief Junebugger, Danny Ch. lives in Colorado, as many of you know. But somehow, some way, the gods smiled upon us and Mr. Ch. was at the Nestor tonight. He and Bryna schemed to not let us know he was going to be there with her and other friends of ours from high school. It was great to have a bit of a delegation at a contest out of town. And having Danny Ch. there pumped us up incredibly.

We kicked off the set with "Jumpstart My Rocket," a tune we usually reserve for the ends of shows. But we decided the best kick to the face was to open with a high-octane powerhouse. And this was a good decision. "Bad MammaJamma" was next and folks, they were a-dancin'. The groove was tight and the balance was solid. We were off to a great start.

Dustin tried to make a deal with the crowd. He said, "I have a special offer for the audience: Anyone I don't know who comes up with a ticket that says 'Junebug' on it, I'm gonna shave part of my beard." He held up the shaver and turned it on to prove it was for real. Surprisingly, shockingly, there were no takers. It's a mystery. After "Clone You," he said, "No takers on the beard yet? I just grew this for Lent. Lent's over now." Still, no dice.

Really the only shaky portion of the night was "Spring Fever." Dustin and Anthony had a difficult time hearing each other and on the beginning part they were a couple beats off. But really, if that's the worst that happened, we played a good show.

Before "Place" Dustin said, "The one is dedicated to our friend Pete. The end."

Tonight was the first time in a long time that we actually played all the way through "Damn the Man" beginning to end. And if I may say so, it rocked. We were on tonight. And at the end when Dustin jumps to cut off the song, all four of us jumped (and Tony even landed wrong sustaining an injury to his ankle - now THAT's rawk and role).

Tony used his new cymbals for the first time tonight. They were a welcome addition.

The crowd was great tonight. This was the first time since January 26, 2001 that we have played in Fargo. Five years was a long wait, but Fargo was good to us again. This was also the first time Danny Ch. got to see the new incarnation of Junebug. The fans present who had heard us in the past had nothing but wonderful things to say to us and left us feeling amazing. Some said it was the best they've ever heard us.

This was a contest, but even if we didn't win we've planted the seeds for a solid fanbase in Fargo. It was fun. And regardless of the outcome, we can be proud of ourselves for a rawkin' show.