1/16/09 - Memory Lanes - Minneapolis

January 16, 2009
Memory Lanes
Minneapolis, Minn.

Set:
| Pay the Toll to Ride the Junebug Flow | Poet (Who Didn't Know It) | The Man In Me [Bob Dylan] | M'Lady | The Date | I'm a Bad MammaJamma (Who Works at Wendy's) | Last Night | Clone You | Chosen Ones | Lady Madonna [The Beatles] | Damn the Man |

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Bowling alleys: they're not just for bowling and drinking any more. No, no. In today's world, bowling alleys now mean good ol' rock and/or roll as well as the above mentioned joys. Tonight, Junebug descended upon Memory Lanes bowling alley in Minneapolis to mix the sound of funky rock and roll with the satisfying sounds that a bowling alley provides; balls rolling, pins falling, drunken people shouting and hooting... It was beauty in its truest form. In fact, the evening was so beautiful that some dude bowled a 298 just before the bands went on. He was two pins short of a perfect game, which is awesome.

After The Alrights performed and before Jon Wayne and Pain performed, the 'Bug took the stage in triumph, riding that dude's 298 energy. Being fans of The Big Lebowski, it was kind of a no-brainer that we'd have to play something tonight that related to it. The verdict was "The Man in Me" by Bob Dylan, which is the opening credits song in the film. The entire alley felt the magic. We had additionally worked up "Dead Flowers," which is the closing credits theme, but we had to unfortunately cut it for time. Maybe next time we play a bowling alley, we'll work up "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)." No promises, by it's my (tony's) favorite piece of music used in the film.

So there we were, playing rock music in a bowling alley. It was pretty awesome the way they set it up. They turned off three of the actual lanes and set up the stage right on top of them. That way, we could more easily distract those bowlers who were trying to concentrate. But why would you want to, with us on stage? I had said that I wished people could bowl right under us. But I suppose the bowlers need to see the pins at the end of lane, huh.

There was a great crowd tonight. Every lane was full as well as the bar. There were also people there just to see the music. There were probably a couple hundred or more people there.

I guess that's all. It was really awesome and we look forward to playing Memory Lanes again.