Tonight was a private party in honor of a graduate named Brooke down in Shakopee. We didn't really know what to expect, since we didn't previously know any of the people involved. We were contacted by the folks putting on the party who were looking for an indie band. They heard our stuff on MySpace and decided we were the right fit. So the contract was signed and we showed up for the festivities. The party was being held both in the house and in the sizeable driveway under an event tent. The band stage was under the tent, along with the food, the tub full of ice and beer, and a few tables.
As we were setting up, there was a gentleman asking what kind of music we play. He was enjoying some frosty adult beverages and well on his way to having a good time. He said he hoped that we'd play some Elvis. I asked whether he meant Memphis Elvis or Vegas Elvis. He responded by singing something I didn't recognize. He shared with us some details of his rock and roll memorabilia collection, including an autographed picture of Aerosmith's Stephen Tyler, whom he said he partied with not too long ago. This gentleman was often heard pre-show shouting his catch-phrase: "Dot Com," which is what he would come to be known as for the rest of the night.
We originally had a basic outline for a setlist tonight, but I didn't get a chance to actually arrange it, as Anthony had charged me. He had a list of songs in his iPhone, though, that we used as a guideline. As the night went on, however, we realized there was really no point in a "setlist" per se.
We opened with "Pay the Toll," which had a couple people bobbing and swaying, which was a good sign, I suppose. After "Modern Day" there was one solitary cheer -- from our buddy Dot Com. It stood to reason then, that when we introduced "Casanova" and asked for a rapper, Dot Com jumped at the chance. Before we even got to explain what was going on -- that he was intended to freestyle on one verse -- he grabbed the mic and began singing some improvised blues a capella. Dustin and I joined in, followed by Nick and Anthony, while Dot Com kept it up. When the jam ended, he kept singing. So I started "Casanova." He continued to sing into the microphone on the stage, and the Dot Com machine was engaged.
We moved on to "Bad Mamma Jamma." It was funky, people were dancing and butts were shaking. Furthermore, Dot Com was on a roll. He came up again, took the mic and went to town.
After we received a request for something by the All-American Rejects and turned it down, Dot Com offered to tune Dustin's guitar for him, which Dustin said he had full control over. The absurdity continued with children happily dancing to "Downtown Liquor Store." Anthony censored it slightly, "Right now I'm playin' blackjack with a two-dollar Hrrmmm." We took another moment to congratulate the graduate, saying, "We all graduated from high school, and we hope that you have better plans for the future than we did." See what I did there? Self-depricating humor. Or was it... ? There wasn't much of a response. Maybe reality was a little too real.
Dot Com came up on stage and joined us for another jam that sounded suspiciously like the Power Rangers theme song. Though, Anthony later said it reminded him of Rage Against the Machine. Whatever it was, it was ragey and rangerly.
We had plenty of requests tonight. Not for our own songs, but for popular songs like you might hear at a wedding dance. The classic "You Shook Me All Night Long" and "Brown-Eyed Girl" requests, you see. However, we went into this show under the impression that we were not allowed to play covers. We think there was a gap in communication somewhere along the line, because the woman in charge told us eventually that covers were fine. So in the middle of "Episode" we threw in "Birthday" by the Beatles, but subsituted "graduation." Did it work? Maybe. Does it matter? No. We closed the set with "Sledgehammer" and then took a short break to grab a drink and take a breath.
Right as we were starting to set up for our second act, a dude came up to us and somewhat urgently requested, "Can you play some Sublime? These guys are about to fight." Sure enough, at the opening of the tent there were some men seemingly in the beginnings of a scuffle. It was the weirdest justification for a request that we've heard, so we played "What I Got." And sure enough, some guys were seen rushing past the opening of the tent, presumably to either break up the fight or join in. We weren't sure if Sublime was requested in an attempt to stop the fight from happening, or if that was their preferred fightin' music. Either way, we were there to serve them.
Next, since we were playing requests, somebody asked for "I Love Rock & Roll." We started playing the song and in a moment of inspired brilliance, Anthony began singing the lyrics to "I Love Rocky Road," which is, of course, Weird Al's parody. It didn't go over too well and a woman named Sheila jumped up on stage and took the mic. She sang the correct lyrics and appeared to be having a ball. That is until she (and we) realized that we didn't actually know all the proper chords to the song. We struggled through it, and while she had a good time, you could tell that she wasn't truly satisfied.
We decided to keep the energy up with another one they might know. We started Weezer's "Say It Ain't So." From the back of the tent, Dot Com's eyes lit up and he charged onto the stage. Anthony got about the first half of the first verse out when Dot Com grabbed the mic and sang his own lyrics and melody throughout the rest of the song. Being the professionals that we are, we continued to play the correct music.
We played through a couple originals with no interruptions or occurrences. Then we brought it back around to playing what the people wanted to hear. Yes, ladies and gentlemen. We are now apparently a band that plays "Brown-Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison. We couldn't resist inviting Dot Com to come up and sing on it. However, when it became apparent that he didn't fully know the lyrics and continued repeating the same phrase, Sheila came up to save the day, much to Dot Com's chagrin. Sheila knew all the words and sang them with gusto. It was like karaoke provided by Junebug. Sheila was a rock star, though. When we finished "Brown-Eyed Girl," Sheila took command, proclaiming, "We're gonna start this party up! This one's going out to the graduate, Brooke! It's called 'I Love Rock & Roll!'" She turned to us and called out, "Start it up, boys!" After a second of contemplation of her apparent dissatisfaction with the previous performance of this song, she added, "Let's get it right this time." So it was that we got a second shot at getting the music right and Dustin got a second shot at the guitar solo. As it turned out, it wasn't too bad. The second time we played it. The second time tonight.
We had time for two more, and out of our behinds we pulled "Come Together" by the Beatles - a song we had never played or practiced before. It wasn't great, but you know, it wasn't horrible either. And Dot Com got another chance to rock out. We ended the night with "Damn the Man," and it went much like "Say It Ain't So," with us playing the song and Dot Com doing his own thing. It all worked out in the end.
All in all the night was a success. We had a crazy time and the folks present had fun dancing and singing and taking turns performing with us. Private parties are something we'd like to do more of. It was quite unique.
Songs on which Dot Com rushed the stage: Casanova, I'm a Bad Mamma Jamma (Who Works at Wendy's), Downtown Liquor Store, The Date, Say It Ain't So, Brown Eyed Girl, Come Together, Damn the Man
