7/10/10 - After Party/CD Release / Red Rooster - Aberdeen, S.D.

Set: | Pay the Toll to Ride the Junebug Flow | Modern Day Fairy Tales | Vacation to Oblivion | Casanova [feat. Jon Wayne] | I'm a Bad Mamma Jamma (Who Works at Wendy's) [feat. Brian Hoesing] | Cake | Crystal's Answering Machine | Like a Spy (Not the Stalker) | Downtown Liquor Store [feat. Stacy Smith and Pat Marler] | Refrigerator | Fargo Gypsy Girl | To the Next Episode | Jumpstart My Rocket [feat. Dan Cleberg] | Found My Boogie [feat. Chad] | Poet (Who Didn't Know It) | Moon Over the Water | Clone You | Come Together [The Beatles] | Bumblebee |

Encore: | Hangin' Out in a Soundproof Room | Place | Crossroads |

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Ah, yes. The fabled Red Rooster Coffee House. Earlier today we performed at the Pig Out in Central Park, and now, tonight, it was time to properly celebrate the release of our second album, Modern Day Fairy Tales. The Rooster was so kind tonight as to offer to stay open late to accomodate an After Pigout Party and to celebrate our CD release. The show didn't get started until around 11:00 p.m. Dan Cleberg, co-owner of the Rooster, one-time bassist for the band, and all around swell guy, introduced us tonight. He mentioned that this is our CD release party. He went on to explain that a CD release party is where there's a party to release CDs. Because, you know, it's kind of confusing. He explained tonight's concept of Junebug Karaoke. Four songs tonight were to be sung by four lucky audience members. Dan also explained that Saliva was still playing at the Pig Out, still in the midst of warming up for Junebug.

We opened with the first three tracks from the album, back-to-back-to-back, when Anthony then explained the goal was to play the new album in its entirety. I then explained that this new album is made up of old songs, so that the people where we live now can get to know us better and the folks at Rooster can relive some good memories. Dustin pointed out that once we played at show at the Red Rooster, and that it happened to be our first. And that some of the songs we played at that show were on this album.

Jon Wayne (from Jon Wayne and the Pain) was in the house tonight, after having played at the Pig Out. So, who better to guest vocalize on "Casanova"? He freestyled well, and afterward I gave an interesting piece of trivia: that Anthony, Dustin and I went to high school with Jon. It was met with silence, as my comments usually are. I then conceded that it was a boring piece of trivia.

What followed next was the first installment of Junebug Karaoke. The guest singer was Brian Hoesing and the song was "I'm a Bad Mamma Jamma (Who Works at Wendy's)." He pretty much ruled it. He took control of the stage, knew all the words and worked it out. At the end of the song, he told us to "give it to [him] twenty-seven times!" We were only too happy to oblige. We used the consistent mathematical formula, though. Of course. Thanks, Brian! You did great.

We continued the show with an old tune of ours, "Cake." Anthony introduced it by saying it was the first song we ever played at the Red Rooster Coffee House all those years ago. The crowd dug that. The next tune was another moldy oldy, written specifically for our friend Crystal's answering machine back in the NSU days. Dustin dedicated it, saying, "This goes out to Crystal, wherever you are." "North Carolina," I answered. "You know, you can leave some mystery, Tony," he chided, "it's okay." Evidently I can't.

There was a special deviation from the intended setlist tonight. We played "Like a Spy (Not the Stalker)," which does not appear on Modern Day Fairy Tales. However, last time Roberto saw us, he wanted to play it and we didn't. So we did tonight, just for him. It served double-duty because it's my mother-in-law's favorite Junebug song, too, and she was present. So everyone was happy.

Up next was the second installment of Junebug Karaoke! The song was "Downtown Liquor Store" and the guest singer was to be Pat Marler. But he was nowhere to be found. Anthony wanted the ball to keep rolling and Stacy Smith volunteered to do the honors. She came up and we started the song. About halfway into the first verse, Marler bounded up onto the stage and we started over with both Pat and Stacy on the mics. It was a little rocky, because as Dustin pointed out, this is probably the most difficult song to choose. There are about six or eight verses and it's hard to keep them all straight. But Marler and Stacy held their own, it was fun, and everybody enjoyed it, including us. When the singers left the stage, Stacy said it was horrible. I said it was fun. Which it was. Good job, Stacy and Marler.

We played "Refrigerator" after Anthony told us that out of all the songs he has written about refrigerators, that was probably the best one. The song was over and there was a brief lull while Anthony tuned and the rest of us took a drink of water, coffee, etc. Suddenly, with no warning, the crowd erupted into spontaneous applause. It was incredible. Then, after playing "Episode," I informed the crowd that "yes, we actually spent good time and real money to record that song in a studio." They seemed pleased and incredulous at the same time.

Next up was tonight's penultimate Junebug Karaoke performance. The song was "Jumpstart My Rocket" and the singer was none other than Red Rooster co-owner and onetime Junebug bassist, Daniel Leon Cleberg. Dan mentioned that he had to print out the lyrics to the song because he didn't know them. I warned him that it is full of F-bombs, which I think he may have actually believed for a moment. He said that he had meant to listen to the song many times, but his battery died. An audience member shouted out, "Jumpstart it!" That proved to us that his performance was meant to be. And tell you what: he rocked it. He's got that great front-man stage presence and energy that every band desires. His performance was incredible. There are a couple clips of his performance in the playlist embedded here. Check 'em.

Junebug Karaoke continued and concluded immediately with the next song. We played "Found My Boogie" with special guest vocalist Chad something. Sadly, I didn't catch his last name. It was a fun run-through, and afterward Chad thanked us for the opportunity, since he's starting his own band and this gave him a little confidence. We're glad to help. Junebug Karaoke went over very well. We enjoyed it and it really seemed to be a hit with the Rooster crowd. There are now murmurs of sometime in the future doing an entire Junebug Karaoke show. Think that's a good idea?

After "Found My Boogie" we only had one song left on the setlist, but since we still had so much time left, we figured we'd open up the floor to requests. We played some old favorites and then, just as Anthony was explaining that this song would be our last song, Nick turned to me and said, "Come Together!" So, he and I unexpectedly busted into "Come Together." "I guess we're gonna play this one," Anthony relented. After paying tribute to the Beatles, Anthony said that okay, NOW we're playing our last tune. It was "Bumblebee," just like our typical show-closer of old.

However, that was not enough to satisfy the still nearly full-house crowd, apparently. There was a persistent chant of "one more song!" I asked Dan how much time we had left, seeing how late we could go since they were open late already. He said we could keep going. So while the stringed instrument players retuned, I took a drink of water. Someone shouted out, "Rockin' Out in a Soundproof Room!!" Dustin replied, "We just played it! Just now!" I corrected him that it wasn't actually that, but our newest song, "Hangin' Out in a Soundproof Room."

We closed out the night by playing two great songs to properly put everyone to bed: "Place" and "Crossroads." When those concluded, it really felt like an appropriate end to a fantastic day. It goes without saying that we adore the Red Rooster Coffee House and everyone who dwells therein. In fact, Modern Day Fairy Tales was dedicated to the Rooster Crew. We will always view that place as home.

Thanks again, Dan, Kileen, Angela, Zion and everyone else. We love you immeasurably.

Photos by Tabith Leigh De Voss

Post script: Here is a video put together by Jeremy Burckhard, comprised of photos of tonight's show by Tabitha Leigh De Voss, with a soundtrack by Captain Swayzor and the Planeteers and Friends. It is one of my favorite things.