Set:
| Beards | Destiny, She Drives a Rolls | Modern Age | Poet (Who Didn't Know It) | I'm a Bad Mamma Jamma (Who Works at Wendy's) | Hell-Bent Woman | Handlebar Mustache | Mystic Princess | Moon Over the Water | Found My Boogie | Jumpstart My Rocket | Refrigerator | Like a Spy (Not the Stalker) | Downtown Liquor Store | Bumblebee |
Encore:
| On the Sidewalk / To the Next Episode |
The Red Rooster Coffee House in Aberdeen, S.D. is one of our favorite places to play in this crazy world. As any follower of ours likely knows, the Rooster is where we played our first show as a full three-man band. That was more years ago than I would like to admit, quite honestly. But the Rooster has always held a special place in our heart. It's was a big part of what we did back in the day. It was pretty much the only place we played for awhile. And many (or most) of the Junebug songs you enjoy so far were debuted at the Red Rooster. In the past, Dan Cleberg, one of the owners, has referred to us as a "quintessential Rooster band." It seems we are a part of Rooster history, just as they are a part of ours. So when they called on us to come celebrate their fifteenth anniversary with them, how could we say no?
We couldn't. We didn't. We played. And it was good.
Back in the old days, when we first started out at the Rooster, we were a three-piece. We have been plagued with a curse of the bassists. We just can't seem to hold on to them. But the core three have remained the same, through thick and thin. We currently do have a bassist. His name is Dillon, as he has yet to play a show with us at this point. But this show was booked before he was with us and he had things to attend to at home in Minneapolis this weekend. Dustin, Anthony and I (tony) were the ones who played all those Rooster shows back in the day, so it seemed fitting that tonight, when we're celebrating the history of the Rooster, that we play this celebratory show in the classic lineup. Classic Junebug. Or Junebug Retro, if you will.
So, while we celebrate the past, we're also looking toward the future. We took the opportunity tonight to play a few songs off of the upcoming album. We opened the set with "Beards" and went right into "Destiny, She Drives a Rolls." When I talked a little bit about the new album, a voice from crowd enquired, "Is it about beards?" "It's about smoothies. Strawberry smoothies," I replied. "It's an ironic title." Dustin added, "It's based on an inside joke. You wouldn't get it."We continued with the live performance debut of "Modern Age." It was good. Then, afterward, Jeremy Burckhard, friend and sound person, mentioned that Anthony's vocal effects pedal was making some bad distortion come through. In the midst of this conversation, he used the term "mouth rodeo." There's really no significance to this. I simple liked the term "mouth rodeo" and I still do. Mouth rodeo.
We wished Anthony's lady's young one, Cora a happy birthday tonight, and sang her a painfully bad rendition of the traditional birthday song. Really painful. Nobody deserves that kind of garbage on their birthday, especially not a young girl. But what do you expect from us?Honestly. Another thing regarding the date; Dustin mentioned this to be earlier in the night, as did a friend of mine on Bookface. So I mentioned it to the crowd. "Does anyone know how to get ahold of Billy Joe Armstrong? Because it's time to wake him up...." Silence. "September has ended." Quieter silence. Anthony rubbed it in. "That one went over really well, Tony." He then introduced the next song saying, "Well this is a song that Billy Joel loves because he loves Wendy's food." I'm not sure what Billy Joel has to do with this. Rubbing it in."Hell-Bent Woman" was on the setlist tonight. But this is a family place and there were kids present. So it was "Heck-Bent Woman" for this performance. However, Anthony left in the line about getting herpes. Not sure how I feel about that.
We talked a little more about memories of the old days, discussing the old layout of the coffee house, before the expansion in 2001. We talked about our biggest fan, Danny Ch., who was present at all the early shows before he moved out of town. A fan shouted out the memory of my leather pants. Yes, I did used to wear leather pants occasionally at our shows. Sadly, I'm pretty sure they would no longer come close to fitting me.
We played "Refrigerator" and in the middle of it ended up talking about Doc and Marty. We played "Downtown Liquor Store" specifically for my sister Wendy who was in attendance tonight. The crowd shouted "drink himself to death" super loud. And they did the "Place" clap during "Bumblebee."
I personally thanked the Red Rooster Coffee House for all they've done for Aberdeen, for the art and music community, and for all the individuals they've helped out, included me. We ended the set with "Bumblebee" which was one of the favorites from long ago.
The show was over and we were started to vacate the stage. But a chant of "Next Episode" started swelling in our ears. "Next episode! Next episode! Next episode!" You have to give the fans what they want, people. So, this silly song that debuted at the Red Rooster as a JOKE in the year 2000 is one of the things they want, nay need, to hear. We started it with a silly abbreviated version of "On the Sidewalk" and kicked into it, forgetting the guitar solos. It was short, but sweet.Afterward, a couple people were still requesting "Place." I would have loved to have played it. But Anthony either didn't want to play it or didn't hear the requests. It made sense, though. Since this place has been important to us, and this place is celebrating fifteen years, and this place was where we were playing... We probably should have. But we didn't. Next time. Always leave 'em wanting more. (?)
Finally tonight, this was a strange sort of family reunion for me. I had a lot of relatives in the place. My wife, my son, my father-in-law, my brother-in-law Michael, my mother, my sister Kelsey, my sister Wendy, and Wendy's man-friend. It was pretty cool to feel all the family love coming from that side of the room.
Thanks for the fifteen years, Red Rooster. Here's to fifteen more! I wonder if we'll still be playing in fifteen years, to play the Rooster's 30th Anniversary party. Interesting thought.
View the entire show below:
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