Photos: Scott Loudoun

Hello! How are The Junebugs today?

The Junebugs are awesome, fully comitted to rocking this interview in every way shape and form.

Great. So how did The Junebugs come into being? How did you all meet? Tell us the creation story!

Well, Dan and I, Moses, had a habit of ending house parties with a good ol' fashioned jam session. We learned pretty quickly that we both knew most of the same songs, which was an oddity for me, as I tend to put Nanci Griffith in the deep cuts category (shout out Other Voices, Other Rooms). Gracie was around a few times and sang some nice harmonies, and we all decided that we should have some parties that were just jam sessions as it tended to be our favorite part. That started Sunday Night Music, which is where we put together a good chunk of our original set. Also where we learned Gracie could kill the Rebolo (a cuban hand drum). Then we decided to try to get on stage and ran into Jodey Bowen at just the right moment when she was looking for a fun folk rock band and we have been at Guilt & Co. ever since.

What is behind the name?
 

I wanted something cute and fun and short. Easy to remember, rolls of the tongue nice. I feel like it suits us.

You all play quite a few instruments and, as you say with a tongue-in-cheek, "some of them well". Can you name some of the ones you guys have used?

Hmmm, let's see. Piano, Guitar, Banjo, Rebolo, Mandolin, Tambourin, Egg Shaker, Kazoo, We all sing, and I think Gracie has been eyeing the washboard as of late.

If you had to get on a ship for weeks on end, what instrument would you each choose? In other words, what are each of your go-to or favorite instruments to play?

Gracie had to think about this a while, but did finally pick her drum. I think I would have to go with Banjo, although it was a close call. As long as Dan brings his guitar, I figure we would be fine.

Describe your sound in a few words.

I tell people we are Pop Folk. It's kind of what happens if Neil Young and R. Kelly had a band but could only use acoustic instruments.

We've heard you guys play some pretty amazing throwback covers--everything from Spice Girls to old timey classics, across every music genre. How do youdecide on a cover to learn? Got any favorites that you find yourselves playing again and again?

Most of it comes from Sunday Night Music, which is our safe place play around space. A bunch of musicians drop in, it changes all the time, but when we hit something that just feels right we put it in the show. R. Kelly's Remix to Ignition happened that way, which we always come back to. I'm pretty excited about Marcy Playground's Sex and Candy that just recently came out of nowhere.

Do you write your own music as well?

There has been talk of it. But really we just like playing together, and the crowed digs the covers. So as more of a houseband, feel good music thing, we haven't felt a lot of pressure. I think it would be fun to try.

Tell us what we'd see if we were a fly on the wall at your next practice jam session.

Lots of Jamieson Irish Whiskey. Community. Is that too sappy? We really like the inclusive part of our Music Nights, and that is really where we practice. We get together just to run a few things before shows, but most of it is worked out on Sundays.

What are some of your musical inspirations? Any artists in particular?

Man, tough one. ummm, Neil Young, Nanci Griffith, Counting Crows, Snoop Dogg, TLC, Beyonce, Tom Petty, The Band, and lots more.

You played Olio Festival this year, opening for Seattle band The Cave Singers. How was it being on the big stage at Venue? It must have been a fun night.

God, it was awesome. The Cave Singers were super nice. And to push sound through a system that big, it was a good time. The harmonies sounded real nice on a big stage.

You guys play at Guilt & Company every second Wednesday. It must feel like home there. Tell a bit about the how the night usually progresses. What did you guys surprise the crowd with last week?

We generally start with the same three songs, when the place isn't full yet and it just kind of grounds us. Feels like tying your shoes before you go for a run. Then we put all of the fun new stuff in the back end of the first set, which is when I think people are paying the most attention. Then the second set is just a hit parade of folk rock until the cows come home. Lots of Tom Petty, some up tempo Blues stuff. We have a pretty rockin' Latin/Beetles/The Rascals dance medley that takes us out.

Do you have any other favorite nights at Guilt & Co.?

This might be self-serving but I can't say enough good stuff about Jen Hodge and the All Stars that alternate Wednesdays with us. They are a swingin' prohibition era Jazz band. You really can't go wrong on a Wednesday night if I do say so myself.

If you could have a fourth member in the band for the night, anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?

If I could sit in with Neil Young I think I would be pretty happy.

What's coming up for you guys? Anything exciting on The Junebugs' radar?

We have been getting some sweet studio time at Blue Wave Productions, so we are planning on putting out some more stuff on our Soundcloud site. And I am looking for a good animator to collaborate with us and become Internet famous.