The Coverups: Take 2
Billie Joe said he wanted to play as the Coverups more often, but I had no idea he meant TWO WEEKS after their first show.
They organized it a little better this time. Rather than being first come first served at the door, they sold tickets online two days prior, which naturally sold out in under a minute. Marnie texted me right at noon that they were already sold out, but luckily I scored two tickets and let her buy my extra. We doin’ it again!
We got there closer to time for doors, so I settled for second row directly in front of Billie rather than my usual spot at the Ivy Room on the right, where I’m guaranteed to fall on the stage at least once.
The opening band this time was Paper Dolls. I really really liked their music. They were fun and pop-punky and definitely the kind of band I’d see again next time they play locally. I remember them saying something about a new album coming out soon, so that’s on my list of things to check out for sure.
Then The Coverups came out. They raffled off some more items again this show, like an Elvis cookbook, velveeta cheese, and some kind of fancy alcohol called “Ron Burgundy.”
Not all of the items were raffled this time, though. Billie tossed an XL Network t-shirt into the crowd, and there was also a toaster that Marnie really wanted because apparently she doesn’t have a toaster. Billie asked who needed a toaster, and everyone around Marnie was pointing at her. Of course, he ignored all of us and tossed it over her head. She said she wanted to fight the guy with the toaster for it after the show.
Mike wasn’t the only one with some interesting facial hair at this show. Billie, in what I can only assume was an attempt to be funny and not a serious look for him at all, came out with this… ‘stache. I’m not even gonna try to describe it, but it was just BAD. So bad it was really really funny.
And after the rumors about him drinking after the last show, he and Mike loudly announced onstage during the night that they were drinking “non-beer” or “non-alcohol.” He’s clean. Let’s not encourage him to fall back into addiction, please? I’m proud of him for being happy and healthy.
I had heard that they practiced two new songs, but the setlist this show was COMPLETELY different. It started out a little slow, and that was partly because the crowd was significantly less nuts this time, and partly because the first few songs weren’t as popular as the later songs were. It was a good show, but the energy took quite a bit to build as compared to two weeks ago.
Reminder: These are all cover songs. They’re called the Coverups.
Girl behind me: “Play ‘American Idiot!’ PLAY ‘AMERICAN IDIOT!'”
Me: “They’re not playing Green Day songs.”
Her: “So?”
Me: “…that’s a Green Day song…”
Color Me Impressed (The Replacements cover)
Walking Out on Love (The Nerves cover)
Don’t Change (INXS cover)
Chinese Rock (The Heartbreakers cover)
I thought this was The Ramones? Billie said it’s the Heartbreakers? Is it just me or are a lot of these songs ALREADY covers of other musician’s songs?
I Can’t Explain (The Who cover)
I Wanna Be Sedated (The Ramones cover)
I said it was a slow build this time, right? I was expecting “I Wanna Be Sedated” to be the song that hyped everyone up again, but it wasn’t. It was still fairly calm. Part of me wanted to leave the front and start a mosh pit, but the other part liked my view and the fact that I could breathe and dance.
Where Eagles Dare (The Misfits cover)
I LOVED THIS ONE.
Paint It Black (The Rolling Stones cover)
I Fought the Law (The Clash cover)
Teenage Kicks (The Undertones cover)
Bastards of Young (The Replacements cover)
Million Miles Away (The Plimsouls cover)
And I love this one.
American Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover)
Jason Beebout was nowhere to be found this time, so Jason White started singing without him. All of a sudden, there’s Beebout climbing onstage.
I guess I stopped filming before all the dancing really began, but it was so cute. Beebout + Billie playing off each other, ugh. So good.
Neat Neat Neat (The Damned cover)
This one’s really good.
Sheena Is a Punk Rocker (The Ramones cover)
I think “Sheena” was the song that got the crowd pumped tonight. It took a little while, but everyone was into it finally.
Pretty in Pink (Psychedelic Furs cover)
Dancing With Myself (Generation X cover)
Jason White does the lead vocals on this song, and it was probably one of my favorites at this show because he put his guitar down and danced and really got INTO IT. It was so beyond cute. I love it.
Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie cover)
Suffragette City (David Bowie cover)
I’m dumb and didn’t realize this was a Bowie song. But I really really love this song and they did it super well.
Happy (The Rolling Stones cover)
Surrender (Cheap Trick cover)
Whole Wide World (Wreckless Eric cover)
IMPROV
“We’ve only got one song left, but I don’t wanna stop playing yet. We don’t take requests, but we’ll take a request this time.”
Note: These songs are not on the setlist, so the order could easily be wrong, and I might be missing a few, too. I’m not sure. Just go with it.
Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry cover)
This was the first requested song.
Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry cover)
And this was the second. They legit just started playing requests from the crowd and STILL managed to kill it.
Neat Neat Neat (The Damned cover)
Repeat.
Where Eagles Dare (The Misfits cover)
Another repeat.
Blitzkrieg Bop (The Ramones cover)
FUCK YEAH BLITZKRIEG BOP.
Marnie: “Where’s the bunny?!”
Me: -puts my hands on my head like bunny ears-
Sheena is a Punk Rocker (The Ramones cover)
And another Ramones repeat.
Fight for Your Right (Beastie Boys cover)
Mike just started improv-ing the Beastie Boys, and Billie’s up there like “I don’t know how to play this song!” but he just went along with it anyway. THIS was probably my favorite. It was so not even remotely planned, but they all just went along with it anyway.
Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne cover)
And another unplanned song.
Don’t Change (INXS cover)
Jason Beebout apparently missed this song and wanted them to do it again. He came back onstage to sing again. This is all so random, it’s so great.
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding (Elvis Costello cover)
“Okay this is the last song for real.”
I don’t know how often they plan on playing these shows, but they definitely had a lot of fun with it. It’s obvious. I absolutely love it, and I would not mind if this became a bi-weekly event.
Wanna see more? Check out the photo gallery by Alan Snodgrass.
