Jerry’s Got Jokes plays its swan song at Midway Cafe on Saturday, 16 March 2024.

High and Dry, Dear Maryanne, and a mystery band help send them off in style.

It’s always a bittersweet occasion when a band schedules its final gig.

Surrounded by friends, family, and longtime supporters, you do what you love to do one last time. You celebrate the creative community you enjoyed over the years, while nursing a bit of sadness, and a frosty tallboy, knowing you can’t take it with you.

Not that Jerry’s Got Jokes let tragedy win over comedy. There were plenty of groaners throughout the night, as well as hints of possible reunion gigs down the road.

Why not? If Guns N Roses can find time in their schedule for reunion dates, Jerry’s Got Jokes can too.

The comedy, the tragedy, the dramady! All part of a Hump Night…

Who was this opening band? What was this three-piece band? The Martians were scheduled, but look up a photo of The Martians – this band doesn’t look like The Martians, right? Sunglasses and smiles all around. Plenty of garage punk bangers amuse your bouche. Extra points for the green Mighty Morphin Power Ranger t-shirt.

The three-piece Dear Maryanne served up hearty helpings of emo punk, with a side of screamo. It was a night for memories, and the guitarist recalled the great experience the band had recording their last EP with Matt Savage from Jerry’s Got Jokes, who provided his services gratis. Sounds like there’s also a new EP on the way. Also sounds like there’s a lot of divisive discourse on the relative merits of waffles versus pancakes.

High and Dry! A heavy rocking four-piece outfit that performed an original song called “Dream Job,” about working the 9-to-5 grind in late capitalism. Spoiler: it’s kind of a drag. How about that 4-day work week? Let’s make it happen. Shout out to the cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way.”

The belles of the balls. Or the balls of the bells? It’s Jerry’s Got Jokes!

A little bit of navel-gazing here: Jerry’s Got Jokes performed the first Midway Cafe show that Hump Day News ever covered, back in 2022, scheduled for a “Ska Punk Night” on the second of two back-to-back Friday night shows. Check it out! Good gig, amateurish writeup!

Jerry’s Got Jokes must have opened, and I must have been running late, because nothing in my notes indicates that I actually saw the band.

I ended up including a random JGJ photo of a guy wearing a shark outfit to represent them in the photo gallery.

What’s that all mean? My first time seeing Jerry’s Got Jokes is the last time they are (purportedly) ever playing. That’s life.

What sort of set do you stitch together for your final gig?

A little bit of everything, from the punk to the ska to the in-between. Guests and strangers and strange guests were invited, or at least allowed, on stage to join in the chorus while the pit turned in circles.

Not a bad night to go out on.

Photo Gallery