In June 2005, Tyler Baker’s brother, a private first class officer in the military, died in a car accident. His family, especially cousins Brandon Qualkenbush and Landon Milbourn, helped one another get through the unexpected loss.
While coping, the three cousins began writing songs and playing music together as a “healthy, emotional release.” As the songs started to form, they decided they had something worth recording.
As their passions for music grew, family and friends would ask the cousins what the name of their group was. They called themselves Goodbye June as a way to honor Baker’s brother and the event that inspired the beginnings of the band.
Goodbye June is bringing its music, a mix of rock, indie and blues genres, to Muncie on Friday at Be Here Now. The trio will perform alongside three other acts during the venue’s Rock the Runway event.
The guys aren’t strangers to the Ball State community. While this is their first time performing a show together in Muncie, they have previously visited the university to record demos in the David Letterman Communication and Media Building.
“It’s going to be a sweaty, high-energy, gritty rock and roll show,” Baker said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, and we’re going to give you everything we got. We hope everyone can reciprocate the energy we’re going to throw out.”
In 2012, Goodbye June released its debut album, “Nor The Wild Music Flow.” The band also released its debut music video for “Microphone,” which featured St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and country star Steve Holy.
“I think that our first album does a good job of encapsulating that moment and span of time with us,” Baker said. “On the album, you’re going to have some emotional songs, some darker ones, but then there are a few party and drinking songs. It’s a wide range of what we were exploring and finding out about Goodbye June as a band.”
After the show Friday night, Goodbye June will finish up a few American tour dates before heading to Europe until late November in multiple countries, including Spain, Sweden and Germany.
“When we play live, you can compare it to anything from Led Zeppelin to Soundgarden to Kings of Leon,” Qualkenbush said. “Put all those bands into a blender and you kind of got Goodbye June.”
The band said its second album is finished, but it is looking for the right major label to release it. The second album will have more of a classic rock and aggressive vibe to it.
Goodbye June takes the stage around 11 p.m. Friday at Be Here Now. DJ Badgerpaw, Knollwood Boys and Ted Stevens and The Third Rail also will perform.
To learn more about Goodbye June or to listen to music before the show, visit GoodbyeJune.com or connect with the band on Facebook or Twitter by searching the band’s name.
