Cowpunk Comes to Ferndale: Goober & the Peas Play the Magic Bag on Friday

Blending dark humor, country and punk sounds like a preposterous concoction. But after 20 years, Goober & the Peas are proving their innovative take on music can still rile up a crowd.

The seminal “cowpunk” band is returning for a one-off show Friday at the .

“I think the most unique thing about this show is that it is in a small venue,” said guitarist Tom Hendrickson Jr. “We haven't played a small Detroit-area venue since the very early days of the band. Big shows are fun, but small shows are better. We love St. Andrews, but we wanted a more intimate setting.”

More than a decade after “retiring” in 1995, the group resurfaced to play a sold-out show Dec 26, 2009, at St. Andrews Hall, a venue in Detroit, to promote its music being sold over iTunes and Amazon.

“We were supposed to stop after that,” Hendrickson said. “We have played a few special shows and a charity benefit (St. Baldrick's kids with cancer in Romeo). We thought about writing new songs, but no one has time, so it's kind of a half-comeback.”

During its run, the band never faltered in its live performances, sometimes making them a complete spectacle. Hendrickson said that one time, each member rode in on horses for a show in Pontiac.

After appearing at the 1993 South By Southwest (SXSW), the Austin (TX) Chronicle heralded them as "some seriously sick individuals, and quite possibly the most exciting live act in America."

“We started due to the lack of jobs, the chance to wear Western suits and the chance to impress ladies with our Western suits,” Hendrickson said. “We caught on because of our Western suits.”

The far-fetched concept of the band may potentially throw a nonlistener aback. For example, the label “cowpunk” was derived as punk music mixed with Hank Williams.

Each band member, other than Dan John Miller (“Goober”), was given a "Pea" nickname for his role in the band.

“We used focus groups for all our names,” Hendrickson said. “They told us that scientifically, the name Goober repels and attracts, which equals record sales. Unfortunately, the name tends to repel women."

Hendrickson was assigned “Junior” because his name has that suffix, and he said every drummer the band has had has just simply been called “Doc.”

“In the history of Goober & the Peas, we’ve gone through 13 drummers, for some reason,” Hendrickson said.

But Goober and his Peas certainly have the credentials to back themselves up in case someone questions their legitimacy.

They opened up for the likes of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Bob Dylan and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Also, their drummer (toward the end of their original run) would eventually front one of the biggest bands at the dawn of the new millennium. Jack White, who went by his birth name John Gillis (“Doc” being his "Pea" name) during his time with Goober, got his first professional gig playing drums with Goober & the Peas before going on to front The White Stripes.

“It’s interesting to see someone who’s a young kid and then years later, flip through the channels on TV and see him up on the screen,” Hendrickson said. “He had a great singing voice, but who knew he was that talented when he was sitting on the drums?”

The Goober family tree also extends into the Detroit Cobras, Two-Star Tabernacle, Blanche and, well, all of the other endeavors Jack White has going today.

Hendrickson has a straightforward reasoning as to why Detroit and its surrounding areas always thrive as an area constantly breeding new music.

“What stands out is the lack of jobs," he said. “If you can't find a good job but you love music and are able to play an instrument, that's what you do."

Friday will mark the band's second time playing Ferndale in the past year. Besides playing two sold-out St. Andrews shows, SXSW in 2010 and the Romeo charity benefit, Goober & the Peas played the Ferndale DIY Festival in September.  

“(Ferndale) is a popular area for musicians to live,” Hendrickson said. “But it needs a small rock venue to build a music scene.”

He added that the group might put its maniacal performances back in the vault after Friday’s show because it’s their only plan at the moment.

“It may be another 15 years before we play again,” he said.

Goober & the Peas perform a one-off show Friday at The Magic Bag with Mariachi Cristal. Doors open at 8. Cost is $12.