Beak & Skiff’s Summer Concert Series kicked off on Saturday, May 30 with a sold-out performance by alternative rockers, Cake. Concert goers flocked to the picturesque apple orchard in Lafayette early, and were greeted with sunshine and blue skies as they packed the field in front of the stage well before show-time.

Billed as an evening with Cake, the night had no opener and saw the band performing two distinct sets. The band took the stage shortly after 7:30 PM, opening with “Frank Sinatra”, the lead track from the band’s 1996 album Fashion Nugget. The groovy track was the perfect opener for the evening, and it showcased the sounds that the band has become famous for, now for over three decades. Singer John McCrea belted out his infamous talk-singing styled lyrics, while backed by a catchy rhythm section along with bits of trumpet and guitar which added catchy hooks to the mix. The band is known for stringing together decades of hits while blending elements of rock, Americana, mariachi, and jazz music.

“We are Cake and we are here to serve you”, McCrea proclaimed early on in the set, as the vibe quickly shifted to that of a party, complete with bubbles and a giant disco ball. Set one included “Sheep Go to Heaven”, “Sick of You”, and their rendition of the Willie Nelson ballad “Sad Songs and Waltzes”. McCrea peppered in his witty humor and banter between songs, keeping the mood of the concert light and fun, while the music served as a perfect soundtrack to the approaching summer.

During intermission, McCrea returned to the stage to continue a long standing Cake concert tradition, giving away a tree to one lucky audience member. He explained the significance of the gesture: to promote environmentalism and community, along with a sense of self-purpose, describing the fond memories he had of a tree he planted back home during his long stretches of touring. On this evening, he awarded the tree to an audience member who correctly guessed what type of tree it was – fittingly an apple tree, though things got a bit confusing when the first person to accept the tree ended up not being the intended winner. McCrea and his team sorted through the confusion out and eventually brought the true winner to stage, and she promised to plant the tree and provide updates to the band’s website.

Set two opened with one of the band’s earliest tracks, (and a rare inclusion to the band’s setlist), “Mr. Mastodon Farm”, much to the audience’s delight. The track set the tone for the five song second set, which seemed to dive deeper in to the band’s catalog before closing with arguably their biggest hit, “Never There”, a track which topped the billboard charts for several weeks in 1998.

With the evening nearing a close, Cake returned to the stage for a four-song encore. Their momentum never faltered as they performed covers of “I Will Survive” (Gloria Gaynor) and “War Pigs” (Black Sabbath) before ending the night with “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” and “The Distance”. As fans poured out the exits, many could be heard raving over the evening’s performance and talking about their next show at the venue.

The Beak & Skiff Summer Concert Series rolls on with a performance by Hot Mulligan on June 5. See their entire slate of shows here.