Just think of all the great things that come in packs of 12: Eggs, donuts, roses, cheap beer — heck, that sounds like a fun summer we spent back in college. What also comes in 12 is our series of featured artists each year. In 2008, we highlighted a dozen bands that should be on your radar. In the coming pages, we give you a more intimate look at these local acts that are On the Verge.

JunkFood

Cover bands get a bad rep. Haters call them talentless hacks, even though most successful cover bands need to master a myriad of songs technically as well as stylistically. Others object to the indecency of playing for rowdy drunk kids and enduring enthusiastic sing-a-longs.  To Jeff Essex, drummer for JunkFood, one man’s artistic shame is another man’s party.

“We just like to have a good time — and we do,” he said. “That’s the most important thing about all of it, is having a good time, all the time. And hopefully people come along with us for the ride.”

Early on, JunkFood became known as one of D.C.’s most popular cover bands (they were On Tap’s “Best Cover Band in the D.C. Area” in March 2003). Now, on the heels of their third full-length album of original music and numerous “Best Local Artist” titles, no one can accuse JunkFood of being a just another live jukebox. Whatever their category, the important thing is that JunkFood’s latest album, “Mighty,” packs the sweet punch of a sugar high. Lead vocalist Bart Harris, lead guitarist Paul Schauer and bassist Joe Murray join Essex in delivering energetic, unselfconscious tunes. Songs like “Masquerade” and “Color TV” are so catchy they’ll set up permanent shop in your brain. 

JunkFood’s unapologetically rocking, up-for-anything live shows stand out. When asked what performances he found most memorable, Essex pointed to their opening gig for Styx at the Loudon County Music Festival and described nights where he could feel the floor giving in from the stage, evidence of JunkFood’s contagious enthusiasm. The band’s shows have even played host to marriage proposals.

“Steve [JunkFood’s guitar and stage manager] and Laura [who handles the band’s merchandise] were dating and Steve wanted to ask her to marry him,” Essex related. “So he said, ‘Here’s a song I’d like you guys to learn, would you learn it? You can play it and I’ll sing it onstage and at the end I’ll ask her to marry me.’ It turned out great, she had no idea.”

What keeps JunkFood busy when they’re not performing, recording or plotting surprise engagements?

 “All of us are sports guys,” Essex said. “I’m a season ticket holder for the Redskins, so that’s been frustrating as hell.”

At least there’s tailgating, where the self-described “beer whore pretending to be a beer snob” can kick back a few and enjoy one of his favorite junk foods: “Salt and pepper chips with bacon horseradish dip. It’s kind of a staple.” 

A graphic design student in college, Essex also created all the artwork for “Mighty.”

“I was drawing stuff from the time I was a kid,” he said. “I knew that I had some artistic ability.”

But other creative outlets won’t keep him away from music for long.

“I’ve always been about music from day one, and since I had the chance to start playing I haven’t stopped,” Essex said. “It’s in your blood. I know that if I’m sitting around and I haven’t played in a couple of weeks, I take my fingers and start beating on stuff and my wife’s like, ‘What the hell is your problem?’ You get a little antsy. It’s like a drug.” 

Essex came from a musical family. His father was a guitarist in a band and encouraged his son to learn bass since “bands are always looking for a bassist.” After a couple of years of toying with bass, Essex switched to drums, although, he said, “Unofficially I’ve been beating on lampshades and Tupperware with pencils and straws since I was two. Early on I put records on the turntable and just started beating on stuff.” 

In addition to family, JunkFood cites many musical influences.

“We listen to everything … from Debbie Gibson to Slipknot,” Essex said. “Bart’s a little more on the modern side than I am and Joe is, too. Joe has a soft spot for the boy bands, like ‘N Sync, New Kids. We run the gamut.” 

One band everyone in JunkFood appreciates is Motörhead, and Essex especially admires lead singer Lemmy, mutton chops and all. He paraphrases Alice Cooper, saying, “‘Lemmy’s a pirate … a modern day Blackbeard.’ He is the coolest dude ever. He comes out [onstage] and he says, ‘We’re Motörhead and we play rock and roll.’ And that’s it.”  

So what would JunkFood’s introductory tag line be?

“That’s tough,” Essex said after a pause. “Grab a beer and let’s hang.”

For more information on JunkFood, visit www.junkfoodmusic.com.