It was a rock and roll party at “The Mill” in Waseca on New Year’s Eve. Janesville’s very own rock band, AZBY, brought the house down for three hours before the countdown to midnight began.
The four-piece band – consisting of guitarists and brothers Carter and Carson Quast, bassist Joey Burns, and drummer Mike McCue – kicked off their set at 9 p.m. with an audience ready to headbang, clap their hands, and show off their moves on the dance floor. Doors for the party opened at 6:30 p.m., and guests who arrived before AZBY’s performance were greeted by music performed by Mariah Jo Daniels with a little help from family and friends. Daniels’ style was more county-folk, but it served as a perfect warm-up before the headliners took the stage.
The best part about the party was that the concerts were free. As long as you were 21 or over, you were allowed in. Upon entry, everyone was offered a card to get a complimentary glass of champagne, a tradition for ringing in the new year. Attendants were also encouraged to wear pajamas.
As the boys in AZBY concluded their set, which consisted of some tunes for the laid-back, blue-collar folks in the audience who are always “Working for the Weekend,” “Taking Care of Business,” and acting as “The Joker,” everyone shared a toast to the ending of 2024 and to great memories for 2025.
