RIP Bruce Allen !! He was a big part of the Mpls sound. One of my favorites memories of the Burbs was a free outdoor concert in Loring Park back in the 80's. They played - Music for Boys, Cows, and Rattle My Bones... It was great... Besides that show - there where many great nights at the Cabooze. Thanks for posting the vid.
My favorite band in high school and college. More consistent than the mats and at any speed they were tight as hell. Than some nights they added a horn section that screamed. It felt like this band was our dirty little secret. We wanted great things for them but enjoyed the fact that they stayed true and together for as long as they did. Bruce Allen's guitar playing was clean and crisp. No wasted notes. This shows rumor was Beej was going to get arrested if he showed up but the mayor pulled some strings to clear the way for a sad but great night. Credit in Heaven Gentlemen. One night in New Orleans Dave Pirner asked me about my Suburbs shirt. I said it was my favorite band and he smiled and said him too. Thanks for the music and a job well done!
To the rest of you boys in The Suburbs, so sorry for your loss. We as fans feel it too. So I can't imagine the great deal of pain his death has caused all of you. God Bless You All.
I was one of the lucky ones that got to see them in the beginning of the 80's. It was at the park behind what is now Galtier Plaza in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. They were playing at some festival there. They played in a portable stage trailer. I THINK I was 11 or 12 at the time, but, I remember walking along and hearing this band playing, I was HOOKED. The other memory of that day was, I remember that the police there were confiscating wooden massagers that were being sold at one of the booths. Apparently, some people were afraid they would be used as weapons. I also went to Brown Institute in 1990-91 and had classes with a gorgeous gal who was dating the Suburbs bass player at the time. This gal went on to DJ at KQRS and Cities '97 (This was before Cities '97 started to play crap top40 BS that they play now), and this lady went by the "stage name" of Danette Daniels.
I remember in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bruce cut his palm with an oyster knife at the New Yorker restaurant. The band still played and Bruce was up there with a bandage wrapped around his hand. Still hitting strings, notes, and changes in the tunes. Grimacing face from the pain and I thought I am so thankful for this but it's ok if you guys cut out early.
Catching the Burbs at the Longhorn was as raw as it could get!
This period in the late 1970s and into the 1980s was truly the highlight of the Twin Cities music scene. I am so happy that I lived in this time!
How lucky we are to have the Suburbs in our lives.
Caboose was absolutely the best place for their shows! 1984!!!
Bands I saw OPENING for the Suburbs:
Husker Du
Replacements
REM
Yes, their live shows were THAT good.
RIP Bruce Allen !! He was a big part of the Mpls sound. One of my favorites memories of the Burbs was a free outdoor concert in Loring Park back in the 80's. They played - Music for Boys, Cows, and Rattle My Bones... It was great... Besides that show - there where many great nights at the Cabooze. Thanks for posting the vid.
I was there!
My favorite band in high school and college. More consistent than the mats and at any speed they were tight as hell. Than some nights they added a horn section that screamed. It felt like this band was our dirty little secret. We wanted great things for them but enjoyed the fact that they stayed true and together for as long as they did. Bruce Allen's guitar playing was clean and crisp. No wasted notes. This shows rumor was Beej was going to get arrested if he showed up but the mayor pulled some strings to clear the way for a sad but great night. Credit in Heaven Gentlemen. One night in New Orleans Dave Pirner asked me about my Suburbs shirt. I said it was my favorite band and he smiled and said him too. Thanks for the music and a job well done!
To the rest of you boys in The Suburbs, so sorry for your loss. We as fans feel it too. So I can't imagine the great deal of pain his death has caused all of you. God Bless You All.
Very interesting! I saw this band in college at Illinois Wesleyan about 1985 or 1986. They were so much fun!
I was one of the lucky ones that got to see them in the beginning of the 80's. It was at the park behind what is now Galtier Plaza in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. They were playing at some festival there. They played in a portable stage trailer. I THINK I was 11 or 12 at the time, but, I remember walking along and hearing this band playing, I was HOOKED. The other memory of that day was, I remember that the police there were confiscating wooden massagers that were being sold at one of the booths. Apparently, some people were afraid they would be used as weapons.
I also went to Brown Institute in 1990-91 and had classes with a gorgeous gal who was dating the Suburbs bass player at the time. This gal went on to DJ at KQRS and Cities '97 (This was before Cities '97 started to play crap top40 BS that they play now), and this lady went by the "stage name" of Danette Daniels.
What a fantastic history of the band... Miss Bruce, and the last show I saw Beej wasn't their either... Still a great band, in my top 3...
I remember in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bruce cut his palm with an oyster knife at the New Yorker restaurant. The band still played and Bruce was up there with a bandage wrapped around his hand. Still hitting strings, notes, and changes in the tunes. Grimacing face from the pain and I thought I am so thankful for this but it's ok if you guys cut out early.
God I love the Suburbs.
Miss you, Bruce. Hope you're having a grand jam with Beej. 🤘🏻😞💔
Insightful, poignant... such a great heart in the Suburbs to do this. Tho I knew it couldn't been any other way.
My second favorite 80's band after the Replacements.
Miss you Bruce ✊🤹
I want to know if Bruce had relatives in the Crosslake/Whitefish Chain?
Bye, Bye Bruce. Such a great guy! RIP
….Love is the Law!!
Not any middle-aged Garbage!