The Suburbs | |
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 The Suburbs in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Genres | Punk rock, funk, new wave |
| Years active | 1977–1987, 1992–present |
| Labels | |
The Suburbs are an alternative punk rock/funk/new wave band from Minneapolis, Minnesota that was popular in the late 1970s and 1980s. The band frequently headlined at Minneapolis's most influential music clubs, including Jay's Longhorn Bar and First Avenue. [1] [2]
The Suburbs were formed in the western suburbs of Minneapolis in November 1977 [3] following introductions by Chris Osgood of the Suicide Commandos. Following live performances, they released The Suburbs on the Twin/Tone label (the label's first release) in early 1978. The record was a nine-song 7-inch red vinyl EP. The band also saw two songs, "Urban Guerrillas" and "Ailerons O.K.", included on the compilation Big Hits of Mid-America, Volume Three. Guitarist Bruce C. Allen did the art direction for the compilation.
After building a following playing basement parties, the Suburbs had their first major success at influential Minneapolis punk/New Wave nexus Jay's Longhorn Bar; drummer Hugo Klaers said that after getting regular gigs at the venue, "we went from nobodies to this super popular band. It was just crazy. The Longhorn shows were always packed." One notable audience member at the Suburbs' shows was Bruce Springsteen, then on tour supporting his album The River , who was so impressed with the band that he nearly joined them on stage for an encore. [4] The band's popularity increased during the early to mid-1980s, and during this time, their new wave dance sound, eclectic lyrics, and stage presence gained a following that broke out of the Midwest and reached both coasts. In 1980 Twin/Tone released their first full-length LP, In Combo.
The single "World War III" (and its B-side, "Change Agent") showed development of the band's songwriting abilities and improved sound. A year later, they released the double album Credit In Heaven which added elements of jazz, funk, and disco to the mix. The single "Music for Boys" was taken from the record and became a radio hit.
In 1982, the band released the 12-inch single "Waiting", which frequently found its way onto dance club playlists. The EP Dream Hog followed on Twin/Tone, featuring three new songs and a remix of "Waiting" on the B-side, all produced by Steven Greenberg of Funkytown and Lipps Inc fame.
Greenberg then brought the Suburbs to the attention of Phonogram Inc. in 1983. Phonogram started by re-issuing Dream Hog on the Mercury label. [5] Keyboardist/vocalist Chan Poling commented, "We love what Twin/Tone did for us, but we've always wanted to sell records, to join the big time, and you just can't do that on a little label." [5] By this time, the band's live performances were muscular and funky, attracting rabid fans and keeping the band busy as an opening act for the likes of Iggy Pop and The B-52's, as well as headliners in their own right. They often went on stage wearing matching dinner jackets. [5] In 1983 Polygram released Love is the Law, a harder-rocking album that included a horn section and some of their most off-beat lyrics, also produced by Steven Greenberg. In 1986, The Suburbs signed with A&M Records and released The Suburbs, produced by Prince's Revolution drummer Bobby Z. (credited as Robert Brent). Frustrated by a lack of radio play and abandoned by the major labels, the band broke up in 1987.
In 1992 Twin/Tone released Ladies and Gentlemen, The Suburbs Have Left the Building, a best-of compilation, and in 1994 a live record Viva! Suburbs!. The Suburbs reunited during this period and played numerous shows in the Twin Cities, and have played on and off since that time including opening once more for the B-52's in 2003.
Summer of 2002 saw the re-issues of the albums In Combo, Credit In Heaven and Love Is The Law on CD on the band's own Beejtar Records. In late 2003, the band issued Chemistry Set: The Songs Of The Suburbs 1977 - 1987 (a best of CD with a few bonus tracks and a DVD of their 2002 performances at Minneapolis' First Avenue).
In 2004, Chan Poling formed The New Standards with John Munson and Steve Roehm, performing some of rearranged melodies of the classic Suburbs songs in the live set including "Love Is The Law".
On December 7, 2009, guitarist Bruce Allen died aged 54. [6] [7]
On November 19, 2013 Si Sauvage , the band's first new release in 27 years, was released. Si Sauvage features founding members Poling, Hugo Klaers, and Blaine John “Beej” Chaney, plus new bandmates Steve Brantseg and Steve Price and special guest vocalists like Janey Winterbauer and Aby Wolf.
On August 26, 2014, the Suburbs announced that founding member Beej Chaney was taking a temporary leave of absence. [8]
2018 has the band slated for several outdoor concerts: The Brewery Bash in Luverne, MN & Down By The Riverside Concert Series in Rochester, MN plus a show scheduled for (the landmark venue) First Avenue in Minneapolis.
2019 the band continues to be led by original members Chan Poling & drummer Hugo Klaers plus longtime sax player Max Ray (also of The Wallets). They are augmented by current members Stevie Bransteg and Jeremy Ylvisaker on guitars, Steve Prince on bass, Janey Winterbauer on backup vocals, Rochelle Becker on baritone saxophone, and Steven Kung on horns and keyboards. The band continued its live performances featuring new material plus classic Suburb songs, some of which are rearranged melodies that are toned down from the 1980s era (of the bands live shows).
The band has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, [9] recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. [10] Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh. [11]
In July 2021, the band had the honor of reopening First Avenue, which had closed during the COVID pandemic, by playing two sold-out shows at the 7th Street Entry to celebrate the release of their new album, Poets Party.
The Replacements were an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1979. Initially a punk band, they are one of the main pioneers of alternative rock. The band was composed of the guitarist and vocalist Paul Westerberg, guitarist Bob Stinson, bass guitarist Tommy Stinson and drummer Chris Mars for most of its existence. Following several acclaimed albums, including Let It Be and Tim, Bob Stinson was kicked out of the band in 1986, and Slim Dunlap joined as lead guitarist. Steve Foley replaced Mars in 1990. Towards the end of the band's career, Westerberg exerted more control over the creative output. The group disbanded in 1991, with the members eventually pursuing various projects. A reunion was announced on October 3, 2012. Fans affectionately refer to the band as The 'Mats, a nickname that originated as a truncation of "The Placemats," a mispronunciation of their name.
The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene in the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists/guitarists/songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, their country rock sound was influential on many bands who played the Twin Cities circuit during the 1980s and 1990s, such as Uncle Tupelo, the Gear Daddies and the Honeydogs. They have released eleven studio albums, with and without Olson, including five on the American Recordings label. After going on hiatus from 2005 to 2009, the 1995 lineup of the band reunited and released the album Mockingbird Time in September 2011; Olson left the band for the second time after the tour to promote the album. After another hiatus in 2013, the 1997 lineup led by Louris reunited to play shows in 2014 to support the reissue of three albums originally released between 1997 and 2003. Since then, the band has continued to tour and record, releasing the albums Live at The Belly Up in 2015; Paging Mr. Proust, co-produced by Peter Buck, in 2016; Back Roads and Abandoned Motels in 2018; and XOXO in 2020.
Semisonic is an American rock band formed in Minneapolis in 1995, consisting of Dan Wilson, John Munson, and Jacob Slichter. They are best known in the U.S. for their 1998 single "Closing Time". They also had international success with the singles "Singing in My Sleep", "Secret Smile" and "Chemistry".
The Suicide Commandos are an American punk rock trio from Minneapolis. They formed in 1975 and released two 7-inch EPs on an indie label in 1976 and 1977 before signing with Blank Records in 1977 and releasing one album, Make a Record. Despite their short original 4-year stint together, the Suicide Commandos are considered the pioneers for jump-starting a punk rock music scene in the Twin Cities, which eventually produced bands like The Suburbs, Hüsker Dü, The Replacements and Soul Asylum.
Twin/Tone Records was an independent record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which operated from 1977 until 1994. It was the original home of influential Minnesota bands the Replacements and Soul Asylum and was instrumental in helping the Twin Cities music scene achieve national attention in the 1980s. Along with other independent American labels such as SST Records, Touch and Go Records, and Dischord, Twin/Tone helped to spearhead the nationwide network of underground bands that formed the pre-Nirvana indie-rock scene. These labels presided over the shift from the hardcore punk that then dominated the American underground scene to the more diverse styles of alternative rock that were emerging.
John Munson is an American musician who is best known as the bass player for Semisonic. He was also a member of Trip Shakespeare during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Trip Shakespeare was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota and active from the mid 1980s to early 1990s. The band included Dan Wilson and John Munson, who would later go on to be founding members of Semisonic.
Jay's Longhorn Bar was a nexus of the punk rock and New Wave scenes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Chandler Hall "Chan" Poling is an American musician and composer.
In Combo is the debut album released by the American New wave band The Suburbs, released in 1980.
Credit in Heaven is an album released by the American New wave band The Suburbs, released in 1981.
Dream Hog EP is an EP released by the band The Suburbs. Initially released by Twin/Tone Records, it was later reissued on the Mercury label, making it the band's first major label release.
Love Is the Law is an album by the American New wave band The Suburbs, released in 1984.
Suburbs is an album by the American New wave band The Suburbs, released in 1986. It was their first and only release on A&M Records. The album has never been released on compact disc. It was produced by former Revolution drummer Bobby Z..
Si Sauvage is an album released on both 12" vinyl and CD by the American New wave band The Suburbs, released in 2013. It was recorded 27 years after their last studio release.
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Suburbs Have Left the Building is a compilation album by the American New wave band The Suburbs that focuses on their releases from 1978 through 1984. The album does not contain any songs from their 1986 self-titled release. It was released by Twin/Tone Records in 1992.
Little Man's Gonna Fall is a single by the band The Suburbs. It was released by Buy Record's in 1987.
Viva! Suburbs! Live at First Avenue is a live album by the American New wave band The Suburbs that was recorded "mostly" on April 24, 1993 at First Avenue, a music venue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Viva! Suburbs! Live at First Avenue was released by Twin/Tone in 1994.
High Fidelity Boys - Live 1979 is a full-length live album by the band The Suburbs recorded between March and October 1979 at Jay's Longhorn in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was released by Terry Katzman's Garage D'or Records in 2006.
Chemistry Set: Songs of the Suburbs 1977–1987 is a compilation album by the American New wave band The Suburbs, released in 2003. The two-disc package contains selected studio tracks and a DVD featuring 37 minutes of live footage of a series of 2002 reunion shows at the Minneapolis club First Avenue. It also include the band's last single, "Don't Do Me Any Favors".
| Authority control: Artists |
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