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In the late 80's Minneapolis was a home-away-from-home for the Bowery Boys (Lars Gustafsson, LeRoy Bach, Eric Jacobsson & myself). We would always stay at the home of Lori Barbero & Phil Harder and hang out Chris (aka J Christopher) from Rifle Sport.
We played Seventh Street Entry a few times, but playing the Uptown was the best.
Everybody hung out there from Grant Hart (nodding off in the corner) to Paul Westerberg ("You guys are playing here? Aw, shit.") and it was no big deal to see members of the Jayhawks jamming with Dave Pirner. One time the drummer from one of the opening bands, Michael Bland, borrowed my drum throne. Bob and Tommy's mom was a bartender and Lori worked in the kitchen for a while. One time our van broke down on the road and we showed up 10 minutes before we were supposed to start (much to the chagrin of Run Westy Run who had their cool ambulance-turned-tour-bus backed up and ready to unload).
The best part about playing there (besides the fact it was always packed and you actually got paid) was bands would bet a free meal which we would always cash in as breakfast the next day.
The Bowery Boys released one album (on cassette tape, no less) and probably sold more T-Shirts than copies of the six-song "George Jones vs. Godzilla", but those stops in Minneapolis garnered more rock and roll moments than most bands get in an entire career.
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