crash090208
On the homepage
Music
Out There
Nightlife
Vita.mn
Home | Politically Connected | National Politics | Political Conventions
Red rockers get green light to party
There's only one way to vote. But there are many ways to rock, with Sammy Hagar and SAG.
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from Political Conventions
Having performed the previous night in Houston, Sammy Hagar didn't need to be reminded about Hurricane Gustav and the pall it cast over the Republican convention. But the singer long nicknamed the Red Rocker (so that's why...) gave RNC revelers a green light to party on.
"It's a shame and all that," Hagar told an invite- only crowd at First Avenue on Sunday night. "But at least you people don't have to go to work tomorrow."
Going to the home of "Purple Rain" to party for the Big Red seemed like an unusual proposition -- so odd, in fact, I brought a sport coat Sunday. So did one of the club's dreadlocked (but not pierced) general managers, Damon Barna. Most nights, the dress code at Minneapolis' legendary rock venue is anything you don't mind beer being spilled on, or even a little upchuck.
Turns out we didn't need the coats. (I left mine in the car.) It also turns out that not all the delegates invading our town this week are stiffs in penny loafers whose idea of a wild night is putting on a Tommy Bahama shirt and paying $300 for Jimmy Buffett golden-circle tickets.
I know: Stereotypes are lazy and stupid. But they certainly fit some of the protesters in St. Paul Monday afternoon, dressed in black hoodies on a 90-degree day with bandanas over their faces. If you want to truly create long-term anarchy, folks, maybe don't dress like the Unabomber and virtually beg to be arrested by dinnertime.
Certainly, some aspects of the Hagar show (a free party for the Southern Delegation) felt out of the ordinary for First Ave. For instance, more champagne was drunk in one night than in the club's previous 38-year history. Also, the beer in the club's downstairs bars had to be removed to make room for low-carb Michelob Ultra and Bud Light Lime, free to partygoers thanks to a little sponsorship.
I'd accuse the partygoers of improperly accepting freebies from U.S. corporations, except the beers truly tasted valueless. Oh yeah, and Bud won't be an American company much longer.
Mostly, though, the party felt like just another night at First Ave. Another fun night, that is. The crowd was loose and lively and friendly (Southern Republicans "are the nice ones," one guy told me). Only a few scattered attendees were overdressed in ties or power suits. In fact, many arrived in T-shirts. Granted, most of the T's had hokey slogans like "McCainiac" on them, but some of the revelers also wound up wearing the Friends of New Orleans fundraiser T-shirts on sale at the merch table (for a party at First Ave Monday night).
Over at the Fine Line, the VIP crowd Sunday looked even more casual, or at least less intentionally dressed down. The party there was an apolitical one -- welcoming all types of politico geeks! -- for the Screen Actors Guild. Local rockers the Alarmists, who are about as red as Norm Coleman is a bowler, headlined.
You'd think a shindig put on by the union for Hollywood actors would draw some star power. The biggest celeb I saw was that MTV VJ who interviews all the rappers. Ol' what's his name.
These GOP folks might party as well as the Dems, but they seriously need to beef up their guest lists.
Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658
Recent Political Conventions stories
Intent on strong response to Gustav, Bush off to Texas to meet with relief workers, evacuees - September 2, 2008
Intent on strong response to Gustav, Bush off to Texas to meet with relief workers, evacuees - As Hurricane Gustav threatens the Gulf Coast, President Bush is out to show the nation that his government has learned the haunting lessons of Katrina and is ready to act. That includes a rapid response by Bush himself, who will be planted near the danger zone even before the storm hits home. More
The Whistleblower blog has moved
The Star Tribune is still blowing the whistle, but our look and location have changed. Click here to get to the new blog. If you want the actual URL, it’s www.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower.html. Our blog posts will now be easier to search on the web site, but you’ll need to register to post a comment. In the [...]
Recent posts
  1000s of HomesListings, open houses, the hottest market news. Start and end your search for a new home here. |
Win tickets to the opening night party (Nov. 21) of the MCAD Annual Art Sale.Vita.mn presents the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Annual Art Sale at MCAD, Nov. 20-21. |
Comment on this story | Read all 2 comments | Hide reader comments