A Suburbs reunion gig

One Suburb has left the building, but another has returned.

One of the two main questions surrounding Saturday's Suburbs reunion gig at First Avenue is whether or not co-leader Beej Chaney would be back with the band for its tribute to guitarist Bruce Allen, who died in December. Chaney did not make Allen's funeral, and he was missing from the last 'Burbs gigs in 2006.

As of Monday, Beej was in town from Los Angeles and rehearsing with his old mates.

"We had a lot of fun," fellow singer Chan Poling reported afterward. "There's just a joy in playing those songs again."

That answers the other big question around the show: Whether or not a band famous for its fun, hard-driving, party-centric live shows would (or could) still muster up its old vibrant spirit for a gig with such a somber undertone. Allen, 54, helped anchor the quintet's rhythmic punch, and his style and humor helped define the Suburbs' personality. The '80s rockers failed to make a big national splash after signing with A&M Records but always remained wildly popular on the local front. No surprise, Saturday's show is sold out.

For this tribute, most of Allen's parts will be played by Steve Brantseg (Curtiss A, Bash & Pop), with Slim Dunlap also helping out. Look for the return of the 'Burbs horn section, too.

"This is still gonna be a loose thing -- it's not going to be a full-on power 'Burb show like from the days of yore," Poling said. "This is old friends getting together to honor and remember and celebrate a great, sweet guy, an inventive and tasty musician, and a part of our lives that we will never forget."

"We really all have been good friends since we were about 13, so that adds another touching element to the show," said Osgood, who helped organize the event. Early in the week, he was sorting out how the gig money will be converted into an arts scholarship fund in Allen's honor.

Said Osgood, "These were all things that Bruce, in his final days, said he really would like to see us do in his honor."

Poling and Osgood agreed it also would've been Allen's wish for the tribute to truly be a celebration, and not some downer affair.

"It should be a great party," Poling said. "It sounds corny, but Bruce wouldn't want it any other way."

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