Beej Chaney, Steve Brantseg and Steve Price Star Tribune photo/ Marlin Levison (for more photos, click here)

The rhythmic introduction started and keyboardist Chan Poling picked his glass of red wine and announced: "We're raising a glass to Bruce Allen." Beej Chaney, the guitarist, was sitting on a sound monitor on First Avenue's stage and suddenly he and the band burst into "Music for Boys," their jagged, jazzy mostly instrumental piece that always gets a crowd dancing. After that opening number, Chaney, the Suburb who has always been MIA because he lives in L.A., gave two thumbs up. For 55 minutes, the Suburbs – one of the Twin Cities' best local bands onstage and on record – celebrated Allen, their guitarist who died in December at age 54. With Steve Brantseg and others sitting in on guitar, the 'Burbs played it fast and loose. The gig was reminiscent of the early 'Burbs back at the old Longhorn bar in the late 1970s. Except Beej wasn't as crazy, the stage was bigger and Bruce wasn't there to drive the rhythm machine. There was the usual contrast between Poling, the suave-singing, suit-wearing blueblood, and Chaney, the edgy-voiced, freaky long-haired rock star, who still carries on as if he's Minneapolis' answer to Iggy Pop. The three-person horn section alternately added brightness and jazziness. Steve Price ably subbed on bass for Michael Halliday, who has some health issues. Brantseg (Curtiss A, Bash & Pop) seemed well suited on guitar and matched Chaney for 50-something rock-star panache with his Alanis Morissette-length hair, turban, handlebar mustache and Stooges T-shirt. Chris Osgood, Slim Dunlap and Kurt Nelson also joined on guitar, each for a song or two, and Casey Macpherson and Curtiss A each sang one tune. The 'Burbs had last played in 2006, a gig without Chaney. The full band lineup had performed at the Basilica Block Party in 2003. Saturday's set list represented the range and depth of the 'Burbs' oeuvre: some speedo punk ("Cig Machine"), wistful ballads ("Best Is Over"), new-wave meets modern-rock ("Love Is the Law") and full-tilt rockers ("Rattle My Bones"). Allen definitely permeated the performance – especially with the stage backdrop, featuring the iconic Suburbs logo he designed, which now sported one character with wings and the other four with black arm bands bearing his initials, BCA. Chan twice toasted Allen with his wine glass. He talked about the guitarist when introducing Brantseg, who "is filling in for Bruce Allen, who is in heaven. Maybe he's doing something more interesting." Beej's tribute was non-verbal, as he sat on a monitor, head bowed, eyes closed at the end of "Best Is Over." There had to be one more song, of course – the chaotic "Chemistry," with Curtiss A on lead screams. Afterward, Chan thanked everybody and Beej walked offstage flashing a peace sign. The reunited Suicide Commandos opened the evening followed by the X-Boys, Allen's longtime side project. Suburbs' set list: Music for Boys/ Life Is Like/ Cig Machine/ Goggles On/ Baby Heartbeat/ Girlfriend/ Spring Came/Cows/ Rattle My Bones/ Love Is the Law / Best Is Over ENCORE Chemistry