Music: Westside 30th

Of all the hilariously dated YouTube clips of older Twin Cities groups, the best might be Westside Band's 1986 appearance on the old TV talent show "Star Search." You'll hear Ed McMahon's stiff introduction that cites their "strong Latino influence." You'll dig the MC Hammer pants. You'll love the part midway through "The Sweep," when the band breaks into a hokey synchronized dance routine -- with matching brooms.

But consider this impressive postscript: Not only has Westside hung around to celebrate its 30th anniversary Friday, but it still packs in fans.

At the band's helm, drummer Junior Trejo has maintained a personal no-drinking policy and other rigid parameters that he says has kept the group (and perhaps himself) alive. Not only do Westside members have to learn 350-some songs, but they have to also learn dance routines and other stage shtick that sets them apart from other Twin Cities club acts.

"Being in this band is a little like being in the Army," Trejo, 58, admitted. "Over the years, I just found that the more effort you put in, the smoother things run in the end."

An estimated 120 musicians have gone through Westside's ranks. Some of them might show up for the band's anniversary concert Friday at Robert's in Mounds View. The show is doubling as the local debut of Westside's new Earth, Wind & Fire tribute act.

Trejo and his brother Ricky, who died of AIDS in 1996, started Westside as multicultural representation of their neighborhood, St. Paul's West Side.

"We grew up friends with blacks, Indians, whites and obviously Mexicans," Trejo said. "We really didn't know about racism -- until we started playing in clubs."

"Probably one of the reasons we're still in business is we do so many different styles of music," Trejo guessed. "But that was the plan from the start, because that's what I liked myself: a little bit of everything."

Their "Star Search" stint only lasted two weeks. Trejo thinks they might have lost because another Twin Cities group, Limited Warranty, had taken top honors the year before. They flirted with record deals but never signed a contract.

As for that YouTube clip, Trejo laughed about it: "We owned stock in Aqua Net at the time. But we sold it a long time ago."