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Artist
The Suburbs
12+ albums
new waverockMinnesotaUSAMinneapolis
about
While the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and Soul Asylum were the Minneapolis bands that brought the city's underground rock to international attention, the Suburbs were the Twin Cities' biggest local act of the 1980s, packing the biggest clubs in town with a smart, challenging, and darkly witty combination of punk energy and snark, new wave polish, tough guitars, and hooky dance rhythms. The Suburbs were formed in 1977 by vocalist and keyboardist Chan Poling and vocalist and lead guitarist Blaine John ("Beej") Chaney; the two had been close friends since their high school days and had both traveled to California to attend art school in 1974. Poling and Chaney were exposed to the nascent Los Angeles punk scene before returning to Minneapolis, where Poling discovered his pal Chris Osgood had formed the Suicide Commandos, generally cited as the first proper punk outfit in the Twin Cities. Intrigued by the budding music scene in their hometown, Poling and Chaney talked with Osgood about their desire to start a band; Osgood in turn introduced them to guitarist Bruce Allen, bassist Michael Halliday, and drummer Hugo Klaers, and the Suburbs were born. With few clubs in town booking original rock music, the Suburbs started out playing parties with other local acts, until Jay's Longhorn Bar, a jazz venue, took a chance on hosting the band. The Longhorn was soon Minneapolis' home for punk and new wave sounds, and the Suburbs attracted the attention of local indie label Twin/Tone Records. In
