As I posted previously, the band Anvil was in town to help promote the documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil. They were booked to play a short set after the conclusion of the 7pm show and possibly stick around for some autographs afterwards. I showed up about a half hour before the 7pm show was going to end, hoping for the chance to get an introduction to the band and watch the show. While I didn’t get to talk to Anvil much, but I did talk Star Trek with their roadie. Yes, they now have a roadie.
The band had already setup their equipment at the front of the Uptown stage and as the credits finished rolling the started straight into their set. They ended up playing closer to 45 minutes and it was a fantastic show. though the highlight for me was drummer Robb Reiner’s drum solo in which he switched in the middle of it from a fairly straight rock drumming solo into a Buddy Rich freestyle jazz solo. As someone who has played percussion instruments for years, it was an unexpected treat of epic proportions. Thankfully, their is video to corroborate my statements.
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Video courtesy of citygirldebbie.
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It was a great event and from the looks of it the band was having as much fun as the audience. And since the band couldn’t pack up while the next show was playing, they decided to stick around and play another set at the end of the 9pm show. Once again, as the credits began to roll Anvil prepared to rawk out. Only this time something was very different, and very wrong. I’ll let Patrick, the House Manager for the Uptown explain in this email he sent out earlier this week.
This past Friday night here at the Uptown Theatre we had the amazing pleasure of having the band Anvil perform after a showing of their film Anvil! The Story of Anvil. It was a great night. I’ve been involved with the Uptown for the last eight years and am now the head manager and this was easily one of the best nights ever here. We had a crowd of a little over 300 show up who were extremely enthusiastic. The credits rolled after the 7:15pm show and were quickly followed by the loud strumming of an electric guitar. Everyone rushed up to the front of the theatre and started cheering. Anvil played a short set and then went into the lobby to meet fans on their way out and take pictures and sign autographs.
We started the 9:30pm show for a smaller crowd of maybe 50. The band stuck around in the lobby because they had to wait to get their gear which was sitting in the theatre. As the movie went on, the singer of Anvil, Steve “Lips” Kudlow, came up to me and my staff and said, “think we should play another set after this show?” To which we replied, “That would be great if you guys would like to…” They were not scheduled to play again and had to get back on the road as soon as possible because they had to be in Cincinnati the next day. But the band talked it over and decided to play again. So again, the credits rolled, that guitar began, and the crowd started cheering and coming up to the front. However, as the drummer was about to begin playing, he realized he was missing two of his cymbals. The band stopped, the crowd was confused, and it was determined that someone had stolen the cymbals sometime while the band was out in the lobby greeting fans.
Needless to say this was a terrible ending to a great night. To the band’s credit, they didn’t bitch about it or yell at me, they simply discussed how they would replace the symbols and that they needed to get back on the road. They were far more depressed by the fact that someone, especially after having seen their film, would see fit to steal from them. I can’t believe it either. I have no doubt that the band will strive on, if you see the film you’ll have no doubt either, but I hate to think that the only thing they will remember about their Minneapolis show is that it’s the town where someone stole their equipment. So, if you’re the person who stole it, and have realized the error of your ways, please return it to the theatre, no questions asked.
Sincerely,
Patrick Cross
Uptown Theatre
House Manager
This really is a disappointing end to what was a great event. If anyone has any information on the missing cymbals, please contact me here at WTLTE or contact the Uptown Theater directly. And if you could spread the word hopefully this terrible ending can be rectified ASAP.
Dang it, that’s not the “conclusion” I was hoping for. By that I mean, I knew about the theft from other posts last week and was hoping you were going to announce a triumphant recovery.
No doubt about it, this sucks. I saw the doc on Monday and absolutely loved it, too. Must have been pretty sweet to hear them do “Metal on Metal”, and that’s not even my music scene.
It would be pretty great to see Lips get up in the face of whoever did this.
Unfortunately we still haven’t heard anything. Not sure if anything got posted in the Star Tribune but if not I’m going to bug Colin about it because he was at the show and enjoyed the hell out of it. I’m sure he’d be just as frustrated as anybody about what happened.
I didn’t see anything in the Strib, either, and haven’t talked to Colin but that’s great that he was there. Considering how limited the audience is for this movie (mostly out of misunderstanding it from the poster/trailer), though, I don’t see any more attention being paid to it. And I certainly wouldn’t expect any idiot to come forward and admit their crime. I’ll post something next week as part of a review and link back.
They mentioned it in the Strib today.
BTW, didn’t know you were a percussionist Gamble. Me too. Nice.
I like this article a lot. I agree with much of what you state here and you have done a great job of writing it.