Drummer Rick Nelson is returning home to play at Torge’s

Rick Nelson knows how to throw a punch and pack in a club.

The Austin native is coming home Friday to play a concert at Torge’s Live, 1701 Fourth St. NW, with the Inside Out Band.

“I’m coming back to my hometown,” Nelson said.

The Inside Out Band has been together for 25 years, and Nelson joined about seven years ago.

“We’re one of the better variety acts that plays throughout the [Twin] Cities,” he said.

Nelson, who goes by RD in the group, said the band plays everything from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, but he noted they group will likely stick more to classic rock acts like Stevie Ray Vaughan and The Who at Torge’s.

“We kind of play to whatever the people want,” he said.

Nelson, who now lives in Anoka, spoke fondly of his time growing up in Austin, where he was a Golden Gloves boxer and started drumming in bands like The Bright Tomorrow, Warehouse and The Clear Band. Nelson’s father worked at Hormel Foods for many years, and his mother worked for the Mower County Sheriff’s office when Doyle Lindahl was sheriff.

When Nelson graduated from Austin High School in 1975, he moved to Kansas City to pursue a career as a musician and later moved out to Los Angeles.

Nelson continued to play for many bands in L.A., like Alpha Centauri from 1979 to 1983 and Eye to Eye. He continued in the vein of his boxing roots, becoming the title holder in the lightweight division of the World Kickboxing Association and the Professional Karate Association in 1985.

In the 1990s, Nelson returned to Austin and played with a variety of groups, like Blue Denim, the Clear Band and the Wedge Brothers. Nelson remembers Austin in the 1970s and 1980s as a place where bands could play at the many downtown bars almost any night of the week.

Nelson said Anoka today is much the same way. During the week, Nelson works for Above & Beyond Bail Bonds, but the band plays almost every weekend.

“We’re weekend warriors,” he said.

Nelson said he’s excited to play in his hometown, especially since he’ll get to see many people he grew up with. Nelson said he’s expecting a big crowd.

“Everybody’s very excited about playing here,” he said.

Bassist and Singer Rick Reierson also said he’s looking forward to the show.

“It’s just going to be a lot of fun to come down there,” Reierson said.

 

Who has Rick Nelson played with?

In Austin: The Bright Tomorrow 1970-01, Able Dei 1972, Warehouse (Wedge Bros, with Paul and Matt Wagner) 1973-74, The Clear Band 1975-77 all Austin bands. In Kansas City: Amdahl Wolfe 1977-79

In Los Angeles: Alpha Centauri 1979-83, Eye to Eye 1983-84, Time Steps 1984-85, PKA & WKA Kick Boxing Title Holder Los Angeles 1985-86, Nelson sat in Todd Rundgren during L.A.

Return to Austin: Horizon 1996, Hounds Of Sound 1996-97, Blue Denum 1997-98, Johnny Green and the Greenmen 1998-2003, Cindy Mack Band and The Effinhiemer Sisters 2005-06,

Twin Cities: The Inside Out Band, 2007-present

Source: Rick Nelson