by Dan Craft
Pantagraph Staff

Fifteen years ago this week, Twin Cities musical history was about to be made - unwittingly.

Or atleast unwittingly for those patrons who might have wandered into the lower level of The Gallery in downtown Normal for some happy hour pizza and beer.

Crammed together in the tiny space were seven guys who were not downing some happy hour pizza or beer.

Instead, each of the seven was wielding an instrument, from guitars, to drums, to keyboards to something slightly exotic for what appeared to be just another rock band: a horn section.

The local bar scene had rarely seen such an accumulation of instruments and manpower gathered in one spot, let alone one this tight.

The manpower cut loose. Happy hour turned giddy. And a band was born. Certainly, no one in December 1986 could have remotely dreamed that 15 years later - several generations in a local bar band terms - the men and the power would still be alive and kicking.

No, make that, alive and wailing. They called themselves then and call themselves now...Hip Pocket.