Los Tequileros band performs outdoor concert at Barden’s Bar July 1

“Friday was like an all-school reunion and memory lane all in one,” said Craig Schuster, one of the hundreds of attendees at the second annual Back Alley Concert hosted by Barden’s Bar in Waseca. “I didn’t want to go home.”

The Friday, July 1 event, was held outdoors with picnic tables where guests sat to enjoy the music along with some summer beverages. An open dancing area was provided in front of the stage where Los Tequileros performed for over four hours.

The band, which also performed at last year’s event, consists of five members: Mick Barrens on main vocals and harmonica, Jerome Broughten on guitar and vocals, Marty Buum on bass and vocals, Jim Kozan on keyboard and vocals, and John Lucca on drums and vocals. 

“Everybody sings; we have a lot of harmonies,” said Lucca.

Founded about seven years ago by Broughten and Barrens, the band plays covers of various classic rock music as well as “well-worn Tex Mex music.” Barrens, who has taught in various places worldwide and was a flight attendant for 18 years, met Broughten after returning from Dubai with his wife. He recalled a particularly snowy Pearl Harbor Day when Broughten called and invited him over to play guitar.

“Los Tequileros was started in my kitchen late at night after Mick and I were drinking beer and playing guitar for about four hours,” said Broughten. “Finally, my wife Joan said, ‘Hey, you guys ought to go down and play El Tequila.’ So, we took her advice and went down and talked to the owners and played as a duo.”

Following one performance that Buum attended, the duo invited Buum to play bass with the band.

“He started playing upright bass then,” Broughten said.

Later, at a performance at the Boat House Bar and Grill, the trio was set to play a Hawaiian-themed show when Los Tequileros’ percussion player was unable to attend.

“I called up Johnny [Lucca], and he came down here with a real makeshift drum set,” said Broughten. “It was so much fun, we invited him to be in the band.”

For about three years, the band consisted of four members until its final participant,  Jim Kozan, was invited to join two years ago. While most of the group’s  shows are performed around Southern Minnesota, the band has traveled as far as Chicago - a trip that was particularly memorable for Lucca, who is credited with some of the most original music of all the band’s members. Playing locally, however, is also something Lucca stated he enjoys.

“I always love playing at Barden’s,” he said. “Shane [Wendland, owner of Barden’s] has supported all of my–and our [the band’s]  musical endeavors over the years.”

Sharing his thoughts on the July 1 event, Wendland said it went really well, and that there is a possibility but no set plan yet for hosting the event again next year.