Arkansas Republicans got the chance to party Tuesday, essentially for the first time during the GOP convention, at a concert at a swanky Minneapolis night club.

The party hosted by Mike Huckabee’s political action committee featured music by country star Josh Turner and by Huckabee’s Arkansas-based band. Huckabee plays bass guitar.

The band, “Capitol Offense,”  wasn’t all that offensive. But here’s a note to band members: following “Freebird” with “Louie, Louie” is a good way to clear the room for the night.

For many Arkansans, it was their first night on the town in the Twin Cities since arriving over the weekend. The threat of Hurricane Gustav on Monday prompted scores of event cancellations that day. The Republican National Convention resumed a full schedule Tuesday.

Huckabee’s political fundraising organization, HuckPAC, rented out the club for the night. Other sponsors of the party were Arkansas-based companies Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Murphy Oil.

The club featured an air of exclusivity. Ticket-holders had to pass through a line of velvet ropes to get into the building. Another set of velvet ropes inside separated those in the “VIP room” from the masses. Bouncers wore suits and Secret Service-style earpieces.

It looked to be the trendiest club on that block. Across the street was a strip joint called “Augie’s” and a store, the “Adult Boutique.”

It may well have been the first time the club rented by Huckabee, called “Spin,” had country music bounce off its walls. Upcoming acts include hip-hop star Li’l John (billed as “The King of Crunk”) and a DJ, Wes Nobles (who will apparently be “back by popular demand.”

Visitors were in equal part impressed or befuddled by the club’s restrooms, which had transparent glass doors that frosted over when the doors were locked. Some untrusting guests tried the lock several times just to make sure the door became translucent before they went about their business.

Late into the party, one man didn’t turn the lock at all. Aside from the “Freebird”-”Louie, Louie” double play, that was another sign it was time to call it a night.