By Jon Bream Martin Zellar – the ex-Gear Daddies frontman, ex-Neil Diamond tribute band leader and ex-patriate living in Mexico – is doing a solo acoustic tour of the Upper Midwest. On Saturday night at Maplewood Community Center, the Austin, Minn. native showed why he has been a hero in Minnesota for three decades. He gave an engaging, crowd-pleasing performance that showcased his songwriting, personality and Springsteen-meets-Diamond voice. Zellar came across as a sweet, family-loving, prideful, aw-shucks kind of small-town guy. He talked about his wife, kids (two teenage boys and a surprise infant daughter), parents, and aunts and uncles. He talked about songwriting and life on the road, including a gig in Montreal that looked so odious when he arrived to set up equipment that he ended up paying the bar manager $500 just so he did NOT play and hurt his pride and reputation. Zellar also told stories about his Zamboni song, which pays the bills. He recalled being at Rosedale and running into Smokey, the driver of the Zamboni in Austin who'd inspired the song. He thought Smokey was going to chew him out but instead thanked Zellar for writing the song with Smokey's name in it because it helped Smokey get laid many times. Ah, the power of song. In his 85-minute performance, Zellar did tunes from the Gear Daddies, the Hardaways, his solo discs and Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love." He accommodated a few requests (but not for Neil's "Sweet Caroline") and apologized effusively for spending so much time tuning his guitar. Opening were Kirk Asplin and Andy Rosenquist from Cowboys in Sneakers, a band from Kokato, Minn. Kirk, the singer, showed his love for Toby Keith and John Mellencamp, his flair for swallowing his words and his lack of good judgment (he complained that "the pay sucks but Marty [Zellar] is a good guy" and did a rote cover of Mellencamp's "Pink Houses"). It would have been preferable to skip the 45-minute opening act and have Zellar play two sets or a full two-hour set. Zellar's set list: Statue of Jesus/ Goodbye Marie/ The Low Road/ Wear Your Crown/ ?? / Brown Eyed Boy/ Zamboni/ Blown Kisses/ Dream Vacation in the Dells/ She's Happy/ Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley)/ Summer Song/ ??/ Sonic Boom/ I'll Be Strong/ East Side Boys/ Stupid Boy ENCORE Color of Her Eyes/ ??