oregon | NIGHTCLUB JITTERS

Once around the weekend…

Posted on April 21, 2015 by lova33b

How sweet are these? A Slim pick AND a Songs FROM Slim adapter.

My, what a busy weekend! On Record Store Day (RSD), we saw the release of two ’Mats-related records and on Sunday, the good people of Denver got one big dose of thunder from the ’Mats at the Fillmore.

The Replacements’ RSD release is a reissue of a four-song 1987 EP, featuring “Alex Chilton,” “Nightclub Jitters” and two B-sides. For the first time ever on vinyl, we can also enjoy Slim Dunlap’s first two albums: “The Old New Me” and “Times Like This.”

I’d already heard all the songs on the Mats’ EP, but it’s a great addition to any vinyl collection (gotta love the cover image). If nothing else, it will remind you what a fucking rocker “Alex Chilton” really is. And “Nightclub Jitters,” well, is always a gem.

The Dunlap RSD release though, is really something special.

Bob “Slim” Dunlap joined The Replacements in 1987 as lead guitarist. I’ll admit as a 15-year-old girl seeing them live for the first time in ’89, I knew nothing of his work—I just loved The Replacements. But I was instantly intrigued by this “slim” dude who seemed to effortlessly play anything and everything. He was laid-back and loose. He reminded me of a younger Keith Richards (I was raised on the Stones).

A Minneapolis rock legend, Dunlap was handpicked by Paul Westerberg for his solid, versatile playing. He’s been dubbed, “one of the last old-school cool guitar players,” according to PopMatters. One listen and I think you’ll agree. Standout tracks on “The Old New Me” include heartbreakers like “Taken on the Chin” and “Love Lost.” On “Times Like This,” Slim takes us back home on “Hate This Town.” Flip the record and the guitar tone on “Cooler Then” is just devastating, the lyrics too.

I really can’t say anything else other than, order the Dunlap reissue now. Kudos to New West Records! All proceeds from the reissue go to the Slim Dunlap Fund.

Follow Songs for Slim on Facebook.

Also, this happened over the weekend:

What the folks in Denver are saying about the recent Fillmore show:

The Replacements at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver (photos, review)

Portland, oh yes!

Posted on March 27, 2015 by lova33b

April 10, 2015 is a big day. The Replacements play Portland, Oregon for the first time in I dunno know how long. The last time I saw them, they left the stage and had their roadies finish the set (the infamous ’91 Taste of Chicago Fourth of July show). I wept.

Fast forward 24 (?!) years, and we find what’s left of the ’Mats—Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson—joined by some ace replacements—Josh Freese on skins* and Dave Minehan on guitar.

Unlike many reunion tours, this one seems less about $$$ and more about just fucking playing. Both Paul and Tommy credit their dear friend and former Replacements axeman Slim Dunlap with inspiring the reunion. Dunlap suffered a stroke in 2012 and can now only speak in a whisper.

“You think you have it bad, and then you go and see him [Slim] and you go, ‘All of my troubles are insignificant.’ That’s part of the reason we got together. Not so much the making money, but for the reason that we could – we can stand, and we can play. Whether we’re good or not is irrelevant,” Westerberg recently told Daily Dish.

Funny thing—they’re good. And more relevant than ever. In fact, the general consensus since their 2013-2014 festival stint—they fucking rock.

What can we expect at the Portland show? Hopefully, it will be better than their last gig in Portland (1987!). The show was so bad that The ’Mats actually wrote a song apologizing for their bad behavior. You can listen to that countrified little ditty above.

“It’s too late to turn back, here we go/Portland, oh no…”

See you April 10, boys!

* Original drummer Chris Mars declined touring due to his successful art career, but remains supportive of the reincarnated ’Mats.