portland | 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)

Die Within Your Reach

Video | Posted on April 15, 2015 by lova33b

“Older, cleaner, still fun.” “Self-destructive…unruly as ever.” “Beautifully ramshackle.” These are just some of the recent media headlines coming out of the ’Mats show in San Francisco. My vote: the last one. Spot on! Of course, I still can’t get the Portland show outta my…

Playin’ at the Talent Show

Gallery | Posted on April 12, 2015 by lova33b

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It took a good day to recover and post this little retrospective of The Replacements’ show at the Crystal on Friday. I hope you enjoy it…

Simply put—pure fucking joy.

Thanks to the kindness of friends, we were able to get in a bit earlier. Turns out we ended up right in front. Didn’t expect that. The stage was much smaller than I remember. In fact, it was probably the most intimate-feeling show I’ve seen at this venue. Possible reason—I didn’t drink during the show. As it was an all ages show, the Crystal separated the drinkers from the kids. At other shows like Dinosaur Jr. or Archers of Loaf, I ended up at least 20-30 feet away, behind the “beer barrier.” Sober at a Mats show? Well, kinda…and it was worth it!

The Young Fresh Fellows kicked off the antics and didn’t disappoint. I especially liked their cover of Slim Dunlap’s “Loud Loud Loud Loud Guitars.” Their drummer Tad Hutchison is phenomenal! In fact, the whole band was just plain tight! Watch an Instagram video of YFF tearing it up before The ’Mats.

Post YFF, the antsy crowd was kept slightly at bay with Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and other classics on the overheads. Mayhem quickly ensued however, as the lights dimmed and “Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen started blasting. Paul comes running out, does a little chicken dance lap around the stage, followed by his mates. You can watch that footage now, if you wish.

They launched straight in with “Takin’ A Ride,” followed by “Favorite Thing”. I don’t have footage of that because I screamed along to the entire song and ruined the audio. However, you can watch a bit of “I Will Dare.” More video highlights to come!

The crowd could not get enough, even after the first encore. I threw a bunch of old used 45s, including Les Paul, Paul Anka, The Partridge Family ( among others, they were supposed to be a gift!) onto the stage, just before Tommy followed the rest of the band offstage. He looked at me, then walked up to the records and just started breaking them and crushing them with his hands. All I could do was laugh.

The band came out for one more, “I.O.U.” off Pleased to Meet Me. Pure rock ’n roll. What a way to end a show!

Does anyone else out there have post-show depression? I miss The ’Mats already. Maybe I should just hit the road and follow ’em? “In my waxed up hair and my painted shoes…” Sigh. I mean, Tommy still owes me $1 for all those records!

We’re in trouble…

Posted on April 3, 2015 by lova33b

Yeah, so we’re one week away folks. The Replacements play Portland’s Crystal Ballroom Friday, April 10. I can’t hardly wait.

I’m pretty sure the last show The ’Mats played was Austin City Limits in October 2014. Paul wore overalls and frequently played while laying down on a hammock (click on the above link if you haven’t already). The band was tight, just as they have been since kicking off their reunion tour over a year ago.

Some ’Mats fans still doth protest these reunion tours. “It’s not The ’Mats, Bob’s gone,” they’ll say, or “They’re just in it for the money, fuck this reunion shit.” When I first heard they were doing a festival circuit back in 2013, I kinda had the same reaction. I was really skeptical—most reunion tours suck, frankly. Also, my affection for festivals began and ended after the first Lollapalooza. So, I held out hope for a ’Mats US tour of small clubs.

Then I watched the festival mayhem unfold online. Holy crap, did I miss out!

It began with Riotfest! in Toronto and ended at the aforementioned ACL Fest. What a run! I mean Jesus, did they play a shitty show? You tell me—I wasn’t there. Heck, I even watched them play Jimmy Fallon online (I’d share that clip but NBC has removed it).

Why are they so good (again)? Some idears:

It looks like Paul and Tommy are having fun again (a lot of fun).
Dave Minehan on guitar. The guy fucking rocks. Check out his first band, The Neighborhoods.
Josh Freese on drums. Dude also plays with Devo.

Here’s another clip, going waaayyyy back (not) Riot Fest! Chicago (and yeah, that’s J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. lurking on the side):

So, who’s excited about Friday, April 10 in Portland? That would be me.

“Can’t hardly wait, I can’t wait!”

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.