9/20/14 9:20
Last night was one of those events
that met all expectations. It doesn’t
happen very often. There is the height
of anticipation of the first kiss only to meet dry lips or the closing on the
house and learning there are chickens in the attic or meeting that one person
who you thought would be inspiring and so insightful but instead were dreary bores. Before we got in Mike T and I bumped into
Rhett Miller from the Old 97’s who literally came out of a porta potty and was
drying his hands. Mike shook his hand first
and Rhett jokingly said now my hand is dry.
He was appreciative when Mike had mentioned seeing some of his solo
performances at Fez so many years before.
He was also pumped for seeing The Mats.
So, let me share this event.
After decades of listening and dreaming of a Mats reunion it occurred. For the legion of fans we know why it was nearly impossible, Tommy Stinson the Mat’s
bassist was in an exclusive contract with Axyl Rose and Guns & Roses. The chances for a Replacements reunion were slim. The second lead guitarist, Slim Dunlap had
suffered a debilitating stroke. But
it happened. The first reunion shows were last year in Toronto and Denver. In more than twenty something years, Replacements were on stage in New York.
Their everlasting goof ball ringleader, Paul Westerberg wore a yellow
clownish blazer, red knickers, and knee socks.
He took a guitar and had a smile that could part the red sea. Tommy Stinson stood to his right and was almost ready. He fixed the microphone stand and cursed at the roadies,
“What the fuck? Why is this so
short? I’m older and taller.” Tommy was twelve when he started playing with
his brother and the rest of the band. At
the cozy Forest Hills Tennis stadium in New York, The Replacements were tight and efficient. They
ripped into Favorite Thing off their Let It Be album (Twin/Tone) and then
Taking A Ride off their first Twin/Tone album, Sorry Ma Forgot To Take Out The
Trash. I was a few rows back from the
stage until nature called. Excuse the interruption,
let me get this off my chest; from this vantage point in front of my computer and a day later. I
can hear some groveling. These are the
whiners, the hardcore Mats fans who would not dare set foot in front of this semblance
of the band. The Mats were once and this
band is a fraud. Without Chris Mars,
their former drummer or Bob Stinson, their former lead guitarist, the band as The Replacements for these ardent and stubborn fans is not
truly…authentic. I heard some of the
skeptics. I looked around me and noticed
all of them were singing to the music and pumping their fists. Listen, Chris Mars refuses to play with the
band and sadly Bob has been dead for twenty something years. Get over it.
For a couple of hours we linked the past to the present and suddenly everything
was right in the world. Each song
evoked a burst of energy, but for me there was one particular song which ripped
my vocal chords, that was their classic howling blues "White & Lazy" off
their Stink EP. I understand they have
not played this song very often. I
called out for it when I was in front of the stage and this is my hunch, my
faint voice was heard. I noticed Tommy
approached Paul and perhaps suggested a different song; Paul waved his head and
picked up the harmonica. Maybe he
thought, “No, I heard some tall guy in the front call out for this and he will
get what he called for. Here’s to you
tall guy with the big nose.” Yeah, I can
dream. Too band I can’t post my video
for you all to hear my singing and see The Mats from where I stood. The song did not get the full or even half of
the audience’s response. I assume there were some who heard the song and asked
what the fuck is he singing? Is this a white racist song? Far from it. If it was, I would not be a fan. "I can wake
up in the morning and stay up in the afternoon"…there is a link to the set list
from last night, which includes, Color Me Impressed, Taking a Ride, Waitress in
The Sky, Bastards of Young which is the anthem for The Replacements, “The ones
who love you least are the ones you die to please. The ones you love you best - are the ones you
laid to rest, if it’s any consultation I cannot begin to understand.” Tommy
said they had to shut the show early since the neighborhood has an enforced
policy, “What can I say? We need to pull the plug at 10 PM.” When I strolled out into the streets, I was
surprised by the robust presence of the police.
There were mounted police who looked menacing, eventually galloping off
to battle some night creatures in Kew Gardens.
Why the full force? It was just us older - meandering middle aged punks who drank a
few beers and perhaps appeared slightly inebriated to the neighbors. Was there
really a need to have a battalion of cops ready or was it the distant threat -
that if we acted like the children we once were - we would be severely
punished. It was the slap in the face,
the voice over the loud speaker…hello… the party is over...do yourself a favor and listen to the link below, Kids Don't Follow and you'd get the reference.
Thank you for reading this.
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