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Having grown up in Minneapolis and having seen plenty of the Replacements‘ shows I can attest to some of the mythology that swirls around the band and their now legendary live performances. However, this show was only partially about nostalgia. It was also a celebration of the still bustling Minneapolis music scene.
Geoffrey Stueven covered the bands playing in the Entry in his review that you can find HERE. I’m taking care of the events in the mainroom.
7:20p.m. – the Sex Rays
I hadn’t seen the Sex Rays before, but have seen other bands that they’ve played in. I was not prepared for the energy, the classic garage rock sound or the polished stage presence. What a great way to start the show!
Joe Hastings, the Sex Rays
Ben Crunk and Joe Holland, the Sex Rays
8:00p.m. – the Goondas
Ripped jeans and t-shirts, random instrument switching, frantic energy and a slightly shambolic stage presence made the Goondas a perfect choice for a Replacements tribute. They really put it all out there during their short set and more than one person was overheard asking if singer Brenden Green had gotten a little ‘method’ with the copious beer swilling. Who could blame him? Drunken shows and sloppy covers are the stuff of ‘Mats legend.
Jackson Atkins and Brenden Green, the Goondas
Jackson Atkins and Brenden Green, the Goondas
8:40p.m. – Communist Daughter
Communist Daughter frontman Johnny Solomon confessed to having a few too many beers and messing up lyrics later in the show, but he had the best line of night with, “At least I’ve been to jail more times than Paul Westerberg”. To their credit the band did their best to make the songs their own and did not try to alter their sound to fit the ‘Mats style.
Johnny Solomon, Communist Daughter
9:20p.m. – the White & Lazy All-Stars
The name of this local supergroup, featuring members of Chooglin’ plus Baby Grant Johnson, proved to be a big clue to their sound (think “White & Lazy” from Stink). And these guys did a great job on a bunch of the loud, angry and fast songs off the 1982 EP, but their shinning moment was their cover of “Can’t Hardly Wait” complete with horns.
Brian Vanderwerf, the White & Lazy All-Stars
Brian Vanderwerf, “Baby” Grant Johnson, the White & Lazy All-Stars
10:00p.m. – Story of the Sea
Another supergroup of sorts. The trio Story of the Sea plus David Campbell (DJ – the Current and E.L.nO.) Andy Mack, and Jim McGuinn (Program Director – the Current). They did my favorite cover of the evening; “If Only You Were Lonely” (the B-side of the Replacements’ first single, “I’m in Trouble”). It was perfectly lovely, a straight ahead version like the single, sweet and plaintive. My most nostalgic moment of the evening.
David Campbell, Andy Mark and Jim McGuinn, performing with Story of the Sea
Adam Prince and John McEwen, Story of the Sea
10:40p.m. – Pink Mink
I think the Entry must’ve cleared out at this point, because the mainroom filled up for Pink Mink’s set. Their set consisted mostly of songs with raw energy, anger and sneering found mostly the early ‘Mats catalog. Those songs were more successful than the quieter, more introspective fare like “Can’t Hardly Wait”. But they did a gutsy
cover of the Kiss classic (and Replacements covered) “Black Diamond”. It reminded me of the rich history of cover songs that has always percolated through the scene here.
Christy Hunt, Pink Mink
11:20p.m. – the Honeydogs
The Honeydogs set was the low-light of the show for me. Too straight-forward, too polished, they neither made the songs their own nor match the intensity of the originals or previous bands that evening. It’s not that they weren’t good, they were. They just weren’t my cup of tea. At least not this night.
Trent Norton and Adam Levy, the Honeydogs
Adam Levy and Darren Jackson, the Honeydogs
12:10a.m. – the Let It Be House Band with special guest singers (or screamers, in some cases) played Tim in order.
The Let It Be House Band kept their name from last years show. This year the band was Pony and Ryan Smith from the Melismatics, Peter Legget of Heiruspecs, and Terry Eason. The guest singers and songs are listed below:
I won’t bore everyone with my opinions on each and every song, I will give the highlights.
First Avenue held a contest to find someone who could capably handle “Doze of Thunder”. The winner was Erik Hendrickson, originally from Rochester, Minn., but currently living in (I think) Tennessee. He won with a YouTube video and came home for Thanksgiving. He stole the show. Both for his obvious joy of being on stage at First Avenue and for the love he seemed to have for the songs.
Another great moment was seeing the inimitable Dale T. Nelson return this year and belt out “Lay It Down Clown”.
And finally Justin Pierce sang a beautiful version of “Here Comes a Regular” with nearly the entire audience singing along. It was heartfelt and touching with just the right amount of holiday sentimentality.
“Hold My Life” – Sarah Nienaber (Gospel Gossip) (pictured with Ryan Smith)
“I’ll Buy” – Erik Hendrickson (contest winner, standing in for the absent Jim Walsh)
“Kiss Me on the Bus” – Molly Moore and Johnny Solomon (both of Communist Daughter) (pictured with Ryan Smith)
“Dose of Thunder” – Erik Hendrickson (pictured with Ryan Smith)
“Waitress in the Sky” – Jimmy Gaines
“Swinin’ Party” – Ben Kyle (Romantica) (pictured with Ryan Smith)
“Bastards of Young” – Arzu Gokcen (Pink Mink)
“Lay It Down Clown” – Dale T. Nelson (Otto’s Chemical Lounge)
“Left of the Dial” – Josh Grier (Tapes ‘n Tapes)
“Little Mascara” – Brian Vanderwerf (Chooglin’)
The audience singing along to “Here Comes A Regular”
“Here Comes A Regular” – Justin Pierre (Motion City Soundtrack)
