By the time The Mats hit the stage on Sunday night, they probably didn’t need to be all that good to get everybody going. Even after twenty-two years on the shelf, those songs have so much life in them that they really only needed to be aired out for a primed crowd. There was nobody there, at least around me, who wouldn’t have forgiven Westerberg if he’d seemed disengaged, or who wouldn’t have been at least a little delighted if they’d all been too drunk to make it through “Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out.” Being there, arms around one another and shouting at the improbable end of all of that waiting, would have been enough for the Mats fans I was near.
via Aquarium Drunkard » This Festival Could Be Your Life: The Replacements, Riot Fest.
I was there enjoying the pure magic that was that show………and they were one of the best live bands I have ever seen. Hands down. One of the best moments of my life. As an added bonus I was talking to some older gentlemen about the Mats before the show and they turned out(I knew mid conversation but said nothing to them about it) be the Violent Femmes. Very nice guys and big Replacements fans. Lead singer gave me a man hug when I left and told me safe travels and nice meeting. Thats what The Replacements do….bring everyone together for the love of what that band/music means to us. Ill never forget it.
I love this story! I talked to an older gentleman before the show too. He was from like Terra Haute and there with his brother — not in a band at all.
Awesome! By chance are you going to Denver??
No way. Even if I had the money to go, I don’t know if I could do back to back festival weekends. I am old & crabby.