via Lemon Jail: ‘Mats Tour Diary 1983-1986 by Bill Sullivan — Kickstarter.

Found on CityPages

One of the main characters has an undeniable similarity to our own Mr. Paul Westerberg (cult-rocker turned soccer dad). I’d like one of y’all who are vastly more knowledgeable about the history of rock & roll and The ‘Mats to see if there are anymore similarities, or who Tucker Crowe (that’s the character) could be based on.

Read it! It’ll be fun.

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Let It Be and the paperback release of The Replacements: All Over But The Shouting at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 27th at First Ave. Tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door. The event is also a benefit for the Twin Cities Music Community Trust and will feature:
The Let It Be House Band
The Idle Hands
Gospel Gossip
High On Stress
Jennifer Markey
Jeremy Messersmith
Martin Devaney
Ashleigh Still
Stook!
The Bottom Forty
The Tisdales
Patches and Gretchen
The Hard Left

And probably much, much more. You can get all the details at on First Ave’s site here.

I saw Arthur Phillips, author of the fan-fucking-tastic The Song is You read last night. Y’all should get the book, you’ll love it. It’s about Rock & Roll and fandom and what music means to us.

Chris Mars will be signing his fabulous book Tolerance at Magers & Quinn (3038 Hennepin Ave. South, Minneapolis) at 8 p.m. on Tuesday (as in the day after tomorrow) December 16th. As I mentioned before, the book is amazing. If you don’t have any plans for Tuesday night, you should stop by and check it out.

Also, just so you don’t get all nutso, Mars will only be signing his book. Leave you ‘Mats crap at home so as to not make an uncomfortable scene.

Late last night I got an e-mail from Graeme Thomson author of I Shot a Man in Reno: A History of Death by Murder, Suicide, Fire, Flood, Drugs, Disease, and General Misadventure, As Related in Popular Song. He told me about about an interview he did with Our Man Paul. Thompson has a short excerpt from the interview on his site. It’s hard resisting the urge to clip out the best lines and paste them here for you. But I am not gonna do that. You can click the link and go read it for yourself.

It is really, quite fascinating. Paul talks a bit about death and discussing it with his son Johnny. It’s only a few short paragraphs, but might just be one of my favorite interviews of recent note. Why? Because it’s not about reunions and legends and blah, blah, blah, but something different.

Want more? You should take a look at Thomson’s Largehearted Boy Book Notes essay.

My copy of Tolerance: The Art of Chris Mars arrived (thanks to the fine folks at Lee Joseph Publicity) yesterday. Let me tell you folks, it’s a beautiful book.

From page one, it’s awesome. I especially dug this disclaimer:This book was manufactured with respect for the environment, workers rights, and human rights. Let’s give it up for socially-responsible art and commerce. Seriously.

Those of you who are familiar with Mars’ art already know that it’s dark, dark, dark stuff. So the book is filled with that, but more than that (and my favorite part) are all kinds of, for lack of a better term, explanations about some of the paintings. I’ve never really been a fan of Mars’ paintings. The darkness kind of scares me and makes me uncomfortable. But, after spending a few days with the book, looking at the pictures and reading the passages, I’ve decided that it’s okay. Art is supposed to move us. It’s not always that giddy, joyful sort of experience. Sometimes it is dark and uncomfortable, and that’s okay too. Sometimes life is dark and uncomfortable.

I was surprised by the political backdrop and tone of some of the paintings. I knew the story of Mars’ brother and knew that a lot of his artistic inspiration sprung from that experience. There is a lot of that in this book, with explanations that will literally move you to tears. But, I think, the pieces that most affected me were the more politically-themed ones. The political was new to me, and because Mars’ and I seem to have the same political leanings, I really liked those portions of the book. For instance, he writes this about his piece called “State of the Union:”
The central figure is a disheartened, despondent Lady Liberty, who is being probed and prodded by shady practitioners who fail to comprehend her. She’s been reduced and dons a warhead dunce cap. Some smugly endorsement her belittlement; some turn away. Others are aware, but feel confused and powerless. All this creates chaos; there is infighting. . . “ it goes on, but you get the gist of it.

I cannot deny that I am surprised my how much I am enjoying this book. I think you might too.

Anyway, for those of you in the Culver City area there is a signing tomorrow September 13th. Anyway, here’s some information Annie A left in a comment on an earlier post for those of you who plan to attend:
Here is a preview link to Chris’ show.

He will be signing his new book in person at the gallery:
Billy Shire Fine Arts
5790 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
323-297-0600

Book Signing/ Saturday, September 13th, 6-7pm. Call to order a copy – specify that you would like it personalized and your name. Books are $40 + shipping/tax if applicable. Unfortunately, Chris won’t be signing Replacements stuff so leave that stuff safely at home. If you are in the Laguna Beach area, he’ll be signing books at the Museum there on Sunday, September 14 from 3 to 6pm. For more information contact the museum or call (949)494-8971, extension 207

Okay, I don’t do this often, because it’s just not my bag. But I got a press release earlier this week that caught my eye. Mostly because it was about Chris Mars’ new art book Tolerance: The Art of Chris Mars. But more than that it’s because Mars is going to have a book signing/reception on September 13 at Billy Shire Fine Arts in Culver City California.

I think the thing that surprised me the most about this press release is that it was actually interesting. Press Releases are notoriously hokey and poorly written and, well, crap. But this one was good! So I will share with you some of the bits I found interesting, and then give you a link where you can read the whole thing, because I am kind.

Rock star, recluse, brother, activist. Artist. Chris Mars’ work graces the hallowed halls of museums throughout America and is tattooed on calves and biceps throughout the world. “Tolerance” is the long-awaited collection of his work.

Chris Mars was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1961 to parents Constance and Leroy Mars. He is the youngest of seven children. Mars’s eldest brother Joe suffered a so-called Nervous Breakdown in 1966 and was institutionalized at St. Cloud Mental Hospital. The impact of that event, along with Joe’s life-long struggle with Schizophrenia, set the groundwork for a life’s mission of championing society’s downtrodden and outcast. Mars hopes his work causes the viewer to question the nature of evaluation and labels, be it by investigating the meaning of beauty or by casting aside the exclusion of the meek, the forgotten, or the enemy.

Sure, sure you all probably knew that because you’re ‘Mats savants, but I am not. I also liked this part:
Chris Mars was once best known as a musician, being a founder member of seminal indie/punk band The Replacements and subsequently recording four critically acclaimed – and progressively more experimental — solo discs. His drumsticks are enshrined in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (emphasis mine, I didn’t know this. you guys don’t tell me anything!

His paintings are enshrined in the permanent collection of various museums throughout the country including The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, The Erie Art Museum, The Longview Museum of Fine Art, The Tweed Art Museum and The Minnesota History Center. His museum exhibition history also includes The American Visionary Art Museum, The Weisman Museum of Art, Steensland Art Museum, Art Center South Florida and soon The Phipps Center for the Arts.

Anyway, y’all can read the whole thing here. And if you’re in or around Culver City, CA you should go to the signing and then report back about how fabulous it was.

I went to go hear him read last night (and got a bonus Q&A with Jim Walsh to boot). It was fabulous.He is a kind, gracious, charming, and entertaining man. I was amazed how he got up and shook the hand of every single person waiting in line. It was a great time.

Oh and then when I got my book signed I got to crush David Carr’s dreams about how Paul Westerberg mentioned his book on the blog. Westernerds, he was so excited. The look in his eye was five-year-old getting a bike for Christmas excited. And then I was like, “Uh, that was me.”

We can add this to the list of phrases I never expected to utter in actual real life with my own voice: “I’m not Paul Westerberg.”

Second of all, Imemat has done all the heavy lifting with regard to that 1982 show and converting the files to MP3. Go download than and while you’re there check out the response he got to the only fan letter he’s ever gotten.

Third of all, Aquarium Drunkard has a great, great write up on 5:05.

I like to pretend that y’all love books as much as I do and that when I suggest ‘mats-esque books you kind of dig that, even if you don’t read them. Please do not disabuse me of this delusion, okay?

Anyway, I am here to tell you about David Carr’s memoir The Night of the Gun. Some of you might remember Carr from his NY Times piece about The ‘Mats a few years back. Some of you local old-timers might remember him from his stint at the now-defunct Twin Cities Reader. A lot of you probably have no idea who the fuck I’m talking about.

You should read this book anyway. It’s a thrilling, fascinating, can’t-lookaway-like-a-trainwreck book. See, before becoming Mr. Successful NY Times Writer, Carr was a skeevy crackhead trolling the streets of the Twin Cities. We’re talking dirtbag of epic proportions — a woman-beating, child neglecting, drug dealing, kind of dirtbag. Reading about his depths and how he slowly dug himself out makes for a good time. This isn’t one of those glory be to God on the highest, let your little light shine kind of bullshit recovery memoir. So don’t worry about that.

Seriously, it is jaw-droppingly fascinating. I don’t throw that word around lightly, and I’m generally the snobbiest of the book snobs, but this book is worth your time.

Also there are a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-it ‘Mats references, which is totally my justification for writing about this book here. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: We should always support authors who have the good sense to like the ‘Mats. Right?

Missed my other Paul Westerberg Bookclub Recommendations?
Joshua Furst’s Sabotage Cafe

Er, I guess that’s it though I could have sworn I talked about Brock Clarke’s An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England. I should have. Ha! I did. I’m so smart.