Photo via Ben Clark
Color us impressed: A little after 8:45 p.m. EDT tonight, the long-sought, little-believed reunion of The Replacements — in this case, Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson, plus former Westerberg sidemen Josh Freese and David Minehan — took the stage at Riot Fest in Toronto, delivering a 23-song, career-spanning in the band’s first performance in 22 years.
The ‘Mats opened with “Takin’ a Ride,” the first track off their debut album Sorry, Ma Forgot to Take Out the Trash — a record released 32 years ago to the day. Westerberg, clad in a plaid sports coat, told the crowd: “Sorry it’s taken us so long. For 25 years we’ve been having a wardrobe debate.”
Right now, the three Riot Fests headlining sets — the band also plays Sept. 15 in Chicago and Sept. 21 outside of Denver — are the only officially announced performances by the new 2013 edition of the ‘Mats, although it’s hard to believe that’s all we’ll see of Paul and Tommy together.
Below, see the full setlist, plus performance video, photos and more — including a Spotify playlist that recreates the full set, minutes the Chuck Berry and Sham 69 covers.
UPDATE: You can also now stream audio of the entire 75-minute ‘Mats performance.
Setlist: The Replacements, Riot Fest, Toronto, ON, Canada (via @ChrisRstrib)
1. “Takin’ a Ride”
2. “I’m in Trouble”
3. “Favorite Thing”
4. “Hanging Downtown”
5. “Color Me Impressed”
6. “Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out”
7. “Kiss Me On the Bus”
8. “Androgynous”
9. “Achin’ to Be”
10. “I Will Dare”
11. “Love You ‘Til Friday”
12. “Maybellene” (Chuck Berry cover)
13. “Merry Go Round”
14. “Wake Up”
15. “Borstal Breakout” (Sham 69 cover)
16. “Little Mascara”
17. “Left of the Dial”
18. “Alex Chilton”
19. “Swingin’ Party” (“Special request from our friend Slim back home”)
20. “Can’t Hardly Wait”
21. “Bastards of Young”
22. “Everything is Coming Up Roses” (From ‘Songs For Slim’ EP)
23. “IOU”
Spotify playlist: The Replacements’ Riot Fest setlist
The Replacements, “Takin’ a Ride” — Riot Fest Toronto, 8/25/13
The Replacements, “Favorite Thing” — Riot Fest Toronto, 8/25/13
The Replacements, “Color Me Impressed” — Riot Fest Toronto, 8/25/13
The Replacements, “Androgynous” — Riot Fest Toronto, 8/25/13
The Replacements, “Merry Go Round” — Riot Fest Toronto, 8/25/13
The Replacements, “Left of the Dial” — Riot Fest Toronto, 8/25/13
The Replacements, “Alex Chilton” — Riot Fest Toronto, 8/25/13
The Replacements, “Bastards of Young” — Riot Fest Toronto, 8/25/13
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Watch 11 seconds of The Replacements rehearsing ‘Takin’ a Ride’ at unnamed club
- Paul Westerberg ropes in early ’90s sidemen for Replacements’ reunion shows
- The Replacements reuniting to headline Riot Fest in Chicago, Denver and Toronto
- Stream: The Replacements, ‘I’m Not Sayin” — new track from ‘Songs For Slim’ reunion EP
- The Replacements reunite to record vinyl-only covers EP, new album ‘possible’
AWESOME, ‘Mats and Matt! The next best thing to being there in Toronto is being here at SUE! ROCKIN’!!!
I’m following along, and am impressed by the setlist so far. (Seven songs in.)
If it’s just Paul and Tommy, it should not be billed as the Replacements…sorry.
Sorry Bob couldn’t make it.
Hey, Willie. I think Paul and Tommy’s response to that is on the back of the white T-shirt.
You should see if they’ll let you join the band, this way your vote/opinion may count for something!
This is your finest moment, SUE. Fantastic coverage. Thank you!
I can’t believe I’m live following a music blog to a concert that I can’t hear,lol.
The Sham 69 cover is Borstal Breakout.
Just back from the show. It was amazing, many people from the States coming up to see them again. There was alot of affection between the Mats and the audience. He forgot a couple of lines of Androgynous and the crowd sang it back to him. Great show, I hope you people in Chicago and Denver can get a longer set. I did not want it to end.
when he said the “Special request from our friend Slim back home” to open Swingin’ Party, he gestured with a Pinocchio nose that he was lying.
Can’t audiences just shut up and let the band play? No one paid to hear your tuneless bellowing of the lyrics. Ugh.
tommy tonsils -> third stone from the sun (j. hendrix)
Totally agree Finn13. It’d be great too if people could stay seated with their hands neatly folded in their laps, cause that’s what rock ‘n roll’s all about.
…and shouldn’t sondheim get credit for the first encore?
Next stop: Vegas!
Paul has still got it.great coverage slicing up eyeballs,thanks.
Thanks for posting. Hope someone does the same for the Chicago show. Can’t afford tickets and too old to deal with the hipsters. And to those whinging about Paul and Tommy and how it’s not the ‘Mats without Bob (or Slim or Chris), but they’re still going out as the band under that moniker, I’m reminded of the words of a great man from the North: “It beats pickin’ cotton and waitin’ to be forgotten.”
Nice strawman Monkey. People can rock out during songs without competing sonically with the band, and in between songs, go nuts. Nothing wrong in wanting to actually hear the band I love since I couldn’t go in person.