Photo via Riot Fest
The Replacements staged their third of three announced reunion shows last night in a dusty farm field about 45 minutes east of Denver, the site of the third installment of this summer’s Riot Fest and what may or may not have been the final appearance by the 2013 incarnation of the ‘Mats, performing this summer for the first time in 22 years.
The Replacements’ main set was fairly similar to the Riot Fest appearances in Toronto and Chicago over the past few weeks (although “Shiftless When Idle” made a welcome appearance), aside from the fact that the band took the stage dressed in identical western shirts and Denver Bronco-orange cowboy hats — with Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson donning pink skirts as well, in a classy tribute to late guitarist and occasional skirt-wearer Bob Stinson.
The encore, though, was a different story, with the band ditching recent show-closer “I.O.U.” as Westerberg manned the drums, Stinson played guitar and replacement drummer Josh Freese handled bass duties.
The ‘Mats rambled their way though “Hootenanny,” then picked up the pace with a cover of Kiss’s “Detroit Rock City” and just a bit of The Who’s “Substitute” — with Tommy singing and Paul twirling his microphone Roger Daltrey-style —before the whole thing just sort of collapsed into laughter.
The ‘Mats dashed off stage and their techs started preparing the band’s gear for a return, but they were waved off and the lights finally came on, signalling the end of the show.
But is it the end of The Replacements’ reunion? There was no mention on stage about Denver being the end of the road, nor about any future plans. If that was the end, however, the whole thing certainly wrapped up in a perfectly anticlimactic and fittingly messy way.
Below, check out full setlist and video (via rhkbco) of the full encore.
Setlist: The Replacements, Riot Fest, May Farms, Byers, CO
1. “Takin’ a Ride”
2. “I’m in Trouble”
3. “Favorite Thing”
4. “Shiftless When Idle”
5. “Hangin’ Downtown”
6. “Jingle Jangle Jingle” (Kay Kyser cover)
7. “Color Me Impressed”
8. “Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out”
9. “Kiss Me on the Bus”
10. “Achin’ to Be”
11. “Androgynous”
12. “I Will Dare”
13. “Love You Till Friday”
14. “Maybellene” (Chuck Berry cover)
15. “Merry Go Round”
16. “Wake Up”
17. “Borstal Breakout” (Sham 69 cover)
18. “Little Mascara”
19. “Left of the Dial”
20. “Alex Chilton”
21. “I Don’t Know”
22. “Hold My Life”
23. “Hello Goodbye” (The Beatles cover)
24. “Can’t Hardly Wait”
25. “Bastards of Young”
26. “Hootenanny”
27. “Detroit Rock City” (Kiss cover)
28. “Substitute” (The Who cover / Aborted)
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- The Replacements mix it up (just a bit) with second reunion gig at Chicago’s Riot Fest
- Listen to The Replacements’ first concert in 22 years — stream full 75-minute Riot Fest set
- The Replacements at Riot Fest: Photos, video, setlist from first ’Mats show in 22 years
- 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’
I’m sorry. I have been a mats fan for a very long time and never had the chance to see them together. I did see Westerberg a few times solo. I was kind of sad to see that they seemed to blow this whole thing off. The first concert wasn’t too bad other than the few flubs in the lyrics. But after seeing/reading the last show I cant help but think that this is right were they left off. They could have done so much to show the world what great music they have to offer rather than putting people off by their lack of professionalism on stage. It never bothered me back in the day when they were young and “punk?”, but this was their chance to shine and show the world what they missed. I was hopping that a great video would come out of one of these concerts but it does not appear that will be the case. I can only hope that they can get their sh*t together and do one show for their old and hopefully new fans to have for the ages.
You should be sorry.
“Professionalism”? Oh please! I saw the Replacements close to a dozen times in the ’80s and their unpredictability and lack of “professionalism” was always part of the fun. I couldn’t think of anything more boring that watching them power through the same note-perfect set night after night as if they were fucking Rush or something. Embrace the chaos, kid – and if you’re looking for great video, there’s plenty from the Toronto concert. Stop whining and thank the rock gods that the Replacements still had it in em to do “Detroit Rock City”, you milquetoast crybaby.
chrisdem, I watched the guys play 26 full songs from the front row last night and they sounded fantastic. On top of that, they gave us a healthy dose of their personality, which is a key part of what made them such an unforgettable band. If they’d plowed through the set in perfection with straight faces, they wouldn’t have been the Mats. And considering that half of the original members weren’t there, I’d say they did a hell of a job at being the band everyone remembers and has talked about for years. If they showed a “lack of professionalism,” it’s because they’re a rock band and they don’t have to. The only thing the audience deserves is to be entertained, and if anyone thinks that wasn’t entertainment, then this isn’t the band for them.
Still fucking off after all these years, love it.
I would’ve been disappointed if they HADN’T taken the piss so spectacularly on their (possibly?/likely?/who knows?) last show.
Lack of professionalism?? Haha. Talk about missing the point.
This was the standalone most important most anticipated and most fulfilling show of the past 25 years. Fuckin’ Mats ruled – if you were there, yer still smiling…. /-)
They were wearing matching outfits for chrissake. What’s more professional than that?
“…putting people off by their lack of professionalism on stage.”
Wow, I’ll be kind ’cause… you’re obviously a youngster. That performance was so tame! I’m sure everyone here has a story about some gawdawfully great ‘Mats show.