If I was able to take a time machine back in time to any time or place, I wouldn't waste my time trying to be part of a historic event or triumphant sporting event, but instead would go back to 1987 to catch some West Coast dates featuring the Replacements and the Young Fresh Fellows. The events of this pairing and their time together is beautifully documented by the Fellows Scott McCaughey,
"A Match Made In Heaven" written last month prior to Portland/Seattle shows with the reunited Replacements and YFF. I could have saved time and money building my time machine if I had just flown to Seattle and/or Portland in 2015 for a concert I never thought would happen a couple of years ago. This is THE dream gig I would love to have seen because it featured my two favourite bands, but unfortunately the show was sold out long before it was announced the Fellows would open.
I saw the Replacements last fall in St. Paul and though the show was everything I had hoped for from the band, I wondered how different the band would sound during their current tour playing mostly theatres and halls instead of outdoor festival shows. The reviews have been mixed so far indicating a much looser, more sloppier performances than the somewhat tighter sets last year. As a hardcore fan, I can appreciate the sloppiness (isn't this what attracts us to the Mats?) and it would be unlike Westerberg to be pigeonholed into another nostalgic hit-playing reunited band, so their antics are much appreciated. I can watch and listen to this band over and over without getting bored and tired of them. The expanded "deeper tracks" setlist is refreshing and if they continue to add more "new" songs as the tour proceeds, that would be a bonus.
A number of live recordings from the tour have been posted on Dime, but for the non-members a good source for Mats recording is the
Replacements Live Archive for mp3 downloads. The site also has a lossless FLAC version of the
Hollywood Palladium concert from April 16. Get it!
For the benefit of FLAC fans, I'm posting a lossless version of the first show of the tour in Seattle. I originally downloaded it from Dime and have permission from Tapeboy to share it here. I'm thrilled this show can be shared with fans that, like me, wish they could have been there. If you close your eyes and crank it up, it's almost like you're there...well almost...
Enjoy!
p.s. YFF opening set coming next!
The Replacements
Paramount Theater
Seattle, WA
April 9, 2015
JEMS Master
Nakamichi 700 mics > Olympus LS-7 (24/96 capture) > Wavelab (master and convert to 44.1) > FLAC
Setlist:
01. Seen Your Video
02. Color Me Impressed
03. Never Mind
04. I Will Dare
05. Kiss Me On The Bus
06. Nobody
07. 20th Century Boy > Bang a Gong (Get It On) > All Shook Down
08. Anywhere s Better Than Here
09. Treatment Bound
10. Androgynous
11. I'll Be You
12. Take Me Down To The Hospital
13. Sixteen Blue
14. The Ledge
15. Maybellene (snippet)
16. Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
17. I’m In Trouble
18. Kissin In Action > Iron Man
19. Left Of The Dial
20. Valentine
21. Waitress In The Sky
22. Within Your Reach
23. Can t Hardly Wait
24. Bastards of Young > My Boy Lollipop
25. If Only You Were Lonely (snippet)
Encore:
26. Ghost On The Canvas - Suzanne
27. Skyway
28. Alex Chilton
Note from taper:
A great set by The Replacements on the first night of their “Back By Unpopular Demand” tour at a theater they last played in June of 1991 (which we also taped). The Mats played the first minute and 40 seconds of the show behind a curtain, which they raised as the vocals began for “Seen Your Video.” This setlist was much heavier on deep cuts than the festival appearances they've made over the last two years and at least a couple of songs appeared to be in response to requests from the audience.
A clear, punchy recording from a few rows up in the balcony, in line with the PA. Samples provided. The download includes several photos we took at the show.
Thanks to BLG for his help in getting this one posted.
Tapeboy for JEMS
THE REPLACEMENTS- 2015-04-09 Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA FLAC part 1. rar
THE REPLACEMENTS- 2015-04-09 Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA FLAC part 2. rar
(Sorry, I had to post in two parts. Having problems uploading large files)
