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Post by chisel93 on Apr 20, 2014 11:48:37 GMT -5
P is for Paul? Great pics....thanks for the links. Is it me or has Paul had "work" done.....he looks great, very young looking.
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Schecky
Star Scout
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Post by Schecky on Apr 20, 2014 12:31:02 GMT -5
OC Register: It goes without saying that you can’t see everything at Coachella, even if you can afford to go twice a year. Of course, why would you want to bother, other than to set a record with no victory ribbon?.... Also, let’s say you saw the Replacements last week, thought “that was enough” and thus opted to take in more of the mellow electro gold of Bonobo in Mojave or savor the full Kubrickian atmosphere of another mood-setting act, Woodkid, at next-door Gobi. You would have checked more names off the list, yes. But you also would have missed a completely different and superior ’Mats set, propelled in part by a Weekend 2 exclusive: the addition of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, who joined what clearly must have been one of his favorite groups growing up. Not just for a cameo, by the way, but nearly the entirety of the band’s second hour-long desert set. “Dreams really do come true,” a bearded and shaggy-haired Billie Joe (above, right) noted after being introduced by Paul Westerberg. “We’ll see about that,” his forebear retorted, then slumped onto a couch in front of Josh Freese’s drum kit, where he remained until the final numbers.
No, he wasn’t drunk, or at least he wasn’t wasted. A chronic back-pain sufferer, the 54-year-old apparently threw it out again earlier in the week; he also walked on stage slowly, relying on a cane. Yet, though he summoned extra strength at the end, rising to the mic for several signature songs – “Left of the Dial” and “Alex Chilton,” finishing face-to-face with Armstrong, then an encore of “Can’t Hardly Wait” and “IOU” – he kept right on rocking the sofa until then, having a grinningly good time in a variety of cool, camera-ready poses. (Bassist Tommy Stinson, who brought up this serendipitous idea of BJ joining the band for a night, was beaming throughout the set as well.) Haters who weren’t here were quick to trash-tweet something they didn’t see, mistaking Westerberg’s demeanor for laziness and accusing him and Stinson of selling the band’s ramshackle but highly regarded reputation further down the big-paycheck path. Nonsense. Any gripes of lacking authenticity were addressed immediately: “We’re the world’s greatest Replacements cover band,” its leader quipped, before kicking off with a slightly slower but sublime take on “I Will Dare.”
That choice, not played last weekend, plus Westerberg’s opening declaration that “we’re gonna have fun tonight,” signaled that something special was in store. But adding Armstrong – not as mere guest but honorary member, with a plaid suit to match the band’s uniform look – elevated the performance to a magical level. Far more than last week’s loose but satisfying set, this one recaptured the very essence of the ’Mats, winging it brilliantly and finding inspiration in the most spontaneous moments.
Billie Joe smartly stuck to a sideman role after initially fronting jaunty takes on “I’m in Trouble” and “Kiss Me on the Bus.” From there, the group (expertly powered by Freese) let him play out punk-kid fantasies on cuts from all corners of Westerberg’s songbook, early shredders like “Color Me Impressed” and “Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out” to later kinda-hits like “I’ll Be You” and “Achin’ to Be.” That last title was the only one BJ didn’t seem to know as assuredly as he thought; the rest were a blast, even when the chord changes got ragged. It was like no Replacements set anyone will ever see again, if any of us ever even get the chance.
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Post by matsrule on Apr 20, 2014 12:53:12 GMT -5
Way to go OC Register
Well written
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Post by jess on Apr 20, 2014 13:32:56 GMT -5
Way to go OC Register Well written Agreed! One of the few times I've been proud to be an Orange County native. It was obvious to anyone there that Paul's back really was giving him trouble on Friday, especially towards the end. As Kathy has said, it's been well-documented that Paul's had recurring back problems for over two decades now. He was rubbing his back between songs & he was visibly a bit more wobbly than usual when he was on his feet. Despite that, he made the best of it & was in high spirits for the entire set… even from the couch. The 'Mats aren't interested in pleasing everyone & they could have just cancelled leaving all of us who attended in the lurch. Refunds don't happen just because your favorite band on the bill cancels. But, I, for one, am grateful that they chose to soldier on & give us an amazingly unique show instead.
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Jer
Beagle Scout
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Post by Jer on Apr 20, 2014 18:35:27 GMT -5
Juliana Hatfield has a chapter in her book about how she was slated to open a good run of shows for him in `93 (I think) and she was so happy, but a couple days prior they were all cancelled because of his back problems. It could have been one of the shows skyvolcanoes missed. I have no doubt the guy is hurting. I think most fans and decent people can appreciate the effort, and anyone who has ever had serious back pain can empathize with how hard it is to do something like that when you're hurting, but it's also ok to admit to being a little disappointed that you didn't get the show you hoped and possibly traveled for. Like Kathy said, shit happens, and you gotta get past it. I have been critical of calling this lineup The Replacements, but I applaud them for being unpredictable and mixing it up.
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Post by Veets on Apr 20, 2014 21:45:22 GMT -5
Well, Paul did say last week that he quit yoga because the lighter in his pocket was giving him bruises, so... ;-)
On another note, did anyone catch what he said before "I love you so, always will" at the end of Androgynous?
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Schecky
Star Scout
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Post by Schecky on Apr 20, 2014 23:27:51 GMT -5
Way to go OC Register Well written Agreed! One of the few times I've been proud to be an Orange County native. It was obvious to anyone there that Paul's back really was giving him trouble on Friday, especially towards the end. As Kathy has said, it's been well-documented that Paul's had recurring back problems for over two decades now. He was rubbing his back between songs & he was visibly a bit more wobbly than usual when he was on his feet. Despite that, he made the best of it & was in high spirits for the entire set… even from the couch. The 'Mats aren't interested in pleasing everyone & they could have just cancelled leaving all of us who attended in the lurch. Refunds don't happen just because your favorite band on the bill cancels. But, I, for one, am grateful that they chose to soldier on & give us an amazingly unique show instead. yeah, I thought he (Ben Wener) captured it well. He's got good music taste.
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Post by jamesamerica on Apr 21, 2014 9:48:37 GMT -5
The OC Register NAILED IT! I was at both Coachella shows (plus Denver and Chicago) and all 4 reunion shows that I have been lucky enough to see so far have been amazing but this one was particularly fun! Billy Joe was a great asset and he fit right in as a band member. He was not up there to be a mega rock star and trying to out shine Paul or steal the limelight. He was up there as a huge fan, living one of his dreams and (he even said "Sometimes dreams come true' when he walked out on stage) and fitting in as a replacement Replacement, uniform and all. It was done very respectfully and handled perfectly. I was right by the front and I saw very clearly that all 5 of them were having a blast with smiles on their faces all night. I love all the haters and downers rationalizing that this was a disaster or a rip off because they couldn't make it to the show. If this had happened in the 80's when (insert your favorite mega rock star of the day, Bono, Michael Stipe, Joey Ramone?) sat in for Paul while he lay on a couch singing and playing, this would be one of the most legendary shows and right near the top of the "Wish I'd seen that one" shows list. Well you know what? Those of us who went, Did see that show and it was amazing and I'll never forget it.
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Post by FreeRider on Apr 21, 2014 11:45:44 GMT -5
... I have no doubt the guy is hurting. I think most fans and decent people can appreciate the effort, and anyone who has ever had serious back pain can empathize with how hard it is to do something like that when you're hurting, but it's also ok to admit to being a little disappointed that you didn't get the show you hoped and possibly traveled for. Like Kathy said, shit happens, and you gotta get past it. I have been critical of calling this lineup The Replacements, but I applaud them for being unpredictable and mixing it up. oh yeah. I've had minor back problems before and, for being just "minor", are still a killer. Your back is all inflamed, like it's on fire, it hurts to move, it throbs and pulsates with pain. So I give Paul credit for being there and doing what he could. I've no problem with Billie Joe playing. That's like every musician's dream, to play with one of their heroes. No different than Keith Richards playing with Chuck Berry, or Paul playing with Alex Chilton or something. I'm not a huge Green Day fan but Billie is all right.
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BethD
Dances With Posts
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Post by BethD on Apr 21, 2014 12:16:34 GMT -5
I think it was great having Billie Joe up there. I always championed Green Day. They always seemed to have a certain spirit to them, that was somewhat 'Mats-y. Billie has been singing their praises for years. I think it was a great fit. Billie could not have looked happier, and he just hung in there and did what he needed to do with out making it seem like a huge spectacle. I say take the whole mess on the road and see what happens! Haha! I hope Paul feels better though. Chronic pain is horrid.
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Post by joestrummerlives on Apr 21, 2014 19:41:41 GMT -5
I was at the 2nd Coachella show and, of all the reviews I've read, the OCRegister came the closest to describing it. I was front and center, about as close as you can get, and it was obvious from my vantage point that Paul was not faking it. He might have been hamming it up a bit on the couch, but when he was standing he looked really tender - every move was slow and deliberate. What a trooper.
I am not a big Green Day fan, but I have always respected BJA just because he is such a Replacements prosthelytizer. From Wikipedia: "Green Day vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong recalled seeing The Replacements live after the release of Pleased to Meet Me. 'It was amazing. It changed my whole life. If it wasn't for that, I might've spent my whole time playing in bad speed-metal bands.'" He fit in just fine during the gig, even wearing the matching tuxedo. In fact, his presence added a lightness and whimsy to the show that made it seem, well, more 'Mats-like. I was at the classic (IMO) Denver gig where they wore outrageous cowboy/girl garb with bright orange hats and played Hootenanny during the encore - well the 2nd Coachella show was almost as magical as that show was.
In summary, the show was awesome, and the crowd (at least around me) was really into it. After it was over the guy next to me turned to his friend and said: "Now I can write that off my bucket list." Amen, brother.
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Post by chisel93 on Apr 22, 2014 20:42:12 GMT -5
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Post by adamapple on Apr 22, 2014 21:54:04 GMT -5
I love the BOOMERANG glued to Paul's tele!!!
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Schecky
Star Scout
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Post by Schecky on Apr 23, 2014 18:14:27 GMT -5
More from Ben: Coachella 2014: 10 reasons why Weekend 2 was better Opening weekend at Coachella 2014 was a star-studded turning point for the renowned festival, one that seemed to set this sun-baked paradise on a new path. Yet the encore replay disspelled that notion by retaining all that has been great about this endurance test for 15 years.
The first weekend played out like a private Hollywood party crashed and trashed by petulant teenagers. But this past go-’round felt like the real thing again: exciting and exhausting, blissful and beautiful, and all about the music, not the scene.
Here are 10 other reasons why the second bash was much better than the first: ... 5. The Replacements with Billie Joe Armstrong: “We’re the world’s greatest Replacements cover band,” Paul Westerberg quipped before kicking off a superior set from the remnants of the ramshackle ’Mats with a sublime take on “I Will Dare.” Two songs later, Green Day’s frontman emerged, bearded and shaggy and in a plaid suit to match the group’s look, and proceeded to lead or by led by one of his favorite bands for the better part of an hour. Classics (“Can’t Hardly Wait”) and obscurities (“Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out”) ensued, all while Westerberg sprawled out in cool poses on a sofa in front of the drum kit, his back ailing. It was raw and spontaneous – and inspired. The perfect encapsulation of everything that was once so great about this gang. ..... 7. Queens of the Stone Age: Rock-solid last weekend despite watching the winds topple their amps, Josh Homme and his mighty crew returned positively ferocious this time, regardless that the hometown hero admitted from the get-go that he was wasted. As with the Replacements, this is a band for which drunkenness can be an improvement: It made them tighter yet rawer, with loosened swagger to match their spot-on playing. Bonus: a revised set list, including one epic deep-track rarity (albeit with an unprintable title).
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THULL
Tenderfoot
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Post by THULL on Apr 24, 2014 14:13:18 GMT -5
I don't understand this. The lossless versions still exist on Dime and other sharing sites; why is it a problem that someone made a more accessible version available as well? The vast VAST majority of people are not audiophiles and don't want to have to learn what a FLAC file is. I can't see the problem in having both high-quality and low-quality versions of a show. I see the problem as the VAST majority of people that arent audiophiles don't need a collectors/completist site that has 500 shows on it. They would seemingly want a site like "slicingupmyeyballs" which carry the most common ones in the best quality. The problem for the audiophiles who have been collecting Mats shows (I have since the mid-80s) is now for as long as we continue to collect we will need to sort out the lossy from the lossless versions - and to a degree the lossless versions will circulate less because the blog is so accessible and distributing mp3s. This becomes an issue because some tapers will not want to share their recordings. It is also an issue because the mp3 files get into broad circulation. I kind of look at it like - would any of us choose a 5th generation recording with hiss over the master? I have no issue with anybody converting the flac to mp3 for their own use (its one keystroke), it's just a bummer to pollute the lossless sources. Do you really think many people downloading MP3's are actually traders/collectors? If so, I have several Mats live recordings from 1998 you may be interested in...
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lucca
Second Class Scout
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Post by lucca on Apr 27, 2014 7:18:57 GMT -5
Your right, I'm wrong - this will be my last post
You describe your site as "a blog dedicated to tracking down, digitizing and archiving all Replacements-related recordings" - if you are truly trying to archive - don't go lossless.
If you are directing your site toward the casual listener - why have 3 versions of the Riotfest Toronto show?
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Post by FreeRider on Jun 20, 2014 8:32:44 GMT -5
... I have no doubt the guy is hurting. I think most fans and decent people can appreciate the effort, and anyone who has ever had serious back pain can empathize with how hard it is to do something like that when you're hurting, but it's also ok to admit to being a little disappointed that you didn't get the show you hoped and possibly traveled for. Like Kathy said, shit happens, and you gotta get past it. I have been critical of calling this lineup The Replacements, but I applaud them for being unpredictable and mixing it up. oh yeah. I've had minor back problems before and, for being just "minor", are still a killer. Your back is all inflamed, like it's on fire, it hurts to move, it throbs and pulsates with pain. So I give Paul credit for being there and doing what he could. Ugh...no way is Paul doggin' it with the back issue. I haven't been posting in awhile because I hurt my back again. This time, a little more serious, with MRI's and an orthopedic surgeon involved. But I dodged a bullet, no herniated discs (thank gawd!), but problems nonetheless with a few discs and age related degeneration. Sucks gettin' old, ya know?
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