westerberg in chicago

[cellarfullofnoise]

Review posted on Punknews.org (Is this the Bill you were looking for?):

Paul Westerberg And His Only Friends Band
live in Chicago (2005)
(live show)
Review by: TheOneTrueBill
Published on April 19th 2005

So here it is, Paul Westerberg And His Only Friends Band. No opening act. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but boy did I come out satisfied.

With a brief run up to the mic and a muttered “What the fuck do you know?” coming from Paul, the night began. The set started off with a few songs I didn’t recognize until “Mr. Rabbit” and “As Far As I Know.” He introduced one of the songs as a Pete Seger cover, and it had something to do with a hammer. The first Replacements song of the night came in the form of “Merry Go Round,” immediately followed by “Someone Take the Wheel.” More than a few lyrics were flubbed. Also they somehow snuck in a quick version of “Rebel Rebel” from David Bowie within the structure of another song.

Eventually, the band got to “High Time.” After that number, Paul left the stage and came back with a TV. He then threw said TV on the stage, then began to beat it senseless with his guitar before breaking it in two. His explanation? “They told us to watch TV while we waited!” he slurred, before starting into a sped-up “Making Me Go” from the Come Feel Me Tremble album. “Valentine” soon followed.

About an hour in, the rest of the band walked off the stage, leaving only Paul and his twelve-string acoustic. A three-song mini-set consisted of “Swinging Party,” “Crackle And Drag,” and one that was apparently a Bob Dylan song. At this point, the drinking began. Paul threatened to not play another note until he got some liquor, and the roadie obliged. After hearing the urban legends of Replacements shows, the audience and I knew that this was about to get much more interesting.

“Knock It Right Out” was perhaps the most flat-out rock and roll song I have ever witnessed. Westerberg grabbed the microphone stand and began to bang it into his guitar. He then got bored with the guitar itself and dispensed of it by throwing it at the roadie who made a spectacular one-handed grab. He the grabbed the stand with one hand and began to stumble around. The mic fell to the ground, and a roadie ran to pick it up, but this didn’t bother Paul one bit. He kept singing into the empty mic stand, confident that the equipment would make its way back. The whiskey sure was doing its job. As I heard the opening notes of “Can’t Hardly Wait,” a feeling of pure joy swept through me that is impossible to put into words. At the bridge of the song, Paul threw the microphone into the crowd and then decided to join it. He put his foot on the barrier, and took a leap into the adoring fans, playing the song all the while.

At this point, no one knew what was coming next. The last thirty minutes of the set was pretty much chaos. I give the band all the credit in the world for keeping up with Paul, because he’d start into multiple songs then just stop on a dime. The ones they managed to get through most of were “I Think I Love You” by David Cassidy, “Cat Scratch Fever” from Ted Nugent, “Substitute” from the Who, and a bluesy number called “Jesus Love Chicago.” I have no idea what the last song of the set was called, but I can tell you that it went on for well over six minutes with almost no intelligible lyrics.

Before starting the encore, Paul came out with a telephone, saying that we had a call. I held my breath thinking he’d play “Answering Machine.” Unfortunately, that wasn’t meant to be. In five minutes Paul had sobered up just a wee bit and played “Alex Chilton” and “Left Of The Dial” before exiting for good.

I’ve heard stories of how Replacements shows were and everything that made them legendary: the antics, the unpredictability, the drunken swagger. I can safely say that what I saw tonight was an accurate approximation of that. Two hours and twenty minutes of Paul Westerberg And His Only Friends Band was well worth my thirty dollars and the years of waiting. Sure, there were tons of songs I would’ve loved to hear, but I wouldn’t change a single thing about tonight. Excuse me while I go put on “The Shit Hits the Fans” once again.

www.punknews.org/reviews.php?op=albumreview&id=3910

[Kathy]

Monkey said:

Given that within this review Paul is criticized for being both too professional and too sloppy, too little like the Replacements and too much like the Replacements, too safe and too dangerous, too sober and too drunk, (and probably, in a passage that was cut for publication, too short and too tall), we can safely conclude that no, short of ceasing to exist the moment the Replacements broke up, there was nothing Paul could have done to please Jim Derogatis.

heh heh I noticed that too - he was both too professional and too sloppy. D'oh!

As I've mentioned before, there is a particular type of mats fan that I've seen over the past way too many years I've been doing the site and it's the guy -- sorry but I've never run across a female of this type -- who has never forgiven Paul for not still being in the Mats circa 1985.

[maybellene]

Cottonwood said:

I am in agreement with Kathy & TomT. I don't think it's the crowd's ... fault, for the train-wreckers'. I do like & support FAF's intent though & think to myself (out-loud) you lucky f*cker's (attendees), better be kicking it up! (At the right time!)

As far a the list goes... it wasn't a ranking. No judgements or criticisms. Too subjective for me to touch.
I do see a couple/few different flavors of show on this tour & that's what the loose grouping is/was all about.

Modified version:

Vancouver & Milwaukee - first show of the legs & all that can be inferred from being that.

Seattle, Portland, KC, NO, Dallas - consistent, tight, hard rocking type reviews.

Chicago, Memphis, LA 1/2, Tempe & SF - described as "edgy", varying degrees of train wreckiness, also noticable references to whiskey, blood, throwing and smashing stuff. -
still fun, but not as consistent, looser.

Austin, Columbia, Solona, Disney, Louisville - still fun, with generally positive reviews from fans... mellower, perhaps the day after the more raucous shows. Perhaps a better chance for a more meaningful meet & greet.

Denver, with the hamstring issue - still fun for fans, sounds good & he was a trooper for going on.

If you think any or all of the shows you've seen were the absolute best, that's ok with me. Just a non-hostile observation of the few different possibilties that have happened on this tour.

Thanks CW. Um, like Kathy said, I didn't see those qualities in the shows that you mentioned. My view of these was completely different, but thats how it goes I suppose. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[Lieworth T. Elling III]

for me the chicago show was funnier in retrospect than it was at the time i was standing there watching.
i'd love to hear the backstory of what if anything occured with the staff or management of the riviera that resulted in paul taking objects (tv, telephone) from the dressing room and breaking them onstage.

it was definitely the most drunken (or perhaps pseudo drunken) and anarchic (or perhaps pseudo anarchic) show i've seen paul play since the night at the beacon during the pleased to meet me tour. that was the time the boys did a record signing downtown at tower records hours before the show. there was lots of champagne being consumed at the store, and i remember tommy getting up from the autograph table with a sharpie, running over to the bob dylan section of the store and signing a bunch of dylan records.
anyway, the difference for me is that back in those days it was somehow more enjoyable because the whole band was getting drunk together and paul and tommy made a wonderful drunken team.
the vibe i got in chicago this recent night was more, drunken paul and the pros who have to try and play along. for me that's not quite as fun or funny.

[HillBillyJunk]

I remember reading in neil youngs biography about hw much he kind of despises the internet/message boards/fanzines etc... says its insane how fans can critique every performance, every song, every show, every word, every song etc etc. Can't just be "in the moment" and enjoy it.

its a rock n roll show. "here we are now entertain us" its kind of a me me me me/gimme gimme gimme/you owe me mentality of alot of fans of bands/artists. Which i find kind of annoying.

Sorry. just had to get that off my chest. If this comes off as angry, or rude to some of you...i apologize, i just wish some fans, not all would look at what they are really complaining about.

First, i would think most of you are used to these kinds of shows and antics from paul westerberg?why would he change? he is who he is?

its fucking rock n roll. if you want something suped up nicely for you, a nice clean package of music with no mistakes, everything perfect for you to swallow...then why are you a fan of paul westerberg in the first place? or really...of rock n roll?

you can always pop in the cd, an old video of a show you love.

or whatever!

[GtrPlyr]

Cottonwood said:

I'm with you, except for the campier covers, like "I Think I Love You" and "If I Had a Hammer", yes I get the whole Folker/Folk Star thing, but I would rather hear something like "My Daydream"... even "Actor in the Street". Although they do provide a chance for a run to the john.

"I Think I Love You" definitely needs to be retired pronto.

Cottonwood said:

Near train wrecky is good, but I always cringe when I see a Strat get busted up and think to myself, man, I could have loved that guitar.

I'm still trying to get over the Gibson ES-335 he smashed in Louisville last year.

[jrelling]

HillBillyJunk said:

its f*cking rock n roll. if you want something suped up nicely for you, a nice clean package of music with no mistakes, everything perfect for you to swallow...then why are you a fan of paul westerberg in the first place? or really...of rock n roll?


or whatever!

I agree 100% HBJ! I was blown away by the chicago show. Still haven't come down from it in fact! To me that show was what rock n roll is all about.

[Kathy]

GtrPlyr said:

"I Think I Love You" definitely needs to be retired pronto.

Blasphemer!

[Pedal Blue]

I’ve been a lurker for awhile. This is my first post. I hope I’m not wasting space.

I’m from Mpls and have been a Westerberg fan since the mid-eighties. I have been privileged to see Paul in all of his glorious materializations, from drunken bard to poised poet. I was able to witness the KC and Chicago shows of this tour.

KC was wonderful. We would have never seen Paul in a venue that small in Mpls. The crowd was reactive but deliberate and the musicianship was unbelievable, although there were some technical issues. Every one, from the audience to the boys on the stage, was having an absolute exuberance time.

I spoke with a very nice couple from Wichita about the Westerberg antics. We were in the first row and I was warning them about the potential of flying objects and f-in-heimers, spitting and tantrums. A disclaimer if you will…

I couldn’t believe what I witnessed. He came out smiling, only one f-heimer and it was on stage not on mike, he remembered almost all of his lyrics and he passed out water bottles to the crowd. Huh, Westerberg the humanitarian? I seriously thought aliens had abducted Paul and we got this guy. (But, as we know if aliens did ever make off with him he would have them begging to bring him back within the first half hour.) When I returned home and people asked me how the show was all I could say was, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. He was so good it was like it wasn’t Paul.”

Chicago. Ah, yes. The aliens did bring him back. I was in a constant state of “WTF” and worried about people’s personal safety, from Paul’s, to the audiences’ (GOOD CATCH!) and the boys on stage. Watching him imbibe the whiskey made me troubled and hearing him stumble through, “I’ve Got a Good Mind to Give Up Living” made me shiver. He was a mess that evening…

…a glorious, beautiful mess.

[zook]

I must be missing something...I don't know why the Chicago show keeps getting mentioned as a trainwreck. Granted, I have only seen 2 shows from this tour and the one on the last solo tour but while I wouldn't call this perfect, it was most definitely not a trainwreck. Perhaps those who have seen him several times this tour - Maybelline, FAF and Areg, others - are better able to put the shows in context than I but to me this show in no way resembles the trainwreck shows I have read about back in the Mats days. Sloppy, sure. Raw, absolutely. Waste of time, drunken lout who could barely play tunes - no f*cking way.

Everyone has their own opinions and perspectives and that's fine but perhaps we should be careful not to build up or tear down this shows too much. I would hate to think someone is reading a review of Chicago and is scared off from going to see Paul because they are afraid of getting a "trainwreck." In reading Bill's review (and some other posts) about the drunken Paul, whiskey flowing, stumbling around etc..., I am worried about people getting the wrong impression. Now I was 20-30 feet from the stage so I didn't see Paul close up but what I saw and heard was a guy loose and having fun. Was he drinking? Likely. Was he an incoherent drunk, flailing around and acting like an ass? Not to me and I can only base that on the few drunken asses in the crowd who could barely walk let alone playing a searing version of Left of the Dial.

I took Paul's "demand" for whiskey as a joke. I saw him sing in to the empty mic stand and figured he was just being a joker. C'mon, we've read enough articles, seen some interviews, talk to the guy perhaps to know he has a wicked sense of humor, likes playing around and doesn't take himself too seriously. The Chicago crowd could have been more into it but the place was packed and he got an enthusiastic response all night so I doubt he was angry at the crowd and trying to put on a show. I think he was just having fun. Call Chicago what you will (I'll call it a great show) but try to not lump it into the trainwreck category already perfected by Axl Rose.

[FirstAveFiend]

I actually hate the term train wreck because of the word wreck. I agree with Zook that I think it was a great show. I had such a good time. Maybe sloppier is better, the show felt less planned, like he could go with what ever he wanted at any given moment and I like that. I like that I'll be rockin out to a song not wanting to leave the moment but twitching with excitement thinking of what could happen next.

Sure its not polished, but as most people say, who really wants that anyway. There's obviously two types of shows happening out there. I've been to 7 shows on this tour (not including MPLS) and there is no way any of them would be described as bad. Call me an idiot fan girl and say the only reason I say it is because I'm too devoted to Paul. The fact is the shows are amazing, the music is rockin. A genius songwriting/guitarist backed by one of the best drummers I've ever heard in my short lifetime. I don't know how it can better.

And as far as the crowd comments. No one wants a mosh pit, I just want you to move. I really don't know how you can stand still during this. I think the only songs I stood still for in Chicago were 23 Years Ago, I've got a mind to give up living (because I was in pure awe) and of course the slow ones like Crackle and Drag. If the crowd doesn't look into it, how do you expect the band to really be? Thats the way I look at it. Show them you appreciate it, show them you recognize the greatness in front of you.

[gage]

Like someone else said, he really seemed to be enjoying himself. I've seen PW/Replacements 9 times now and this is the first time he seemed to be enjoying himself since he was playing with both Stinson brothers( I missed 2002 solo tour).

DeRogatis IS a tool He thinks Wire is the ultimate in music.

[Lieworth T. Elling III]

i think all this chicago crowd bashing is a joke. the floor was insanely crowded. and hot. there was no room to move around, and what did you want anyway, people doing grateful dead jam band dances?
there was this one couple up at the front-and forgive me if they are on this board and friends with everyone here- this black guy with beaded dreads and a bandanna on his head, and this chick he was with, and they WERE dancing their asses off and bumping into all the people next to them, and let me tell you, it was neither fun nor funny to see or be around.
as far as crowd reaction... a show with lots of stops and starts and half played covers is not usually the type that elicits roaring approval from the crowd. and that's not a criticism of the show, but it sure shouldn't be a criticism of the crowd either.

[Kathy]

FirstAveFiend said:

And as far as the crowd comments. No one wants a mosh pit, I just want you to move. I really don't know how you can stand still during this.

May I caveat that to say if you are wicked drunk and holding a full drink, it is OK not to dance. Really.

[goodtogo]

I guess everyone has their own definition of train wreck. i thought the show was great... and although it was loose and even sloppy at moments, there were moments that rank with the best I've seen paul or the mats play. born for me with the band was amazing as was swingin party solo on the 12 string. only a hobo was like watching paul sit on his couch and play one of his favorite songs. and substitute!! wow. it's not often that you get to see so many sides of your favorite artist.

[snickers]

Lieworth said:

people doing grateful dead jam band dances?

well, there was actually someone doing that at milwaukee, right in front of blasty.
and may i just say that is that it is impossible to see around them, because they take up more and more space as time goes on....

[Lieworth T. Elling III]

goodtogo said:

I guess everyone has their own definition of train wreck. i thought the show was great... and although it was loose and even sloppy at moments, there were moments that rank with the best I've seen paul or the mats play. born for me with the band was amazing as was swingin party solo on the 12 string. only a hobo was like watching paul sit on his couch and play one of his favorite songs. and substitute!! wow. it's not often that you get to see so many sides of your favorite artist.

i totally agree about those moments. thank god the band is playing born for me, because they've put the right chords back in there. now if they could only get him to sing all the verses and not just half of them.
and swinging party twelve string was maybe my favorite version of that song ever. great AUDIENCE singing along on that one.

[cford]

zook said:

I Everyone has their own opinions and perspectives

Exactly...reading through this thread, the Chicago show sounds like three different shows rolled into one.

1) The "perfect" show that some people saw
2) The "train wreck" that seemed to offend some fans
3) The "mediocre" show that Jim Derogatis saw.

Confusing? yes, but I wish I coulda been there!

CF