A Tribute to the Replacements at First Avenue, 11/25/11

Now in its fourth go-round, the Tribute to the Replacements at First Avenue has become just as much a staple of the late November holiday concert weekend as Ike Reilly's and Jake Rudh's respective Thanksgiving Eve gigs. And, like many holiday-themed traditions, this year's 'Mats night had all the familiar qualities of an extended family reunion -- and I mean that in the best and worst way.

Yes, there were hugs all around, pats on the back, enough alcohol to intoxicate a small herd of elephants, and even a couple drunk uncles opining about how things were back in the day. All told there were seven exhausting hours of breathless tribute to "the only band that really mattered," as Jim Walsh put it during an especially ornery diatribe toward the end of the night, and by that point the blood alcohol level of the room had risen to such a point that most people seemed to believe him.

​Other bands seemed content to ride the nostalgia wave into well-tread territory, with songs like "Alex Chilton," "Color Me Impressed," and "Left of the Dial" receiving more than one treatment throughout the night. Part of the reason for the repetition was that one of the bands set to play the main stage was dropped from the bill at the last minute, so it was certainly no fault of the night's curators (First Ave booker Sonia Grover and the Current's/E.L.nO.'s Dave Campbell, who also served as emcee and house bandleader for the evening), but it did drive home the inherent tension involved in paying homage to a band that, by all reports, had no desire to be celebrated. I may be overthinking the whole thing -- it was my fourth time around, too, meaning I've had way too much time to stand around mulling the whole thing over -- but I couldn't shake the notion that Paul Westerberg or Tommy Stinson would be embarrassed by the whole display. Westerberg lives within a short driving distance of the club and had to have known it was going on, but there were no murmurs or "what ifs" swirling about the crowd because we know that he'd never show his face at an event like this (or, well, anywhere with a crowd).

Which is part of the mystique of the band, and also part of why this yearly tribute still sort of works: Westerberg is romantically elusive, so much so that Chris Riemenschneider previewed the evening with a lengthy piece supposing what he might be up to right now, and there isn't a shot in hell of the band actually reuniting to play a show, so the cover night is the best chance we've got. And you can see that romanticism in the eyes of the performers, too; a Prince or Dylan tribute night would feel too gratuitous, but the Replacements were just big enough yet persistently under-the-radar enough to make such a showy display seem worthwhile. And in most cases, the songs are performed with a greater attention to detail and precision than the band ever would have bothered to pull off themselves, making the whole thing even more intriguing.

​But let's get back to the music. Sure, there were a few repeated songs, but there were also plenty of standout moments that showed bands taking some leniency with the songs: Night Moves was an early highlight, giving a dreamy take on "Talent Show," while Ashleigh Still was daring enough to pull out the awkward "Lovelines" (featuring lines cribbed from the classifieds section of an old City Pages) and execute it in style for her Entry set. 

​Story of the Sea flexed their punk muscles with a lengthy, dexterous set that featured Campbell and the Current's program director Jim McGuinn, who geeked out for a moment by introducing "Alex Chilton" as the band's "only top-five ARR -- alternative rock radio -- hit in the band's career... Sorry for knowing that." They also shined on the fast-paced "Beer for Breakfast," setting the stage for what would come later in the night.

​BNLX celebrated the occasion by releasing a limited-edition EP with four 'Mats covers and firing up the fog machine for their blistering set, which peaked with an enormous cover of "You Lose." And the 4onthefloor took the stage with the intention of replicating the band's demeanor as much as their music, playing a very loose and shambolic set befitting of the song "Hootenanny."

​One thing that really helped change things up this year was the headlining set, which was an all-star tribute to the 'Mats' first studio album Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash. The fast, riotous nature of the songs made for some quick changeovers and aggressive performances, and there were more than a few standouts by the older scene vets (Dale T. Nelson of Otto's Chemical Lounge and the ever-entertaining Curtiss A) and younger 'Mats disciples (Brenden Green of the Goondas, superfan Erik Hendricksson) alike.

​Jacob Mullis was in rare form for his rendition of "Careless," taking full advantage of the 60 seconds he had on stage to tear around like a madman, while Reed Wilkerson of the Japhies stripped off his shirt and leapt over the security barricade and into the crowd during "Otto." Both guitarists from Pink Mink, Arzu Gokcen and Christy Hunt, made strong impressions with their ferocious takes on "Rattlesnake" and "Don't Ask Why," respectively, while Sarah Nienaber totally owned "Customer."

And yes, the evening ended with all-piled-on-stage renditions of "Never Mind" and "Here Comes a Regular," which was capped off by Dave Campbell waving and promising "See you next year." Maybe someone will have finally figured out what Westerberg is up to by then.

"Skyway" - Joey Ryan and Dave Campbell

"Little Mascara - Nick Leet (High on Stress)

"Never Mind" - All

"Here Comes a Regular" - All

​For more photos: See our full slideshow by Tony Nelson.