Replacements Live in Chicago 09/15/13 at Riot Fest

I have returned from my Chicago trip and I thought I would do you folks a favor and tell you what I saw.

First things first. I am a 45 year old Houma, LA native. I have been a Replacements fan since 1985. In the years before the internet, liking a band like the Replacements was work, requiring research, trips to indie record stores in NOLA, long distance phone calls, etc. all at great expense to a teenager who didn't have a pot to piss in.

So all through college years at LSU (1987 through 1990), the Mats were kind of on a slow decline, although I did see them live in New York at the Ritz in 1987 while selling books door to door in Appalachia. Again, I saw them on the All Shook Down tour at Tips in 1990. The shows were great. The one in NY was epic.

When I heard about the reunion, I books VIP tix to Riot Fest in Chicago immediately. The choices were Toronto, Denver or Chicago. I love Chicago, the restaurants, the bars, etc., so Chicago it was.

Riot Fest - it is held at Humbolt Park about 7 miles from Downtown Chicago. Our hotel was downtown, so many cab rides were taken, Mrs. Debaser is not a bus type. The weather was perfect Friday and Saturday and Sunday was rainy until the mats played.

Bands we saw included Dinosaur Jr., Pixies, Blondie, Guided By Voices, Bad Religion, Blondie, Rancid, Gwar and the Replacements. Mrs. Debaser did not care for the Gwar freak show (Gwar did not disappoint with blood and semen, crucifixion, etc.), but at least she can say she saw some of it!

The folks there were what you would expect in a big city music festival. People of all ages, a lot of indie and punk garb. Drugs everywhere.

The Replacements - how perfect... I had a good vantage point that allowed me to hear and see, which is all I require.

They looked great - I mean their clothes, they were fit but still looked very rock and roll but not trying to be anything that other than themselves. From the amount of time since Paul has been in semi-retirement, I would half expect him to look like a hermit, but no - he looked like Paul Westerberg should look like - a bit disheveled in loud red pants that were cut off at the calves.

The second the Pixies stop on the Roots stage, the Replacements walk on the Riot stage. They take the stage and launch into Takin a Ride (from their first record) like being shot out of a cannon. The whole set was comprised of all the songs they should play - they played literally every song I could have asked for as a total fan boy. They flubbed a few things here and there, which is not only to be expected but anticipated - because the banter, etc is usually funny. They played with energy and sounded perfect. The best sound I have ever heard at an outdoor music festival.

So I understand there are a lot of bands out there that are pretty good and popular, etc. There is nothing like the Replacements. Nothing. The band is Rock and Roll. The songs need to be played. By them. New fans need to be won over. More people must listen and finally give this band their due. This is the best band in American Rock & Roll history, they should be in the R&R Hall of Fame.

As to whether or not they should continue as a band and actually put out new material- I am a bit mixed. The live act is a must. But all of their songs are such an amalgam of teen and twenty something angst and emotionalism anger, sorrow, elation - they would have to become something else as fifty something rockers. I'm not sure what that should be. I've got a hunch I would like it (whatever it would be because I like all of PW's post-Mats work), but a part of me wants them to just stay in that time capsule.

So - all of you younger generation - you twenty somethings - who missed the Replacements and may not even know about them - who are fans of Wilco, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, the Avett Brothers, etc. The Replacements are probably going to tour a bit after these Riot Fest gigs. Do yourself a favor and get to know them.