'This is the end': Steve Seel recaps the Replacements' last show
by Steve Seel
October 15, 2014
There is no way to convey, neither with some yammering blog entry nor some low-quality iPhone video, the experience of seeing The Replacements at the Austin City Limits Festival this past weekend.
It was both exhilarating and, at the end, extremely bittersweet — this being the last show of their reunion. That fact seemed to hit Paul Westerberg in the final moments as if he wasn't prepared for it. It was suddenly overwhelming. Tommy Stinson had said earlier, "You may never see us again," and the whole set suddenly became loaded with so many emotions.
I will say that I think the set was the absolute distillation of what Paul and Tommy are: rocking, hilarious, ferocious AND shambolic (thank heavens) and beautiful. The two of them would likely say "pffft" to all that. But whatever. It was a glorious thing.
I had more to say about this on The Current's Morning Show on Tuesday; listen to the audio above to hear more about the concert.
And so here we are, at another end. Thank you, gentlemen.