History Happens At Night

Our Band Could Be Your Life is a new feature here at History Happens At Night. It is basically an excuse for me to write at length about my favorite bands and to hopefully win them a few new fans in the process. Sit back and enjoy our inaugural outing with…

THE REPLACEMENTS

I can vaguely and yet vividly remember the first time I think I heard the Replacements. I was sitting in my Mum’s car in the parking lot of a strip mall in Bible Hill. She was in Foodland, and my seven year old self thought that grocery stores were for chumps – I was just going to listen to the radio.

This is where things get hazy.

I was listening to 100.9 FM, which was not known for being especially cutting edge, when this song cut through the speakers. It wasn’t what I was used to and it certainly wasn’t what “The best hits of yesterday and today” was used to either. Looking back, I’m certain this was either a terrible mistake or a calculated move from a disgruntled disc jockey, tired of the daily playlist he was forced to endure. I never heard the song again on 100.9, but I would never forget the chorus.

“Merry Go Round! In Dreams!”

…I was seven, I had just been at an amusement park, these things stick with you.

Now this was ‘91, a few years before my cousin introduced me to Guns n’ Roses and essentially changed what my perception of music actually was, so I guess, technically, this was the first song I discovered and liked on my own. The problem was, I had no idea who it was.

Fast forward a number of years and I’m in love with a band called The Wildhearts, painfully importing their musical catalog from England, when I stumble across one of their classic songs, 29 x the pain. The song is basically a thank you note to all the influences lead singer Ginger has had throughout the years.

I dove in, I dissected the song, finding out who all these bands were. There were obvious ones – The Beatles, The Stones, Blue Oyster Cult, Big Black, The Clash, Cheap Trick, but they weren’t all so easy to pick up (Jason and The Scorchers, anybody?).  The opening lyric of 29x the Pain is, “Here, sitting in my room, with The Replacements and Husker Du, Like a rebel without a clue.” (the rebel lyric, I later discovered, was from a Replacements track called “I’ll Be You”)

Now I knew the Replacements existed, but like too many people, I hadn’t taken the time to check them out, but I figured now was as good a time as any.  I dropped their name into Napster (or was it Kazaa?) and waited for the results, the first hit that came up on my screen sounded familiar.

It was called Merry Go Round.

“Could it be?” I thought to myself, “The mystery song from the parking lot?” I clicked download and waited…and waited. StFX was notorious for stone walling downloading on campus, it was painful. Other songs began appearing on my screen, “I’ll Be You,” “Can’t Hardly Wait,” “Answering Machine,” and “Androgynous” among others.

Time is never as slow as when you’re waiting for satisfaction.

45 minutes passed before I was able to press play on my discovery, I waited with anticipation.

11 years later and you were right under my nose the whole time, I was ecstatic.

I spent the next few weeks exploring the ‘Mats albums, Let It Be, Pleased To Meet Me, Tim, Don’t Tell a Soul, All Shook Down were the ones I spent the most time with. I felt like Sorry Ma, Stink and Hootenanny were solid, but more albums of a time and place that I didn’t belong to.

The ‘Mats had guts, lead singer Paul Westerberg sang from his guts…he was young, confused, drunk, angry,  and in love – having a lot of fun and hating his life. So he didn’t lie, he sang what he knew, and he sang with a voice that could make your hair stand on end. It wasn’t so much air vibrating vocal chords as it was a soul spitting through a stereo – when he told you Jesus was riding shotgun (and was too cheap to buy smokes) you believed him.

This was music for a lost generation, no one to claim us, no war to name us, the bastards of young. 25 years later, it still rings true as some of the most honest, powerful and wonderful music you’ll ever here.

Fast Facts
Bassist Tommy Stinson joined The Replacements at the age of 12. He is now the bassist for Guns n Roses
Singer Paul Westerberg recorded the soundtrack to the animated film Open Season
The movie “Can’t Hardly Wait” takes its name from a Replacements tune
Bands as varied as Joan Jett And The Blackhearts and The Crash Test Dummies have covered The ‘Mats

Where Would We Be Without You?
It is safe to say that without The Replacements influence, bands such as Green Day, The Goo Goo Dolls, The Hold Steady, The Wildhearts, Against Me, The Gin Blossoms, Soul Asylum and Third Eye Blind would not exist or be drastically different.

You Want Me To Prove It?
Check out this mid 90’s Goo Goo Dolls performance

The Replacements influence is figuratively on their sleeves and literally in the music!

Where Do I Start?
Right here, silly! Check out some songs below!

I’ll Be You (From the Album Don’t Tell a Soul)

Bastards Of Young (From the Album Tim)

Can’t Hardly Wait (From The Album Pleased To Meet Me)

Now let’s all go play Alex Chilton in Rock Band 2!