The Replacements (affectionately known as ‘the Mats’ hereafter) are a band with followers like no other. On one of the Facebook pages, followers actively report on hearing a Mats song randomly on the radio, or during a Netflix show, and immediately make a post of the moment. Like a butterfly collector curating their specimens from the field, the enthusiasm is both infectious and curious. This is long after their 80's heyday but social media is full of posts of devoted fans who have found the still active bass player Tommy at a gig, or just acquired a ‘Tommy …’ tee shirt, or even made a pilgrimage to the second story window rooftop of the house where it all began in Minneapolis. What produces such fond fandom 30 odd years on?
I long knew of the band, but lightly as the other one from the Minneapolis indie scene to Husker Du. At some later point in time, one Paul Westerberg tune in particular (the Mats low key call to arms) wormed into my ear and psyche, ‘Left of the Dial’, and never left. After that I delved into their ‘Don’t You Know Who I Think I Was -The Best of the Replacements’ and it really hit me how good they were and the legacy they left. They remain a ragged and scruffy pairing of gifted songwriter and good/bad-time band. As a band of musicians they were no slouches- rock out guitar riffs, solos, electric, acoustic, more diminished chords, power chords, backed with…
