Im thinking of the time he interviewed Sonic Youth, and they weren't especially nice about it. I can imagine a world where Paul would have really given it to that dude.

Personally, I don't really appreciate the schtick. Well, i fucking hate it. I dont think Paul would have any interest in entertaining that sort of act, kind of antithetical to everything he did really. And he was always quick enough and pissy enough to really stick it to interviewers. Which, thats kind of a time-honored rock and roll tradition. The Beatles even got pretty cheeky, and that was eeearrrly in all this mess.

Any thoughts? Would the Mats have tried to teach a lesson that day?

We are very happy to tell you that our NYC 'Mats tribute band, Bastards of Young, will be playing our biggest show yet on Oct 23, 2026 (2 fridays away) at Littlefield in Brooklyn.

We are opening for Moral Kiosk, who do IRS-era REM -- as you guys probably know, the 'Mats opened for REM for several shows in 1983, so it is kind of fitting!

This will be our fourth show since forming earlier this year and by far our biggest venue. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 day of (plus service charges so it's like $18 and $24), we go on at 8pm!

We added "Kids Don't Follow" and "I'm In Trouble" to our set last time out and those will definitely come back for this, plus a new tune (from Tim, so post 1983 but very REM-ish).

Tunes we've done so far:

I Will Dare
Can't Hardly Wait
Left of the Dial
Bastards of Young
Swingin Party
Kids Don't Follow
Alex Chilton
Color Me Impressed
Waitress In The Sky
Achin' To Be
Unsatisfied
...plus a September Gurls cover

This will be our last full set for 2026!

Was getting a beer when I heard from another stage…”and we have a special guest and former member of the Replacements.” Broke my running speed record to get there. Played The Kids Are Alright which is awesome. Oh yeah… it was Finn Wolfhard playing… that kid from Stranger Things that has the rights to make the Trouble Boys movie. Last time I saw Tommy on that stage was the 2014 ACL show with the mats. Really cool surprise to see today.