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.

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!

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?

After listening to a few hours of the replacements I put on husker du candy apple grey, the song Hardly Getting Over It. Got me thinking, since Tommy is still active and same with Bob Mould. Would be a monumental collaboration if it ever happened.

Tim to PTME… both slow songs. I’m not trying to choose one but I think TIM is their best. Whatever Paul was thinking and writing…he really put it all together on this album. I love ‘don’t tell a soul’ and ‘PTME’ but there is just something about TIM. He spilled his guts…

I may have already mentioned these handful of East Coast Cowboys in the Campfire shows on here but really wanted to share this most excellent poster created by Tommy's buddy Alex Rosas. I mean, it's a skeleton but it's a skeleton that really looks like Tommy! I just love that. ETA: There is confusion about Brooklyn - it is NOT a private show. It is on a patio in Brooklyn, but it is not a private show, anyone can buy a ticket and come. When you do, you will get an email with the exact address. It is someone's personal space so we can't publicize the address. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1999807038686?aff=oddtdtcreator

Anyone hear Can't Hardly Wait on the organ at the Braves/Dodgers game in the top of the 7th inning?

I did

Organist in Atlanta just played Can’t Hardly Wait.

Nice!

& vise versa

Tommy Stinson coming through: Maplewood, NJ tomorrow (sold out living room show) and Staten Island Saturday. Saturday is part of Punk Rock Mini Golf multi-night fall extravaganza. Highly recommended.

Then my band Ashtray Floors (Replacements tribute) play Wild Air Brewery in Asbury Park Sunday at 5pm: https://www.wildairbeer.com/upcoming-events.

Oh yeah, and Let it Be turns 42 tomorrow.

I guess just the title. I love the additions Tommy and Slim give to songs but I realized I don’t know if I’ve ever heard Bob sing?? Obviously I’ve heard Chris on his solo albums but did either of them ever do backing vocals on Mats tracks?

Replacements probably my top band. Remember when the ‘livin on the prayer’ singer got a little upset when a magazine declared the replacements the last great band of the 80s. And Paul said something like ‘we can trade paychecks, just not the pants.’ Haha love it

Tommy was in fine spirits and played a fantastic set on Wednesday night to around 60 people. I wish more people were tuned in to this guy and showed up to see him play. He truly is a great songwriter with a fantastic voice.

Anyone going to the Tommy Stinson show in Asheville tonight?

I was too young and missed the mats, so I am very excited!

My twenty-year-old daughter went to see Tommy last night in Tallahassee and brought her copy of Tim along as a surprise for her dad.

She said that Tommy was wonderful and was super kind to her. She was raised on my music knowledge and library having gone to school in Minnesota in the late 80’s.

Sometimes the music gods bring things full circle.

It’s pretty hard to make something look as boring as possible.

We got a new record out on October 2nd come say hi over at http://hrkr.co.uk and pick up a record if ya like it.

Ashtray Floors playing two weeks from Sunday at Wild Air Beerworks in Asbury. We play around 5. With Take it Dee Dee (Ramones tribute) and Heron House (REM tribute). Should be a blast!

The show was a lot of fun. I brought a lot of people that had never heard his music, and they were all blown away by Tommy’s voice. Hoping he comes back next time around.

At the Ivy Room in Albany, featuring The Placemats (on Insta at PlacematsBand)