The Replacements, Superchunk, J Roddy Walston and The Business - May 9, 2015 - Festival Pier, Philadelphia, PA

A cool but beautiful Saturday night was spent with the long awaited return of one of the most underrated rock acts of all time, The Replacements. They were back on tour for the first time in over 20 years by what they called unpopular demand. Not only was I excited to see The Replacements but another punk band as well, Superchunk. It was my first time at the Festival Pier at Penn's Landing. The sound quality is good for an outdoor venue and the atmosphere is nice with the Delaware river behind you and a sandy ground under your feet. The only problem is that the general admission area is flat and it is all standing only, making it very difficult at times to see the stage, especially if there is a large crowd.

The first opening act, J Roddy Walston and The Business, came out swinging with "Don't Break the Needle" and from then on the show never had a dull moment. The hard southern rockers from Tennessee showed great passion and energy throughout their set. J. Roddy Walston played guitar and piano while letting out sweet harmonies with an occasional yell. The rest of the band backed him well and they were all in sync. An entertaining act who was a perfect match to get the crowd warmed up for Superchunk and The Replacements.

I was thrilled to see Superchunk and although I was hoping to hear more newer music from them, the older stuff was just as good. The newer songs that they did play, "Me &You & Jackie Mitoo" from the 2013 album I Hate Music and "Learned to Surf"off the 2010 album Majesty Shredding, were incredible. The older fan favorites were also played including "Detroit Has A Skyline," the laid back "Driveway to Driveway," and the rage fueled "Slack Motherfucker." I was disappointed that they didn't play my favorite summer anthem "This Summer" and one of the greatest covers "Come Pick Me Up," originally written by the talented Ryan Adams, who said that he named the song after the Superchunk album by the same name. Going into the show I knew that one of my favorite rock icons, Bob Mould, shared a drummer with Superchunk in Jon Wurster. However, I didn't realize that Bob Mould's bassist, Jason Narducy, was touring with Superchunk as a member of the band in replace of bassist Laura Ballance, who decided not to tour due to a worsening hearing condition, hyperacusis. I was excited to see this. If only Bob Mould came out to play, it would have been the greatest show ever.

The moment the crowd was waiting for, some for more than two decades, finally arrived when The Replacements came to the stage. They came out riding at 90 miles an hour with one of the best live openings I've heard, "Takin' a Ride." The best part of the set was the playing of one of the most underrated songs of all time "Can't Hardly Wait" right into the rebellious "Bastards of Young." It only became better when the encore came around with "Left of the Dial," "Alex Chilton," and the mellow and emotional "Unsatisfied." Of course everyone was unsatisfied and wanted the band to play all night. It was the first and probably the last time I will get to see The Replacements. Some can say that they have seen The Replacements live, others have seen them live but drunk playing only covers. Only few have seen them as exceptional as they were on this night. All three acts are highly recommended but if you haven't seen The Replacements already it may be too late. Just as quickly as the reunion tour began it ended only two months after the first show in Seattle and under a month after the unforgettable show in Philadelphia. For each show on the tour, Westerberg wore a shirt with two letters on it (one each on the front and back) which I found out later spelled out, "I have always loved you. Now I must whore my past." Hopefully they will return to the stage but if they don't I can say I was at the fifth final show of the truest punk band of all time.

Setlist:

J Roddy Walston and The Business:
1. Don't Break The Needle
2. I Don't Wanna Hear It
3. Full Growing Man
4. Take It As It Comes
5. Marigold
6. Brave Man's Death
7. Midnight Cry
8. Heavy Bells

Superchunk:
1.  Throwing Things
2.  Me & You & Jackie Mitoo
3.  Skip Steps 1 & 3
4.  Detroit Has A Skyline

5.  Out of the Sun
6.  Hello Hawk
7.  Driveway to Driveway
8.  The First Part
9.  Learned to Surf
10. Slack Motherfucker
11. Precision Auto

The Replacements:

1.  Takin a Ride
2.  Favorite Thing
3.  I Don't Know/Buck Hill/I Don't Know
4.  Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
5.  Kissin' in Action
6.  I'm in Trouble
7.  Election Day (Only first half of song)
8.  Little Mascara
9.  Hold My Life

10. Valentine
11. Nobody
12. Kiss Me on the Bus
13. Androgynous/Seen Your Video (Played at the same time)
14. Seen Your Video
15. I Will Dare
16. Wake Up
17. Borstal Breakout (Sham 69 cover)
18. Within Your Reach
19. Can't Hardly Wait
20. Bastards of Young
21. My Boy Lollipop (Barbie Gaye cover)
22. Never Mind

Encore:
23. Left of the Dial
24. Alex Chilton

Encore 2:
25. Unsatisfied