Mississippi River, Born in ‘59, a Paul Westerberg birthday tribute list of sorts
Posted by Jodi | Filed under Westbergesque
Leapin’ Lizards, it’s been awhile. I’d apologize for the absence but I kind of hate when people do that. It implies that everyone is out there biting their fingernails, filled with anxiety wondering and wailing about the lack of posting here on Paul Westerberg.net.
Sheyeah.
Anyway, I’ve been really busy being a shut-in and forgetting what day of the week it is. I was at a party on Saturday night and at one point I turned to my friend and asked if it was New Year’s Eve. I would like to say it was because I was shit-faced drunk and trying to sober up. But really, it was only because I really had no idea what the date was.
But blah blah blah, you don’t care, do you?
So what am I rambling on about? Why today is one Mr. Paul Westerberg’s birthday. Seems the old goat is, hrm, 48? He is 48, I got out the calculator and did the math, carried the one, what have you.
So in honor of the old man’s birthday, I am going to make a list of 10 Things That Have Happened in My Life thanks to the music of Paul Westerberg:
- Got a tattoo
- Read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
- Became groupie-like and followed Westerberg and His Only Friends Band to Milwaukee and Chicago.
- Met some of the kindest, most generous, smartest, funniest, most thoughtful, goodlookingest, most talented people ever. This is not bullshit. At all. I am not involved in a lot of music “fan sites” or clubs or whatever the hell you call them, so I don’t know if this is sort of par for the course with the fans of all musicians or not. But let me tell you this, a majority of the people I call Westernerds will be there for you. They’ll help you find a job, listen to you whine about a broken heart, they will cheer you on, cheer you up, and get you drunk if you need it. I think I saw this the most during The Craft invite-only concert nonsense. Every Westernerd I met and all the ones I know were trying to get everyone they ever met or knew into the concert. It was kind of amazing and I am not doing it justice in this paragraph. Perhaps I will tell you about later. It’s one of those things that when I think about or write about, I start to cry.
- Saw my name in print
- Met one of my idols
- Spent a lot of money on books, CDs, bail, DVDs, concert tickets, alcohol, hotel rooms, Asian hookers, antibiotics, bribes. . .
- Developed an appreciation for the Meat Lover’s Special at Dennys
- Started this here web site
- Got laid (just kidding, I am hoping to add that to the list by next year’s birthday)
- I am not Paul Westerberg
- I am not affiliated with Paul Westerberg
- That dress looks great on you
- When you use the contact button in the upper left, you are just e-mailing me, Jodi, Queen of the Underground
- I do, however, love to hear how Westerberg’s music makes you happy
- But I can’t get your guitar autographed
- You should still use the contact button, because I dig getting e-mail from y’all
- I could use some breathing room
- But I’m still in love with you
Okay, now your turn! In honor of Westerberg’s birthday, tell us some of the things that have happened in your life because of his music.
Tags: Birthday, paul westerberg, the replacements
Video Tuesday — 7 Ages of Rock
Posted by Jodi | Filed under Seen Your Video
Merry Christmas Westernerds far and wide. Happy Tuesday for you who do not celebrate this holiday. I spent this weekend cleaning up Supergenius HQ and watching the 7 Ages of Rock. It’s a 7-part BBC documentary that while a little UK-centric still manages rickety rock the Casbah. You can watch it online over at VH1 Classics.
And you can see this itty bitty clip with a nice little ‘Mats song right here!
Tags: documentary, Left of the Dial, the replacements
In the Blogs: Wiggety Wiggety Wiggety Wiggety Whack edition
Posted by Jodi | Filed under In the Blogs
Hello Westernerds, this edition of In the Blogs is late because I was really busy being a space cadet, then I had to wrap some gifts, and it wasn’t until I was upstairs listening to Suicaine Gratifaction (because I was starting to get a little tired of Jens Lekman who I have been listening to straight for the past two weeks) this afternoon that I was all, “holy shit.”
So yeah. Also, I warn you I am watching the “100 Greatest Songs of the 90s” on VH1 (and I am making cookies), I’m a multi-tasking queen of the underground. So yeah. It’s too late to turn back, here we go:
Michael at Teenage Kicks give us his thoughts on All Over But the Shouting, but this post is much more than that, it includes these awesome lines:
Despite the connection I felt to the band, I never really wanted to know them. They had a reputation for being drunk, petty, dismissive, and belligerent. I once stood about five feet away from Tommy Stinson, the band’s bassist, in a nearly empty bar. But I declined the chance to introduce myself. It seemed a risk not worth taking.
[ed. note: AMEN! I feel the same way, really. People think I'm nuts because I don't actually want to meet Westerberg. Ever.]
Holy Shit! The Presidents of the United States of America’s song “Peaches” is on right now. Remember that song? “I’m moving the country, I’m gonna eat a lot of peaches.”
Blogcritics gives All Over But the Shouting a big thumbs down. Of course, I think the reviewer is wrong, though he does bring up some good points. But, really, I’m still amazed that Walsh gave the book a narrative using other people’s words. Maybe it’s one of those nerdy writer things most readers don’t notice.
Largehearted boy points us to a Paul Westerberg concert in LA on September 16, 1996 that you can download.
Some things you just have to read to understand so I submit to you, Everything I Ever Wanted to know about Love & Sex I Learned from Indie Rock: PART DEUX.
The Official AFI & DF Message Board discuss The Replacements.
Chris Menconi of the The Charlotte (at least I think it’s Charlotte) News & Observer writes a bit about the ‘Mats and being included in All Over But the Shouting.
Yug, it’s been back to back Jewel/Matchbox 20 on the best song of the 90s. I object! However, and I am ashamed to admit this, I find Rob Thomas oddly attractive in a big hunk of cute blond meat kind of way.
Tags: all over but the shouting, jim walsh, paul westerberg, the replacements
Video Tuesday - Charming Ramones dude
Posted by Jodi | Filed under Seen Your Video
Whenever I go in search of videos for video Tuesday, I run across this dude in the Ramones shirt singing “Waitress in the Sky.” I find him oddly charming. I am not sure why. So I thought I’d share.
Tags: Cover Songs, Ramones, the replacements, Waitress in the Sky
NY Release Party
Posted by Jodi | Filed under asides
In case you missed it, Charlene of Spanking Charlene tells us about the Jim Walsh/All Over But the Shouting release party in New York where her band played.
Tags: all over but the shouting, jim walsh, paul westerberg, the replacements
Reveille interviews Lindeen who is reading tomorrow (12/14) at 7th Street Entry
Posted by Jodi | Filed under Books, Related News
Blasty posted this info about the 7th Street Entry appearance in the comments yesterday, but when I saw this interesting Lindeen interview at Reveille I thought I’d give it front page attention. I’m dorky like that.
Friday, December 14 • Doors 8PM
9PM - 12AM
7th Street Entry
Minneapolis, MN 55455
“Laurie reads from PETAL PUSHER while Retrofit, the world’s most dangerous cover band, featuring the incomparable talents of John Eller and Randy Casey, will attempt to nail the soundtrack to the book… so bring your ’70’s crocheted beer can hat, your new wave elf boots, your a.m. radio heart, and your too cool for words indie rock soul and join the fun”!
If I’m not mistaken, this is the band that played Laurie’s graduation party, and PW joined them on stage.
Tags: Laurie Lindeen, petal pusher
In the Blogs: Some stuff about Styx and lyrics and the book
Posted by Jodi | Filed under In the Blogs
Cracked lists The 9 Most Unnecessary Greatest Hits Albums of All Time and includes this little gem about Nelson: answers the age old question, “what would it sound like if The Replacements were gang raped by Styx?”.
Rocksellout.com lists a few of their favorite Westerberg lyrics.
All Music has a review of All Over But the Shouting.
Deus ex Malcontent (god I love that name) writes up a nice piece In Praise of The Replacements.
Tags: jim walsh, paul westerberg, The Replacements All Over But the Shouting
Video Tuesday — Things I long to tell you
Posted by Jodi | Filed under Seen Your Video
Tags: paul westerberg, Things
In the Blogs: Casting a RnR Hall of Fame ballot, more Walsh, and some other stuff
Posted by Jodi | Filed under In the Blogs
In the Strib Jon Bream talks about casting his vote for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and well, I cannot resist linking to anything that lists The Replacements AND Neil Diamond AND Hall & Oats in one sentence. Sweet.
Jim Walsh stopped over at WYNC New York Public radio to talk about All Over But the Shouting.
Why the Replacements Saved my Life. It’s long, but it’s good. I am sure 99.9 % of y’all will dig this.
Reveille’s got some great pictures of the All Over But the Shouting release party at First Ave. So does Mordac.org.
Be the Boy revists his old fave, The Replacements: There may be bands that wrote better songs, or were better musicians but nobody has ever turned awkwardness into rock and roll and made me feel it on a gut level quite like they did.
The Village Voice lists great books of 2007 you might have missed and includes both Petal Pusher and All Over But the Shouting.
Metachat is linking to a bootleg of The Replacements at Fitzgerald’s in Houston, TX on September 1, 1983 that you can download.
Okay, you gotta stick with me on this one. Wolfdogg is always going on and on about Steve Poltz this dude he loves who happened to write a few songs with Jewel (yeah, Jewel). So of course when I stumbled upon Duck Snorts, a blog about the San Diego Padres who had a interview with Poltz talking about how he was trying to teach Jewel about the difference between The Beatles and The Replacements, well I had to tell you about it.
P.S. Don’t forget to leave a comment for a shot at the autographed copy of All Over But the Shouting.
Tags: all over but the shouting, jim walsh, paul westerberg, the replacements
Video Tuesday — The what in the hell edition
Posted by Jodi | Filed under Seen Your Video
Okay, I found this on YouTube. Does anyone know what in the hell it is and why it exists?
Tags: the replacements, Tim, wtf
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