I never saw the Replacements play Duluth, but I have seen them play the Twin Cities a couple times.  I have also seen Mr. Westerberg solo.  I saw the Suburbs a couple handfuls of times from Duluth to the Twin Cities.

My favorite Replacements live song was Hootenanny.  I believe the last time I saw them live was at the Roy in or around May of 1989.  I could be off a month or two.

Husker Du were also a favorite back in the day...

I saw the Replacements play at The Warehouse in Duluth in 1984 or 1985.  The first time I ever saw a mosh pit.  Paul was super drunk.

Also saw the Suburbs at The Cove and Beej was playing with a pineapple top sticking out of his mouth!

By all accounts the Replacements played the Twin Ports often, although most accounts I have heard/read had them here mostly during the early part of their career.  According to wiki Paul hurt his hand in 2008 and hasn't toured much because of it.  Anyways, where would he play?  Too small for the DECC, too cool for a pizza place.

I'm here to testify with Swan..I was at many of those shows as well. First time for me was Kirby Ballroom...Mats opening for the Suburbs, tommy stinson's fingers bled all over the floor. I agree with Swan, he was blurry..or was that me? 'Mats side note .. not really "side" but I remember the day when I came in to my Emerson apartment to see my roommate, Monty Lee "Major" Wilkes, tossing all his socks with holes in them in the trash .."I just got hired as the Replacements sound guy"..I guess the job required fresh socks. He went on to even greater infamy.

Here's a related PDD post from four years ago:

http://archive.perfectduluthday.com/2005/07/keep-your-riches-gimme-budweiser.html

For those who were there and for those who missed it, there is great, well researched book on the 1980's American Indie scene by Michael Azzerad titled "Our Band Could be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991". Chapters on Husker Du, the Replacements and many more. My face and cheeks hurt from laughter after reading the chapter on the Butthole Surfers.

 Brilliant.

When the Replacements' "Let It Be" was nominated as one of the best albums of the 1980's Jon Bon Jovi quipped "Who the hell are these guys?" That is exactly why they were so great.

They played on SNL on January 18, 1986, they they played at the Warehouse on February 1, 1986.

I totally agree with the premise.  Although I (barely) missed the 80s twin cities - Duluth music heyday, graduating high school in 1990, I vaguely remember people talking about them, T-shirts and hairstyles of that era around town.  So yes, if we can, let's get the Suburbs, Bob Mould, Paul Westerberg, and whomever up here ... I'd love that.  And I think there are a number of places -between- The DECC and a Pizza Place that could be played, although I agree that there is a dim space in the 1,000 seater zone in this town ... sigh.

--

Slight hijack, did anyone else see the TIAA-CREF commercial featuring "See a Little Light?" I saw it during a basketball game in what must have been 2007 and I remembering thinking ... I know that song, I know that song. Then Bobby Mould kicks in singing. I got a huge rush.  This song was big among the too-cool-for-me upperclassmen on our college radio station when I was a freshman.  By the time SUGAR came out I was definitely on the Mould bandwagon. I'd love to see him.
   
I can't find a video of the commercial but found this analysis.  http://www.splendad.com/ads/show/2134-TIAA-CREF-powerof-org

OMG a story featuring Monty Wilkes!!!  A name I hadn't heard in too long.

Wildgoose,

I caught the Bob Mould commercial a couple weeks ago and made stop, think, smile and think of seeing and chatting with Bob and Sugar in England. I have made peace with artists selling their back catalog. It is their work and their decision to do so. I am tired of the cries of 'sell out" by old fans. Many of these artists have little to nothing to show for a lifetime of entertainment, poor or no health insurance etc.. The can make more money of the use of a song than 10 years of touring.
That being said, I do not want to hear a Replacement song used to sell something for an evil company. 

I recently heard a cover version of a song by the Australian band the Church on TV. Not to mention Charlie Parr's Vodafone commercial, Low's Gap commercial, a cover of Suicide Commando's "Complicated Fun" for Target, Hem, Mazzy Star, Richard Buckner, et al. Hell, Dennis Hopper is pimping retirement funds.

Anyways, back on topic, call Westerberg or his management, pitch a Duluth show and get a quote.

You know what might be a good venue, maybe 300 - 500 indoors festival seating?  the buffalo house.  they close down their little barn in winter, but I have done big weddings there in the Fall at least.  It is a good, rustic venue, huge bar and lots of parking.  Lots of parking.  And camping on site which is great for some things. 

Spirit Mountain might work, too.

hey dig out that old mats tape......i would trade you a copy of this:

07-??-82 SAINT'S ROLLER RINK,DULUTH,MN 45m SDB 9 

thanks! 

scott

I love hearing stories about bands I love from locals & so-called locals like me!

Following is a long A story: My first exposure to The Suburbs happened upon a Greyhound Bus from Grand Forks, North Dakota to Duluth, Minnesota. I had visited Duluth once,my dad went to Duluth for work, my mom was in Grand Forks to sell the house.  

Previous to Grand Forks, I lived in Tempe, Arizona. Moving from a Phoenix suburb to a North Dakota nothing town (my opinion at the time; well, now) at age 13 was harsh. 

When asked on this bus ride from Grand Forks to Duluth by some girl who was a Cathedral Student (the school I was going told I was attending)if I knew who the Suburubs were, I answered an emphatic "YES!" Because from my experience, neither Grand Forks nor Duluth HAD Suburds.

Monty taught me a ton of stuff about mixing sound "back in the day." Of particular importance was the first show I did for Charlie Sobczak at the Norshor- "demand advanced payment!"

I've long sworn I saw the Mats and the Burbs together at Kirby Ballroom in 1982, but one of the guys that was there with me swears the Burbs weren't there. I've been searching for confirmation for years.