Usually the best hometown Replacements show of the year — although it will really have to be exceptional to keep that streak going this year — First Avenue's tribute to the 'Mats will return again the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28.
The centerpiece for the 7th annual covers marathon (announced today by the club) will be a 25th anniversary live rendering of the band's most polished album, "Don't Tell a Soul." The Melismatics will again serve as the house band for that portion of the gig, with the song-by-song singers to be announced later.
Produced by Matt Wallace at the height of the band's tenure on Sire Records, "Don't Tell a Soul" favorites such as "I'll Be You," "They're Blind" and "Achin' to Be" have been staples at past tributes. However, the album's heavy/challenging production value and perceived uncoolness has kept bands away from many of its other songs such as "We'll Inherit the Earth" and "Rock 'n' Roll Ghost"– although we do remember a killer version of "Darling One" by the Honeydogs at the 2010 installment. The 'Mats themselves unleashed a wild version of "I Won't" near the end of last month's Midway Stadium concert.
As always, the whole-album montage will be preceded by mish-mash tribute sets from a wide variety of acts in both the main room and the Entry. On tap this year are Two Harbors, BNLX, Black Diet, Frankie Teardrop, the Blackberry Brandy Boys and Stereo Confession, the latter of whom weren't even born when "Don't Tell a Soul" came out (they also played a killer set last year).
Replacements biographer Jim Walsh will also host another Mad Ripple Hoot for Slim, featuring all-star renderings of songs by sidelined ex-'Mats guitarist Slim Dunlap. Proceeds from the show will benefit the Slim Dunlap Fund and First Ave's Twin Cities Music Community Trust, which is being transformed into an official nonprofit organization. Tickets are on sale now ($10).
