After the Ryan Adams show it was time to make a quick jaunt across the river to The Brixx to catch Bash & Pop. Because we were at the Ryan show we missed the opener which was local rockers Ayla Brook & The Sound Men. I really wish we could have caught them as their new album (I Don't Want to Hear Your) Break up Songs is an excellent album.
We got to the venue in time to catch the main act which was Bash & Pop. I was expecting to walk into a crowded bar, as the Brixx only holds about 150 people for a live show, but much to my surprise there were maybe 50 people in the place. It did fill up a touch more after the Ryan show but still maybe only 70 people in all.
Bash & Pop is a band formed and fronted by Tommy Stinson of The Replacements and Guns N' Roses fame, more Replacements then GnR. Tommy played bass for The Replacements and for GnR between 1998-2016. With Bash & Pop Tommy plays rhythm guitar and sings. Bash & Pop just released a new album this year called "Anything Could Happen" which is a great album and sounds a lot like The Replacements. This was a show that was going to be well worth catching as I highly doubt we will ever see The Replacements back together and hell it was a member of The Replacements a must see show.
When Tommy and the band which consists of Steve Selvidge (The Hold Steady) on lead guitar, Justin Perkins on bass and Joe Sirois (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones) on drums hit the stage there was a huge applause as those in attendance knew what a special rock n' roll show they were about to see. Tommy Stinson held up a glass which looked to be filled with whiskey and said the motto for tonight's show is "don't waste a drop" or something along those lines, and we were off. The band that Tommy has together right now is pure rock n' roll.
This show had everything you want in a rock show, attitude, drama, sweaty, loud, showmanship and best of all great rock n' roll songs. I didn't know a lot of the songs, mostly just the ones from his new album, which were "On The Rocks", "Bad News", "Anything Could Happen" and "Not This Time" those are the ones I recall. They also did an unbelievably cool cover of The Who song "The Kids Are Alright" watching and listening to them do this song must have been what it was like to see The Who in their prime. Sloppy, loud, loose and fucking rocking, so wicked.
During the show Tommy was having problems with his monitors to the point where he was getting pissed off telling the sound guy and audience that he didn't come all the way to Edmonton to get a headache and lose his fucking hearing. It was funny to watch the sound guys scrambling to make things right, to the crowd the sound was good, but obviously he was having a real hard time with the monitors on his end. So much that at one point in the show the band left the stage so that the sound guy could fix the problem. I wasn't sure if the band was going to come back or not. I stepped out for a quick smoke while this was going on, it didn't take long before you heard the band kick it back up, so it was time t o stomp the smoke and get my ass back in to catch the rest of the show, which was about four more songs.
This was one kick ass fucking rock n' roll show. Even with the small turnout and problems with the sound, Tommy and the boys put on one hell of a show. This will surely be in my top three shows of the year. Fucking good times!!!
After the show I went to buy a t-shirt when who should come up to man the merch table but Tommy Stinson himself. I got the chance to talk to him and get him to autograph my ticket stub. A super nice guy, shook his hand and told him how much a enjoyed the sow in which he thanked me for coming out to the show. Like I say, this was a pure rock n' roll show that had everything you want in a concert. Good times!!!
Bash & Pop at The Brixx.
T-shirt.
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