Back in the day, you never knew what you were going to get with a concert by The Replacements.  Though they were always near-perfection on record, their live shows could either yield sloppy-shambolics or spot-on revelation, or both.  Frankly it was oft-times more of the former (though we’ll never forget those mid-80s Here Comes A Regular singalongs).  After a near-20 year hiatus, the “band” (survivors Paul Westerberg and bassist Tommy Stinson, with newcomers Dave Minehan and Josh Freese) got back together, and have been out on tour for a while now.

Last night, the band showed up on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the Minneapolis mavens ripped through a rousing performance of their 1987 homage to late Big Star leader Alex Chilton.  Jimmy Fallon introduced them as a “massively beloved and influential rock band in the midst of their first tour since 1991,” and off they went.  Unlike many of the old shows, the band played tightly on Fallon with nary a note out of place.  Westerberg’s vocals were fantastically gravelly, and Stinson held down the bottom-end while adopting his best Simonon/Vicious stances.  Thankfully Minehan played in and with the plaid and abandon of yore.  Check it out below.  Long live the ‘Mats!

Now please excuse us while we go put Tim and Big Star on our turntables.

Sidenote:  Sadly earlier Tonight Show guest Keith Richards (hawking a children’s book–huh?) missed the opportunity to come out and join The Replacements in what would have been a historic combo.  See above, though.