The Replacements: Lincoln, NE, 1986
I have been storing a box of negatives and contact sheets from my college days for, oh, about 30 years now. Some of the images were printed for classes and shows and critiques, but a lot of them never saw the light of the enlarger. In the first folder I grabbed to scan, I found some typical goofy shots that an art major would take, and I also came across a roll from a Replacements show.
I was a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln helping with whatever student group put on and promoted shows. So we helped with the load in, food and whatever tasks and errands came up. I even drove Tommy Stinson around Lincoln trying to find a replacement fuse for his bass amp. So my gopher status explains my backstage POV. I remember the show, and vaguely remember shooting photos, but I’ve never printed any of these, they were kindof blurry and underexposed, and I never even made a contact sheet. Kinda glad I didn’t, because this was a fun find. Please ask before posting or using these anywhere else.
Some shots of the opening band, The Cucumbers
Awesome! These really capture an era in time. Do you have some Super 8 or VHS too 🙂 ?
Amazing photos Brian you’re a lucky MFA to get that close to such a legendary lineup never saw them till 91 maybe I was too young or too stupid to realize enough to catch this classic lineup but I thank you for these photos man awesome job thanks for sharing…TW-
Fantastic. Every time I see photos from this era I kick my own ass for not taking pics during my college years when I was an avid photographer in high school. Epic stuff. I was at this show and have strained a few times to see if I can find myself but no dice.
I’ve been refining my technique for digitizing these, I think I could re-do these and get some sharper images. There are quite a few more too. When I get around to redoing them, I’ll let you know and send you some. It’s funny how many people I’ve heard from who were at this show.
Hope you can clean them up.
Would love to see myself in a pic.
Don’t recall making it to the stage though. So probably no luck there.
Did you see Violent Femmes as well?
Seems like it was the same year.
I did see that Violent Femmes show and helped out with it too. Didn’t take any pictures though. My brush with fame was when I walked on the stage like a dork and asked the drummer if I could do anything to help. In the nicest way possible, he said “Yes, move out of the way.”
I was standing right in front and can see myself in a number of photos. I recall a guy near me was trying to talk Paul into selling his guitar. At the end of the show Paul gave away his extra cups of beer — I snagged one. (You can see them set up on the stage…thanks, Paul!)
Wow! Awesome photos. Would love to see more if you ever add them.