Legendary rock critic Lester Bangs once wrote that rock n’ roll is “an attitude, it’s not a musical form of a strict sort. It’s a way of doing things…it’s a way of living your life.” If that’s the case, then it doesn’t get much more rock ‘n roll than Tommy Stinson.
At the seasoned age of 12, Stinson was playing in the seminal hardcore punk turned alt-rock Minneapolis band the Replacements. After their first implosion, he would go on to form Bash & Pop, as well as Perfect, before joining not one, but two internationally touring acts at the same time: Guns ‘N Roses and Soul Asylum.
This week, Stinson returns to San Jose, delivering a solo performance at this year’s opening day of the Metro-affiliated Music in the Park summer music series, alongside genre-defying hard rockers Living Colour as well as his former bandmates Soul Asylum.
“I’ve always considered myself really lucky to be able to do this and having made a living at it for so long,” Stinson says of his lifelong career. “That’s really all there is to it.”
There’s another saying that Stinson can ascribe to: “Punk rock saved my life.” His brother and Replacements bandmate, Bob, inspired Tommy to pick up the bass at the age of 11 after the latter already had not one, but three run-ins with the law.
“That’s a true story right there,” he slyly replies.
Last month, Stinson released Wronger, his long-stewing debut album with guitarist Chip Roberts and their band Cowboys in the Campfire. While the album itself might only be six weeks old, he and Roberts have been performing together under his name and the band’s for well over a decade. During that time they played everywhere from backyards to venues, constantly writing an arsenal of songs they’d keep on hand for shows. However, Wronger didn’t fully take form until 2016 “or 2017,” according to Stinson, when he and Roberts were passing through Austin, TX where their friend, John Doe (of Los Angeles punk pioneers, X) had just moved.
“We were going to record with my friend, Kristen Smith anyway, so we invited him to come over,” recalls Stinson. “He arrived with this epic, upright bass and layed down some tasty John Does. That was the foundation for what would become this record in sound and scope.”
The duo continued to work on the material, but with their already busy lives they never fully had time to dedicate to it. Then COVID hit.
“The songs were pretty much finished during the [2020] lockdown but in the spring of 2022 we put the finishing touches on it,” Stinson explains.
The final product is a departure from his previous work in the best of ways. Opening track “Here We Go Again” is a sweet number about lost love renewed that finds him unexpectedly playing a ukulele. The album then progresses at a cruising speed through country, western swing and rockabilly in a sincere way. It clearly showcases the duo’s love for those styles instead of mere imitation. Part of the album’s feel can be attributed to Stinson’s belief in recording as few takes as possible.
“It stops you from overthinking,” he explains. “What I remember from the early [Replacements] records that I’ve applied to my own solo stuff and more is trying to get great performances out of the songs and not sit and dick around too much with it.”
Stinson’s songwriting abilities are at the forefront across the record, highlighted by the well-crafted music and lyrics. Tracks like “Mr. Wrong” (with lines like “I hope your Mr. Next will be Mr. Right”) and “Fall Apart Together” (“Let’s fall apart together one last time”) flash a crooked, bittersweet smile, a bad decision you love to make. Stinson’s storytelling comes to life with songs like “Scheme” and “Karma’s Bitch,” channeling the work of some of his favorite songwriters, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits.
“I’ll pull from personal experiences here and there,” he says. “But I really try to include everyone by not making it so personal that no one gets the joke or the punchline of the song.”
Stinson’s July 21 performance will be solo but he says Cowboys in the Campfire is already looking to book some dates around Central California. And true to his rock ‘n roll nature, he’s doing it his way.
“I prefer to tour on my own terms these days,” he declares. “The traveling element of it can be the biggest beatdown of the gig. Most musicians say: it’s 10% fun and 90% hell.”
Tickets available at wklys.co/mitp_jul
