[Photo courtesy of Tommy Stinson]

By Grant Kelly, Reviews Editor 

Singer-songwriter Tommy Stinson, known as a founding member of alternative rock band The Replacements and former bassist for Guns N’ Roses, embarked on a solo tour of the United States in June. He is set to perform at a backyard show on July 12 in Columbus, Ohio, alongside violinist and backing vocalist Karla Rose. I had the opportunity to speak to Tommy about his upcoming show and his thoughts on the current tour. 

[This interview has been edited for length and clarity.]

Grant Kelly (GK): What influenced you to do a backyard show for this date and a few of the other spots on your current tour rather than a more conventional concert venue?

Tommy Stinson (TS): I’m trying to play a lot of off-the-beaten-path places because my fanbase is already out there after all these years. Playing an intimate, more interesting, less chaotic kind of show, for me, makes a lot of sense in that regard. Also, the idea of playing sort of from the ground up. I mean, everyone’s kind of going to the internet and all this stuff to promote themselves… these shows take it back to the roots. I can play more rural places and kind of go outside of the major cities to promote what I’m doing. I’m having a lot more fun with it than just the regular, you know, going and playing a shitty club and all that, I’ve done all that long enough. Since COVID, a lot of those shitty clubs that would hire me are taking so much money off the top that it’s really not doable to play club shows in that regard. These shows, they work better for me in every aspect. They’re a lot more low maintenance and a lot more fun in a lot of ways. 

GK: Have you played many shows like this one in recent years?

TS: I have. And like I said, it allows me to play to fans in some really odd, funny, off-the-beaten-path places, rural communities that I wouldn’t be even playing in [normally]. 

GK: How did you decide on this particular location for your stop in Columbus? Was the process for choosing this location different than with a more established venue?

TS: Our host for this show in Columbus is someone I’ve known since the Replacements days, she’d been a friend and a fan for years and years. I’ve known her for a long time, so this just made a lot of sense. 

GK: Is that usually how it goes for these shows?

TS: Yeah. A lot of them go exactly like that. I’m playing to the fans, I’m not here trying to be a pop star or any of that. I’m just trying to get out there and do my thing, have fun with it, and promote the new music I’m working on. 

GK: As an established musician who’s played in some big-name bands over the past few decades, I’m sure you’ve played shows much bigger than this one. How does it feel to go back to playing at a smaller, more intimate spot as opposed to a larger venue? Is this something you’ve been wanting to do for a while or was it a more recent idea?

TS: I’ve played everywhere, and it’s played me. I’ve been doing [smaller shows] pretty much since before COVID, and mostly they’re a lot more fun — it’s like going to do a party or something. There are just different expectations and a different amount of stress that’s taken out of the equation. This is more fun for me after dragging my ass all over the world, you know?

GK: What sort of considerations have you had to make when translating your show to a more stripped-back setting like this?

TS: It’s just a whole simpler setup. I can just show up with my guitar and amp, I can play anywhere. It’s a few steps above busking. 

[Laughs] 

It’s kind of taking it to the people, really. There’s also another factor of it: I’m such a social beast of a human… you know, bullshitting with people, hanging out, stuff like that. This is more my scene. 

GK: What can someone who has seen you perform in the past expect to get out of this particular show? Would you say these backyard shows have a different vibe than other shows you’ve done?

TS: It’s a very stripped-down, more intimate, fun, everyone’s kind of involved in the show kind of way. I chat with the people more, it’s more face-to-face in a way.

GK: Is that something you feel like you’re missing when you do bigger shows?

TS: F— yeah. You see the barriers they put between [me] and the crowd? I’ve done this for so long and so many different ways that this is just what’s appealing to me right now. I’m not saying I’m not going to play other places, but for now this works really well for me. I like it. 

Tickets for Tommy Stinson’s upcoming show dates can be found here: https://www.tommystinson.com/tour-dates/