It hardly seems like 30 years since Dinosaur Jr began, but thankfully the original lineup of J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph can still deliver the goods with as much energy as when they first started.
The ‘masters of the Marshall stack’ were on fire at The Gov last week and, other than a few tuning/sound issues, the guys really brought it on! It was a great vibe, reminiscent of the early Uni refectory gigs – hot, sweaty, beer flowing, and a crowd in good spirits wanting to hear some great Indie rock. Dinosaur Jr were a huge feature of the 90s Alternative music scene, caught somewhere between Psychedelic rock and grunge, but not really fitting into either completely. No real emphasis on production values, but rather a total focus on the music and making sure the crowd is enjoying it.
I won’t rattle of the setlist (it’s pictured above!), but for any Dino Jr fan whether old or new, they represented all their albums from Dinosaur to Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not in what was a fantastic night at the beloved Gov.
Opening act Luluc were well received, although an unusual choice for Dinosaur Jr with their feminine, gentle vibe vastly contrasting that of the noise that Dinosaur Jr produced later.
The only criticism I could add of the show would be to those older punters that choose to stand at the front of the mosh pit and complain about, well, the mosh pit! I know it sounds like an old guy rant, but leave the kids alone while they’re enjoying the music. If you don’t like the physical interaction that comes with being at a rock gig, then stand up the back and observe. Don’t abuse kids for daring to dance to the music!
It was though, great to see the original Dinosaur Jr lineup on stage again- these guys have trudged through the mud for years and still have plenty left in the tank. May they never become extinct!
Pics: Melissa Donato
Dazz Hassan
@DazzHassan
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