From the Front Row- Dinosaur Jr. at Williamsburg Music Hall

The first thing you notice when Dinosaur Jr. starts to play is the volume.  These guys play loud.  And hard.  This was the reputation that they had back when they started in the late '80s and it seems they haven't changed much.  This is definitely good news.

As guitarist J Mascis launched into the opening chords for The Lung, a track off their classic album You're Living All Over Me, I felt a solid thud as the sound waves (nay, sound tsunami) emanating from the wall of Marshall speakers behind him hit me. Lou's chugging bass and Murph's crashing drums provided a solid platform for Mascis' guitar to flex its heavy riffs and sprawling, effects-laden solos.  Surely, all three band members' contributions are vital to the band's success, but Dino Jr. has, and will always be, about the lead guitar.  And Mascis did not disappoint the New York crowd.  With his long, gray wizard hair flying everywhere, he and his bandmates thrashed through a setlist that spanned most of the group's history.

In addition to some great classic tracks like the aforementioned Lung, and others like Raisins, Tarpit and Freak Scene, the band played material from their two recent reunion albums.  In defiance of stereotypes, the new songs - Pieces, Plans, Over It and Been There All the Time - rocked just as hard as the old stuff.

The rowdy crowd received each new song with shouts of excitement and renewed moshing fervor, for indeed this was a rare opportunity to see a now legendary (if not so in their own time) band that until a couple of years ago everyone had assumed long-defunct.  A reunion tour that lives up to a fan's expectations is a rare thing.  Even rarer, as is the case with Dinosaur Jr., is a reunited band who actually has quality new material to tour with.

Following their first reunion album Beyond, Dinosaur Jr. has just released their new album, Farm to widespread critical acclaim.  Check out the lead single, "I Want You to Know".

Dinosaur Jr.- I Want You to Know

And if you want a taste of what the band is like live, here is a video of Dinosaur Jr. playing at the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2008. Check out Pitchfork.tv for the rest of the show.

Comments

[Chim Chim]

Loud? That's because they're awful and have always been awful. J. Mascis thinks he's "all that" Not. It's funny to watch Hair Farmers in Grungeville fall over themselves because of Sub-Pop. What fools...