These three crazy men play loud, loud enough to detract you from the lyrics that provide less stimulation than an old woman in a hot shower, loud enough to cause most people in this packed crowd to stare blankly without a sound and loud enough to help you not hear anything.
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Dinosaur Jr.
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 Entertainment
 Art
Abbey Pub
Chicago, Ill.
May 29, 2007
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Back in the mid 80's Dinosaur Jr. began what most would call “a return to lead guitar in indie rock”. J. Mascis, singer and guitarist with excellent riffs and a heavy “stoner” forehead, played the complicated sounds that Dinosaur fans are used to. With the help of reunited band mates Lou Barlow (The previously “Freed Pig”) and “Murph” on drums, they are back to alt-rock your temples, and to give you lower arch support with their own purple and silver Dinosaur Jr. Nike’s (I’m serious). Too bad most people don’t know who the hell they are, and with that in mind I doubt that this reunion is going to change much of that.
In their day, along with the Pixies, and Sonic Youth, these fellows brought the Punk and Grunge scene alive, thus paving the way for some guy named Cobain. One thing is obvious to anyone; despite their overall lack luster performance is how well they are timed together. All three begin songs like machinery, there seemed to be no break in their ability to mesh. The sad part is how badly the sound man destroyed their vocals this evening. J. Mascis chatted quietly with the crowd between ear piercing songs while Lou Barlow lay quietly relaxed against the wall of the stage playing a drunk-in-a-hammock hanging bass. Like I said the show was loud.
While singing, Barlow’s voice was so poorly mixed and the grave acoustics of the Abbey made it really not worth wasting his breath. While songs like “We’re Alone” lingered in an alternative nightmare of blurring through Gen X radio, others like “Almost Ready” and “Freak Scene” pushed the upper crust of ear-drum solitude. The beast of Dinosaur can turn tame though, and the heaviest of songs are often undercut by the sickly pop. The crash and smash turns more tired than fun, and the too-few power hits started to turn the crowd a little anxious.
During an extended pause before finally embarking on an encore, the masses turned angry and “You Suck” was all that was left to be heard. Luckily, Mascis dragged himself back on stage and quickly resumed the position of a man in charge and helped to settle the crowd.
In the end, an hour and a half of burning alternative mess can leaves you with a great yearning to skateboard for some reason. So I say welcome back Dinosaur Jr, who are you again?
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