Dinosaur Jr @ The Majestic, Madison, Wisconsin.
Published On: 04/10/2022
Images by: Jeremy Smith
Dinosaur Jr
Almost 40 years since the founding of Dinosaur Jr, the band takes the stage at The Majestic in Madison, Wisconsin in the USA on 28/09/2022 for a sold out show. Standing in the front row waiting for Dinosaur Jr, I heard a lot of talk and excitement for the show. Once the crowd had the first glimpse of J Mascis (lead vocals and guitar) walking behind the amps the excitement grew and set in for the night.
J Mascis came out and took his place for the evening in front of a wall of road worn Marshall Speaker cabinets and amps. Then Lou Barlow (Bass and vocals) took his place on stage in his socks. At one point halfway through the show, Lou joked about spilling his water on stage and now having wet socks. Murph then took his seat behind his drum set ready for the set.
With the volume up past eleven, Dinosaur Jr started the show off taking us back to their 1987 album 'You're Living All Over Me' with 'The Lung', a mostly instrumental charged song (other than two short vocal parts). Dinosaur Jr then played 'I Ain't' and 'Garden' both from the latest album, the 2021 release 'Sweep It Into Space'. For 'Garden', J Mascis switched to bass guitar and Lou Barlow played lead guitar. Dinosaur Jr then went back to the album 'You're Living All Over Me' playing 'Little Fury Things' a song full of guitar noise and leads they are known for.
During the night some of the most popular songs played were off the 'Where You Been' album from 1993 with the songs 'Out There' and 'Start Choppin'. Of course, another crowd favorite was 'Feel The Pain' off of 1994 album 'Without A Sound'. Both young and old were really feeling these songs as I saw many people jumping around. Halfway through the set, tour manager John Maloney joined the band on a second set of drums located behind Murph and his drum set. Dinosaur Jr then broke into 'Wagon' a rhythm charged song that sounded really tight with the second drummer also playing. 'Wagon' is from the 1991 album 'Green Mind'.
Throughout the night, Dinosaur Jr took us back to many great albums through their long music career. Songs also from the albums 'Dinosaur', 'Beyond', and 'Bug'. They also gave us a few more from the latest album 'Sweep It Into Space' with the song 'To Be Waiting' being one of my favorites from the night, leaving me wanting to hear it again, and ready to pull the album out to listen to again.
Lou Barlow was the spokesman for the night, although he didn't have a whole lot to say. J Mascis was soft spoken the few times that he did speak but of course J Mascis's unmistakable vocals along with the lead guitar tones and licks were amazing.
The show was wrapped up with two more songs from the 'You're Living All Over Me' album. Dinosaur Jr played 'Raisans' and the cover of The Cures song 'Just Like Heaven'.. quite an amazing show from a band that helped define the sound of the nineties. In total, Dinosaur Jr played eighteen songs from the beginning to the present. Leaving the crowd wanting more, and I am happy to have spent the last hour and 35 minutes with this legendary band!
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