While last year's Fuji Rock appearance was met with mixed reactions, the near capacity crowd at Shibuya AX tonight would unanimously agree that although they're getting up there in age, Dinosaur Jr. can still rock with the best of them. Following the Pixies' lead (who showed back in December that they can also still hold their own), the regrouped original line-up of J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph have extended last year's reunion tour, making their way back to Japan for four shows in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.
A collective cheer arose from the audience as the iconic trio unleashed their first bout of distorted rock part-way through the opening number, "Severed Lips", from 1985's Dinosaur. Playing selections from their first three albums - the abovementioned Dinosaur, 1987's SST classic You're Living All Over Me, and 1988's Bug - the underground anthems that helped paved the way for the early-90s alternative explosion still sounded as powerful and vital as they did two decades ago.Now 40 years old, aside from sporting a whole lot of grey hair Mascis still looks and sounds the same as he did when Dinosaur first emerged on the indie scene. He still sings in his trademark drawl and turns out fantastic, feedback-drenched guitars solos. The four large Marshall stacks directly behind him reminded everyone that he still likes to play loud as well. His bandmates were no slouches either. Barlow's back-up vocals and ferocious bass playing were bang-on and Murph was phenomenal behind the kit. 
The audience was a mix of 30-something foreign and Japanese hipsters basking in the tunes that provided the ragged soundtrack to their adolescence and young rockers who never got the chance to experience the band live when they were on the cusp of alternative rock greatness. With neither Mascis nor Barlow having much to say between songs, the focus was clearly on the evening's 18 awesome musical selections. Too melodic to be metal and possessing too much wonderful, distorted noise to be classified as punk, anthems such as "Budge", "Little Fury Things", "Wagon", and "Raisin" had little trouble finding acceptance amongst the pumping fists and nodding heads packed into AX. |
Although no where near as beautiful as the majestic Naeba Ski Resort, the smaller confines of AX made for a much more intimate and energetic performance than last summer's gig on the White Stage. The vibe on stage felt a lot more amicable and the guys seemed to be enjoying playing together a lot more too. At Fuji, they barely acknowledged one another's presence. Although they were far from fawning over each other they made eye contact while playing and shared the occasional smile.
Ending with "Raisin", the band returned a few minutes later for first of three scheduled encores. A triple encore is always excessive, but Dinosaur Jr. managed to pull it off without coming across as being too cheesy and over the top. The band kicked things back into high-gear with their infamous cover of "Just Like Heaven". Highlighted by Barlow's occasional death metal howls, the Cure track was a hit with the majority of attendees singing and dancing along. Their enthusiasm carried over to "Chunks", which was turned out with assistance from a new guitar Mascis had bought in Tokyo earlier that day. Dinosaur Jr. wrapped up their 100 minute set with "Gargoyle" before walking off stage one at a time. Barlow was the last to exit, toying with his bass in an effort to fill the venue with one last shot of feedback. A roadie turned off the bass and the house lights came on signaling that there would not be a fourth encore (you have to draw the line somewhere). Those sad to see the trio's show end should not despair. With reports circulating that the band are working together on new music, don't expect this beast to become extinct just yet. - set list - Severed Lips / The Leper / Budge / Little Fury Things / Bulbs of Passion / Forget the Swan / No Bones / Lose / The Lung / In a Jar / The Wagon / Raisins / Just Like Heaven / Chunks / Freak Scene / Tarpit / Sludgefeast / Gargoyle |
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report by shwan and photos by saya38 |
 mag files : Dinosaur Jr. Far From Extinct : (06/02/27 @ Shibuya AX) : review by shawn, photos by saya38オルタナという思い出 : (06/02/27 @ Shibuya AX) : review by nob, photos by saya38photo report : (06/02/27 @ Shibuya AX) : photos by saya38Reprise Affirms An Eternal Sonic Youth Within And Without : (06/02/26 @ Shibuya AX) : review by michael, photos by kecophoto report : (06/02/26 @ Shibuya AX) : photos by keco |
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The official site Dinosaur Jr. http://www.dinosaurjr.com/ the latest album  "ベスト・オブ・ダイナソーJr." (DVD付初回限定国内盤 / 国内盤) |
previous works
"Dinosaur"
(国内盤 / UK import / US import) "You're Living All Over Me" (国内盤 / UK import / US import) "Bug" (国内盤 / UK import / US import) "Ear-Bleeding Country: The Best of Dinosaur Jr." (US import) check the albums? |
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