Thursday , March 28 2024

Original Dinosaur Jr. Returns

Band reunites behind reissues and live performances.

The massive, mighty, exceptionally influential proto-grunge that was the original Dinosaur Jr. is back: J Mascis (guitar/vocals), Lou Barlow (bass) and Murph (drums). Mascis’s wah-wahed and fuzzed guitar assault on fairly straightforward rock songs returned the guitar hero to a position of underground coolness, and his laconic, pitch-challenged vocals could turn even an AOR cliché like Peter Frampton’s “Show Me the Way” into something hip.

J, Lou, and Murph haven’t played together since 1989 and the original Dinosaur Jr. lineup never performed on national TV – until now. Sixteen years later, the trio will bring their jaw-dropping noise back to the stage – their reunion will debut on CBS’ Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Friday, April 15.

A day later, at Hollywood’s Spaceland, J Mascis + the Fog with VERY special guests will perform a full show to 300 lucky fans. Tickets go on sale today, Tuesday, March 29 at noon PST at jmascis.com and ticketweb.com .

Saturday, April 16
Spaceland
1717 Silver Lake Blvd, Hollywood
Tickets are $15 / 21 and over welcome
11:30 set time (two opening acts / doors at 8:30 PM)

Originally released between ’85 and ’88 on two of the most important independent labels of the time – Homestead and SST – Dinosaur, You’re Living All Over Me and Bug are now available on Merge to an entirely new generation of music fans.

All three CDs have been remastered and will be reissued with original cover artwork but the new booklets will contain never-before seen images. Bonus materials include a rare live track – “Does It Float” – which captures the power and sheer chaos of early Dinosaur shows, as well as videos for classic tracks “Little Fury Things,” “Just Like Heaven,” “Freak Scene” and a recently-discovered, never before seen video for “No Bones.”

Just for example, their version of the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” is astonishing. They begin with surprising fidelity to the goth/gloom/pop classic original, but as the band hits the refrain, an anvil chorus shouts in metallic unison while Mascis’ guitar pounds out barbed wire power chords, startling poor Robert Smith out of his mascara. The ending is no less shocking and abrupt.

Also included are extensive new liner notes featuring interviews/commentary from Thurston Moore, Mike Watt and Robert Pollard. Acclaimed filmmaker Allison Anders also contributed liner notes for Bug.

The influence that Dinosaur Jr. has had on their peers and future generations of musicians/bands is profound:

    You’re Living All Over Me is one of the great records of all time. Dinosaur Jr. inspired me to play (as loud as humanly possible).” – Josh Garza (The Secret Machines)

    “For me, growing up, Dinosaur Jr. was a band that you passed on to your closest friends because you knew it was rare and special, and you almost felt a responsibility to share it with the people you loved and cared about. The sheer force and substance of the chemistry that J, Lou, and Murph tapped into makes the so-called “Emo” bands of today look like flailing idiots. You can’t imitate the kind of heart and intensity these guys play with. They just have it. Equally as exciting as the band re-uniting, is the prospect that many little brothers and sisters will get taken to this as their first concert, and Dinosaur Jr. will teach a whole new generation of kids what you can do when you plug in a guitar.” – Brian Viglione (Dresden Dolls)

    “Dinosaur is gonna re-stoke the fire, yes! I remember D. Boon playing me that first release and telling me, “These guys are like east coast Meat Puppets but with their own thing, huh?” I nodded like a bobble-head without thinking cuz he had totally just read my mind. Young cats too, we were so impressed. Much respect for Dino’s second time around! Catch it, feel it – fuckin’ bathe in it!” – Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE)

    “Listening to these re-issues only reminds me again how important Dino was to the pantheon of real rock… put plainly, Dino just did it for me. Here’s to the return of the “three day ring!” – Dave Schools (Widespread Panic)

What’s next for J Mascis and Dinosaur Jr.? Select overseas festival performances have already been confirmed, including the UK’s Download Festival and Japan’s Fuji Rock Fest. Stay tuned for dinosaurjr.com for more dates as they are announced.

About Eric Olsen

Career media professional and serial entrepreneur Eric Olsen flung himself into the paranormal world in 2012, creating the America's Most Haunted brand and co-authoring the award-winning America's Most Haunted book, published by Berkley/Penguin in Sept, 2014. Olsen is co-host of the nationally syndicated broadcast and Internet radio talk show After Hours AM; his entertaining and informative America's Most Haunted website and social media outlets are must-reads: Twitter@amhaunted, Facebook.com/amhaunted, Pinterest America's Most Haunted. Olsen is also guitarist/singer for popular and wildly eclectic Cleveland cover band The Props.

Check Also

SXSW Film Review: Alt-Rock Documentary ‘I Get Knocked Down’

In Dunstan Bruce's quasi-documentary about his former band, Chumbawamba, he reflects on his life as he's rounding 60.