Dinosaur Jr. - Toronto - June 8, 2007
June 8, 2007
The Phoenix
Toronto, ON
by Matt Littlefair (chartattack.com staff)
Normally the NXNE weekend is a bit of a crapshoot, and the ratio of absolute shit to really good is decidedly unbalanced, but last Friday was different. Everything I saw exceeded any expectations I might’ve had coming in. Starting with Uncut, followed by the fully reformed Dinosaur Jr. and ending with bands who have nothing to do with this review, The Nymphets and Handsome Furs, it’s hard to think right now and it’s even harder to hear.
Uncut were great, but then they always are. They’re one of those bands I have a soft spot for who never seem to get the attention or praise they deserve. They’ve been consistently good since their debut, Those Who Were Hung, Hang Here. For me, part of their live appeal lies in Ian Worang’s voice. It’s more vicious live; he wails into the mic instead of the more subdued drone he favours on record, and that roughs up the edges a little.
This was my first time seeing Dinosaur Jr. live, and they are, without even an iota of doubt, the loudest band I’ve ever witnessed. Everyone warned me, but I thought some of it had to be hyperbole. Then I saw the monolith of Marshall stacks behind J. Mascis. There’s that cliche about music that "melts your face off," but that doesn’t really work for Dinosaur Jr. It’s more like they kicked a hole in my skull and then poured in so much volume and guitar soloing that the few brain cells I had left happily floated away. From the first note to the last, I spent the entire time trying to pick my jaw up off the Phoenix floor.
Material from this year’s Beyond stood up well against classic Dino cuts, including "Freak Scene." The mixed bag crowd ate up what essentially became the J. Mascis show. I’m not trying to diminish the efforts of Murph or Lou Barlow, because the Dinosaur Jr. records I like the best are the product of the original lineup, but the band are built around Mascis' loud, aggressive guitar. So much so that amidst all the fire-breathing solos and riffing, the lyrics and vocals were often lost in the mix.
I was a little shocked (and elated) by the inclusion of a handful of cuts such as "Out There" that came about after Barlow’s less than amicable exit from the band. I wouldn’t deign to interpret the meaning of something like that, but it seems somewhat telling.
Not a whole hell of a lot was said during the show, except for Mascis asking that the lights be turned down so he didn’t cook to death and then Barlow pleading for them to be turned up so he could see what he was doing. Beyond that, Barlow offered a cursory thanks to the crowd from, but it didn’t really matter, these guys are a band who do all their talking with the music.
During their encore, uber-fan Kevin Drew, who earlier in the day interviewed Mascis, took up vocal duties on a blistering version of "The Wagon." In the end, the set clocked in at about 75 to 80 minutes. I don’t know how much more punishment I could take, but I would have gladly stood there until my ears just fell right off.
next up on the prowse concert calendar:
wolfmother in fort wayne (??!?!) june 27
The Phoenix
Toronto, ON
by Matt Littlefair (chartattack.com staff)
Normally the NXNE weekend is a bit of a crapshoot, and the ratio of absolute shit to really good is decidedly unbalanced, but last Friday was different. Everything I saw exceeded any expectations I might’ve had coming in. Starting with Uncut, followed by the fully reformed Dinosaur Jr. and ending with bands who have nothing to do with this review, The Nymphets and Handsome Furs, it’s hard to think right now and it’s even harder to hear.
Uncut were great, but then they always are. They’re one of those bands I have a soft spot for who never seem to get the attention or praise they deserve. They’ve been consistently good since their debut, Those Who Were Hung, Hang Here. For me, part of their live appeal lies in Ian Worang’s voice. It’s more vicious live; he wails into the mic instead of the more subdued drone he favours on record, and that roughs up the edges a little.
This was my first time seeing Dinosaur Jr. live, and they are, without even an iota of doubt, the loudest band I’ve ever witnessed. Everyone warned me, but I thought some of it had to be hyperbole. Then I saw the monolith of Marshall stacks behind J. Mascis. There’s that cliche about music that "melts your face off," but that doesn’t really work for Dinosaur Jr. It’s more like they kicked a hole in my skull and then poured in so much volume and guitar soloing that the few brain cells I had left happily floated away. From the first note to the last, I spent the entire time trying to pick my jaw up off the Phoenix floor.
Material from this year’s Beyond stood up well against classic Dino cuts, including "Freak Scene." The mixed bag crowd ate up what essentially became the J. Mascis show. I’m not trying to diminish the efforts of Murph or Lou Barlow, because the Dinosaur Jr. records I like the best are the product of the original lineup, but the band are built around Mascis' loud, aggressive guitar. So much so that amidst all the fire-breathing solos and riffing, the lyrics and vocals were often lost in the mix.
I was a little shocked (and elated) by the inclusion of a handful of cuts such as "Out There" that came about after Barlow’s less than amicable exit from the band. I wouldn’t deign to interpret the meaning of something like that, but it seems somewhat telling.
Not a whole hell of a lot was said during the show, except for Mascis asking that the lights be turned down so he didn’t cook to death and then Barlow pleading for them to be turned up so he could see what he was doing. Beyond that, Barlow offered a cursory thanks to the crowd from, but it didn’t really matter, these guys are a band who do all their talking with the music.
During their encore, uber-fan Kevin Drew, who earlier in the day interviewed Mascis, took up vocal duties on a blistering version of "The Wagon." In the end, the set clocked in at about 75 to 80 minutes. I don’t know how much more punishment I could take, but I would have gladly stood there until my ears just fell right off.
next up on the prowse concert calendar:
wolfmother in fort wayne (??!?!) june 27
posted by Chris Prowse at 4:26 AM
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