Alternative rock legends Dinosaur Jr. performed for a sold out crowd on the Black Cat’s main stage last Sunday night and unleashed a full-scale noise assault on their DC fans.
Playing a mix of early and newer material from their enormous catalog, Dinosaur Jr. seems to be able to squeeze the essence of their career into a one hour-long set leaving the audience satisfied, but still wanting more from the Amherst, Massachusetts-based trio. While most of their set derived from You’re Living All Over Me and Where You Been? eras of the band, the trio did sprinkle their set with staples from their celebrated album Bug, and even managed to include their beloved rendition of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven.”
Having 10 full length studio albums, countless singles, and numerous solo projects under their belts, J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph should now be considered more of an institution rather than a group aging indie artists.
Dinosaur Jr. were pioneers within the alternative rock scenes of the ‘80s and ’90s and introduced the world to a sound that had not been heard prior and influenced a countless number of acts to follow. One of the fundamentals for Dinosaur Jr.’s specific sound is the shear volume of their live show—and that reputation held true Sunday night.
Joining the band for this stop on their current tour was a DC legend in his own right, former Government Issue vocalist John Stabb. On lead vocals for his new project History Repeated, Stabb served up a dish of his punk rock rants in good old fashioned DC hardcore style—performing most of his set from the floor in front of the stage.
Stabb walked around the venue as far as his mic cord would allow him, bringing his audacious style right into the faces of audience members. Watching Stabb perform in this manner was a bit of a throwback, but was a genuine pleasure. (Modern indie-kids who hide behind their microphone stands during their performances should take note—John Stabb might just teach you a little bit about showmanship.)
DINOSAUR JR.
HISTORY REPEATED
