Concert Review: Dinosaur Jr. at the VooDoo Lounge
Dinosaur Jr.
Thursday, 12-13-07
The VooDoo Lounge at Harrah’s Casino
Better than: Gambling, smoking, gambling while smoking
Review and photos by Richard Gintowt
Ever wondered what it would sound like to be plummeting towards earth in a 747 jet with the doors ripped off? Probably a lot like last night’s Dinosaur Jr. concert at the VooDoo Lounge. I’ve seen ‘em twice before, and the second time I was smart enough to bring earplugs. Not so this time – and I paid a hefty price.
The appeal of Dino Jr, after all, isn’t just J Mascis’s monolithic guitar-god prowess. It’s the songs and voice that we’re drawn to, the painful yet tuneful creaking that enunciates heartfelt melodies. Go back and listen to Where You Been and Without A Sound and you’ll hear some of the best tunes of the grunge era (which I’m sure Mascis would happily disassociate from). For me, those were the albums where it all came together – when Mascis roped in the guitar noodling and became a great songwriter.
Unfortunately, all three Dino Jr concerts I’ve witnessed in my lifetime have been obscured by a punishing mix that cranks Mascis’s six Marshall Stacks and de-emphasizes the vocals. Especially with Lou Barlow back in the band after a 15-year absence, I wanna hear those dudes sing, goddammit! Sure, I might do a mock J Mascis voice now and again, but that’s only because I love it like I love saving sick puppies from the pouring rain.
While the music was pretty much ruined by the hateful sound guy, the non-sequitur stage banter was engaging. Barlow’s first words were “What the fuck?” followed by a “Where are we?” and a distant gaze into the half-empty Hard Rock Café – er, VooDoo Lounge. Mascis’s only comment of the evening was “We’re all hopped up on the buffet” (a bit of a letdown since I was secretly harboring a fantasy of Dumbledore – er, Mascis – eating a fat plate of Freedom Fries at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar). Other Barlow non-sequiturs included an indecipherable a capella number and lots of cheerleading: “Oh shit. It’s time for another song. Goddamn.”
This is Dino Jr’s second tour since Mascis’s WTF reunion with original drummer Murph and bassist Lou Barlow. The first tour was a nice gesture for fans of the first three albums, but – truth be told – that trilogy isn’t nearly as good as the era between Green Mind and Hand It Over (1991-1997). The admirable thing is that Mascis, Lou and Murph went and recorded a pretty decent comeback album (Beyond) and also took the time to work up audience favorites like “Out There” and “Feel the Pain.” It’s not like they’re phoning it in; they genuinely seem to be enjoying this unlikely reunion. Musically, their chemistry never faded.
The trio’s sea legs may be tiring, however, and there’s a part of me that really wishes Barlow would get back to doing what he does best (Sebadoh and The Folk Implosion). As for Mascis, there was a time not so long ago when he was diversifying his palette with acoustic guitars and Indian Devotional songs (2005’s J + Friends Sing + Chant for Amma). Those forays could inform the present sound of Dinosaur Jr instead of rehashing this instant-nostalgia business. Hell, I’ll even pay to see a greatest hits package if it’s not blasting me with woozy white noise…
Critic’s Notebook
Personal Bias: I was born in 1981, which may account for my lack of appreciation for the first three Dino Jr records.
Random Detail: I want J Mascis on my D&D team.
By the Way: The VooDoo Lounge is at Harrah’s Casino, which looks an awful lot like the Ameristar Casino. Do not try to find the VooDoo Lounge at the Ameristar Casino, or you will miss the opening bands.
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