I had the opportunity to cover Dinosaur Jr. at the historic Castro Theatre on 10/18, and I loved it. This was my first time listening to the band, and seeing them live was a great way to experience their music for the first time. I grew up listening to bands like Linkin Park, Evanescence, and Three Days Grace, so this was definitely a different type of rock!
The energy stood out to me. Most artists I’ve experienced live bring an outwardly energetic presence to the stage, but the band’s lead singer, J Mascis, looked cool, calm, and collected throughout the show. Even with that relaxed presence, the energy was still going through the roof. As soon as “Severed Lips” came on, I heard a person next to me yell, “LET’S GO!” My personal favorite song they performed was “Take Me With You,” and Murph’s drumming was incredible. Looking around, I could tell the crowd was enjoying the show because smiles were all over the venue.
Going forward, I’ll be listening to Dinosaur Jr. a lot more. Songs like “No Friends” and “Everything at Once” made me feel like I was experiencing the rock scene of the ’80s or ’90s firsthand. The show also featured special guest Stef Chura, who won over plenty of new fans with her guitar playing and vocals.
If you’re a fan of rock, Dinosaur Jr. is a band I think you’d enjoy seeing live. They certainly made a lasting impression on me.
