Lou Barlow and Dinosaur Jr. Tour Diary - 10/15/09 - Chicago, IL

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Back at the vic theater. Last time I was here was a Sebadoh show in '96 (?) in which we alienated the big commercial station that sponsored the show, Q101, when a friend ripped down their banner. The promo people at Sub Pop begged me to write a letter of apology. Don't remember if I did or not. I hope i didn't.

For years, my shows in Chicago felt like entering hostile territory. The previews in the weeklies depicted me as a crybaby with a mediocre band. (Which is one way of looking at it, I guess.)

But it's 2009, and I've been off the hipster radar for a while. I don't feel any pressure. I've had nice shows here for years now.

There is a Bank of America next door, so I am able to deposit the week-plus tour proceeds. I can't stand walking around with cash. I've been having fever dreams of losing it.

The Vic is a big theater, kinda like venues in London: old, floor seats removed. Everything seemed to go well, my set with the missingmen included. I think we've found our level: me hyper-strumming my Gretsch Duo-Jet and working the bass pedal-keys, Raul tight on the beat, adding shaker and tambourine, Tom making wooshing noises and tossing off some post-punk Bakersfield licks. I spend the shows looking down, watching my feet, trying to hit the proper notes. Not much stage presence on my side of things. I don't get the sense that we are blowing anyone away, but no one's yelling at us either. The front row is generally populated by young kids who are staking out their Dino Jr spots. It's amazing how many young kids are into Dino right now. It's gratifying as a member. Tougher as an opening act.

The highlight of the day is a guest DJ spot and performance on WXRT for a show called "Electric Company." Tom and I do our first-ever duo acoustic performance and it feels great. I break out the ukulele I bought in Boston and we play "Praise," one of the 4-string songs from Goodnight Unknown. Tom charms the DJ and engineer. We provide songs off our laptop iTunes. I play "Ritual Feast of the Libido" by Cromagnon, a 4-minute "song" of grunting accompanied by a maraca. The engineer rubs his eyelids.