Pages tagged “dinosaur jr”

[Above: His Holiness Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine]

A new flyer went up around Kutsher's late on the second day of All Tomorrow's Parties' New York debut. Earplugs would be available, for free and in large quantities, for everyone. Smart people (like me) had already brought their own: the unofficial reports from My Bloody Valentine's London shows was that they were reaching 132 decibels during their set, which is just slightly softer than a jet taking off.

Fresh off their weekend getaway at All Tomorrow's Parties 2008 in upstate New York (where it's apparently always 1992), Built To Spill, Dinosaur Jr., and Meat Puppets are prepping for their two night stint at Terminal 5. The doubleheader starts tonight, and we're unofficially dubbing it the Monsters of '90s Indie Rock Tour-- where the Rock Gods of yesteryear will perform for this decade's creative underclass.

For months now, Guitar Hero diehards have been hanging on every bread crumb of information released about World Tour, the forthcoming generation of their favorite video game. We knew about Hendrix, Ozzy and a handful of other artists on the track list. But now we have the press release in hand, and it includes 86 songs on-disk, featuring artists like R.E.M., Michael Jackson, Metallica, Coldplay, Nirvana, Interpol, Foo Fighters, Billy Idol, Beastie Boys and Dinosaur Jr., among others.

The buzz and short attention spans I spoke of in Day One, and the newfound diversity heralded in Day Two, these things imploded upon each other the final hours of Sunday, with one holy rockness middle ground rising up from the rubble.  

The moment can be pinpointed actually, if you were to witness Les Savy Fav’s punk-maestro, Tim Harrington, careen his bald dome into a city garbage can, demanding the crowd hoist him, and his new stage, into the air so he could finish his song.

Post-set comment from a fan:

Dude wanted up, like Oscar the Grouch, towards the sky! Easily the most zenith of any rock and roll moment I have ever witnessed.

It's become a hot topic of conversation in the Paste offices: has "indie rock" become the new "alternative"? Those who were around at the height of the grunge era will likely remember corporate America's attempts to co-opt the Seattle phenomenon, from record labels feverishly scouting for the "next Nirvana" to designer flannel in clothing catalogs. Just like that old "alternative" lifestyle, "indie culture" has always been fairly impossible to pin down. But that won't stop advertisers from trying.

That leads us to an excellent report that the Daily Swarm filed yesterday. Camel Cigarettes, the friendly folks behind Joe Camel, apparently wants to get onboard the indie bandwagon. The Swarm had previously detailed Camel's rather visible sponsorship of recent gigs by Dinosaur Jr. and the Flaming Lips. Ostensibly, these events were intended to "reward loyal Camel smokers," but tickets also found their way to the general public. Based off of the Swarm's sources, these shows were essentially all-Camel festivals, with ample logo placement, free cancer sticks for attendees and tour buses repurposed as smoking lounges.

When asked about hopping into bed with a cigarette company, members of the bands in question pretty much rehashed the familiar "it pays the bills" routine, although Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips added an interesting wrinkle:

"People don’t realize how much productions cost these days. I’m always looking for a way to say, 'Can we get to these places, do a big production and not make it $50 [for a ticket], so kids can come and see us?'"

So kids can come to a cigarette-sponsored event, you mean? C'mon, Wayne!

Also included in the Swarm's article: a suspicious bit of product placement in last month's issue of Rolling Stone. Camel took out a multiple-page foldout spread supporting "The Farm," its independent music initiative. Included in the section was a fold out poster, produced by Rolling Stone, mapping out the "Indie Rock Universe" (apparently, Mogwai hails from "Outer Spiderland" and Spoon is actually a Northwestern rock group). Sure comes across as collusive, doesn't it? According to a report in The New York Times, this little slice of editorial/advertisement synergy could land both Camel and Rolling Stone in some hot water.

“This is one great big cigarette ad,” anti-tobacco activist Matthew L. Myers told the Times. “The fact that Rolling Stone produced the content, but displayed it in such a manner that it is indistinguishable from the Camel ad, only makes them an accomplice."

The package also contains cartoons, which could violate a 1998 settlement (inspired primarily by Joe Camel himself) banning toons in cigarette advertising.

So what does it all mean? Well, considering the sponsorship dilemmas that many indie bands have encountered lately, this Camel exercise could be the first of many tricky decisions that your favorite artists have to make in the future as the corporate cash starts to flow in.

Do the old D.I.Y. ideals even hold sway anymore? Perhaps we'll know soon enough...

Related links:
DinosaurJr.com
FlamingLips.com
RollingStone.com

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.

Maybe the Dinosaur Jr. reunion got a bit lost in the shuffle when every '80s band with a cult following started touring again. But guess what? J. Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph don't play this "one-off" nonsense. When they reconvene, these guys are in it for the long haul. So, with this year's scorcher Beyond now firmly in the group's rearview mirror, another tour arrives. J. and Lou sure must have buried that old hatchet a few miles underground.

In addition to fulfilling the engagements listed below, Dinosaur Jr. has contributed b-side "Yer Son" to the Free Yr Radio campaign's CD compilation, with proceeds benefiting the same types of independent-minded radio stations that helped break Dinosaur Jr. in the first place. The album's out in select stores now (see the link above to find out where).

Little fury dates:

November
20 - Milvale, Pa. @ Mr. Small's
21 - Buffalo, N.Y. @ The Town Ballroom
23 - Boston, Mass. @ Paradise Rock Club
24 - Boston, Mass. @ Paradise Rock Club
27 - Washington, D.C. @ Black Cat
28 - Raleigh, N.C. @ Lincoln Theatre
29 - Knoxville, Tenn. @ Blue Cats Live
30 - Asheville, N.C. @ The Orange Peel

December
1 - Jacksonville Beach, Fla. @ Freebird Live
2 - Orlando, Fla. @ The Club at Firestone
3 - Athens, Ga. @ 40 Watt Club
5 - Memphis, Tenn. @ Young Ave. Deli
6 - New Orleans, La. @ House of Blues
7 - Austin, Tex. @ Emo's
8 - Dallas, Tex. @ House of Blues
9 - Oklahoma City, Okla. @ Diamond Ballroom
11 - Iowa City, Iowa @ Picador
12 - Omaha, Neb. @ Slowdown
13 - Kansas City, Mo. @ Voodoo Lounge at Harrah's Casino
14 - Denver, Colo. @ The Ogden Theater
15 - Aspen, Colo. @ Belly Up

Related links:
DinosaurJr.com
YouTube: A reunited Dinosaur Jr. on the Henry Rollins Show
Paste: Dinosaur Jr. reunite, tour

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.

There are reunions, those sad nostalgia trips, often with missing members, that offer fleeting glimpses of greatness and glory days. And then there is getting back together, hanging out, and seeing what happens. Dinosaur Jr.’s buried-hatchet reunion tour, which just happened to swiftly follow Merge's reissue of the band’s first three records in the spring of 2005 – wonderfully remastered from the original itchy-scratchy recordings – produced some of that year’s best rock performances. The seminal line-up of guitarist and singer J Mascis, his former enemy, bassist, and co-frontman Lou Barlow, and stoic drummer Murph, not only managed to get along for an entire tour, but they actually gelled enough to write new songs and record them in Mascis’ home studio.

So the half-dozen shows the band played last fall in the Northeast, before heading across the pond to play on a bill with Sonic Youth and Gang of Four at the Thurston-Moore-curated All Tomorrows Parties’ "Nightmare Before Christmas" in Somerset, held the extra-tantalizing promise of new songs.

At Boston’s Paradise Club, the trio etched out a heady, thundering set that spanned Dinosaur’s entire career, including those years when Barlow was off fronting Sebadoh and Folk Implosion. Early in the set, though, the band casually slipped in two new songs, “This Is All I Came to Do” and “Back to Your Heart,” both barreling and ballsy, but with keen pop melodies we've come to expect from the crew.

There’s no denying Mascis has a way with a hook. ‘‘Feel the Pain” was as catchy a modern rocker as ‘‘Out There” was uncompromising and experimental. His grainy, laissez-faire voice was smooth, poignant and surprisingly forceful. Barlow, who occasionally took lead vox, hammered his bass, lapping up the air between Mascis' winding licks and Murph’s powerhouse hits. From a crowd-pleasing “Wagon” to a glorious, shredding “Forget the Swan,” Dinosaur exuded graceful ease, not just as a group, but individually as well. Barlow and Mascis each hugged their instruments to their amps, lost to their own powers, building an undeniable but brilliant tension unmatched by most bands today, reunited or otherwise.

As previously reported, original Dinosaur Jr. line-up J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph, extinct since 1989, reunited in 2005 for a series of live dates and recently announced that a new album will be released on May 1.

Now the band has announced they will release Dinosaur Jr.: Live From the Middle East, a DVD documenting the 2005 shows, on May 29. The disc features songs from the first three albums of the group’s career. To avoid any confusion about the band’s whereabouts during the recording, the DVD title comes from Boston’s Middle East venue, where the majority of the tracks were recorded.

Also included are one-on-one interviews with the band, backstage shots and an interview from WXPN’s World Café Studios featuring appearances by Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, Mike Watt and Matt Dillon.

Though no dates have been announced yet, the band plans to tour sometime in 2007. Stay tuned…

Here’s the song list for the album:

Gargoyle
Kracked
Bulbs of Passion
Little Fury Things
Lose
Forget the Swan
The Post
Budge
The Lung
The Wagon
Raisans
SludgeFeast
Mountain Man
Chunks
Freak Scene
In a Jar
Repulsion
Just Like Heaven

Related links:
Dinosaur Jr.’s site
Dinosaur Jr. on MySpace
World Café Live site

When J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph reunited legendary indie-rock outfit Dinosaur Jr for a handful of live dates in 2005, hipsters the world over rejoiced. Two years later, and the little comeback that could will finally be complete thanks to a new album, DVD and, you guessed it, the much-anticipated Dinosaur Jr Nike skate shoe.

Recorded at Mascis’ Bisquiteen Studio in Amherst, Mass., Beyond is slated for a May 1 release via Mississippi label Fat Possum. The new DVD is also scheduled to drop in May while the sneakers will be available for a limited run in February. No word yet on any live shows to support the new LP, but check back early and often for all things Dinosaur Jr.

Beyond tracklist:

1. Almost Ready
2. Crumble
3. Pick Me Up
4. Back To Your Heart
5. This Is All I Came To Do
6. Been There All The Time
7. It’s Me
8. We’re Not Alone
9. I Got Lost
10. Lightning Bulb
11. What If I Knew…

Related links:
Dinosaur Jr on MySpace
Dinosaur Jr’s homepage

Precursor to the onslaught of 90s alt-rock bands, Dinosaur Jr. enjoyed a loyal cult following and garnered substantial respect from 1989 until its “final” demise in 1997. But it ain’t over ‘til it’s really over. Last year Dinosaur Jr. reunited with its original lineup for the first time since 1989 for a reunion tour. Guitarist J. Mascis, bassist Lou Barlow (Sebadoh), and drummer Murph are the main characters in an upcoming live DVD, to be released May 8, 2007, which will include footage from shows in Boston and New York.

After its reunion tour, it seems that the original trio couldn’t resist recording an album together again. They laid down the initial tracking in Mascis’ home studio in Amhert, Mass., and are aiming for a spring 2007 release. Barlow says that the sound of the record is simpler than the early Dinosaur Jr. but still carries the unmistakable Jr. trademark sound.

Precursor to the onslaught of 90s alt-rock bands, Dinosaur Jr. enjoyed a loyal cult following and garnered substantial respect from 1989 until its “final” demise in 1997. But it ain’t over ‘til it’s really over. Last year Dinosaur Jr. reunited with its original lineup for the first time since 1989 for a reunion tour. Guitarist J. Mascis, bassist Lou Barlow (Sebadoh), and drummer Murph are the main characters in an upcoming live DVD, to be released May 8, 2007, which will include footage from shows in Boston and New York.

After its reunion tour, it seems that the original trio couldn’t resist recording an album together again. They laid down the initial tracking in Mascis’ home studio in Amhert, Mass., and are aiming for a spring 2007 release. Barlow says that the sound of the record is simpler than the early Dinosaur Jr. but still carries the unmistakable Jr. trademark sound.

Dinosaur Jr. has announced their Spring 2006 Tour, which will bring them into 21 U.S. markets, many of them for the first time since the reunion of the band's original members last year. Dinosaur Jr. has also announced plans to release their first ever DVD in the summer of 2006. The DVD features the band in its original line-up and was filmed during their December tour. The DVD contains complete backstage access to Dinosaur Jr.'s recent reunion tour, one-on-one interviews, behind the scenes goings-on and a full set of performances of Dinosaur Jr. favorites.

For more information, Click here.

It's no news that the noisy, guitar-loving guys in Dinosaur Jr recently reunited and have been touring the United States. What is interesting to note, however, is that for the first time, the band is working on a DVD.

On Dec. 2 and 3, Dinosaur Jr will perform a two-night stand at New York's Irving Plaza. Over the course of those two shows, Gold in Berlin—a film group headed up by lead singer J Mascis' brother-in-law, German filmmaker Phillip Virus—will film the concert footage for the DVD. Additionally, interviews, backstage footage and other bonus materials will be included on the release, which is scheduled to hit stores sometime during the first half of 2006.

For more information, visit www.dinosaurjr.com.

(Pictured above: The original Dinosaur Jr - Murph, J Mascis, Lou Barlow)

Reuniting on the heels of reissues of their first three albums, Dinosaur Jr. will tour the North America for the first time since the trio split fifteen years ago.

The band hits the road July 7 in Orlando and wraps up on August 22 in Vancouver.

For tour dates, inlcuding several recently announced West Coast shows, see www.dinosaurjr.com

(Dinosaur Jr [L-R]: J Macis, Murph and Lou Barlow)

In a move that may give renewed hope for Arab-Israeli reconciliation, the original Dinosaur Jr—J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph—has reunited for a series of summer shows in Europe and the U.S.

Paste caught up with bassist Lou Barlow on his way home from the band’s first rehearsal with one question, “Why?”

“Why not?” Barlow retorts, chuckling. J Mascis has similar sentiments. “That’s a good question,” he says. “I don’t have the answer. We’re just gonna try it out and see what happens.”

For now, all three are enjoying the opportunity to crank the amps to 11 and revisit the sounds of their youth. “The thing that I love is just how physical it is,” Barlow says.

The feud and dysfunction between Barlow and Mascis was excruciatingly documented in Michael Azzerad’s book Our Band Could Be Your Life. But both say it’s now time to move on. “I say lots of crappy stuff about people when I’m not with them,” Barlow admits. “But then when I’m with them, I find it really easy to forget.”

As Paste previously reported, the original members of Dinosaur Jr (J Mascis, Emmett Jefferson "Murph" Murphy III and Lou Barlow) are back together for the first time in 15 years.

Here are the recently announced tour U.S. and U.K. tour dates:

6/8 - London, U.K. - The Forum
6/9 - London, U.K. - The Forum
6/10 - Donnington, U.K. - Download Festival
7/7 - Orlando, Fla. - House of Blues
7/8 - Atlanta, Ga. - Variety Playhouse
7/9 - Norfolk, Va. – Norva
7/10 - Carrboro, N.C. - Cat's Cradle
7/11 - Washington D.C. - 9:30 Club
7/13 - Philadelphia, Pa. - Electric Factory
7/14 - New York, N.Y. - Central Park SummerStage
7/15 - Boston, Mass. – Avalon
7/19 - Cleveland, Ohio - House of Blues
7/20 - Pontiac, Mich. - Clutch Cargo's
7/21 - Covington, K.Y. - The Madison Theater
7/22 - Milwaukee, Wis. - The Eagles Club
7/23 - Minneapolis, Minn. - The Quest
7/24 - Chicago, Ill. – Lollapalooza

After the recent reissue of Dinosaur Jr.'s first three albums, J Mascis (guitar/vocals), Lou Barlow (bass) and Murph (drums) will reunite to perform on national TV. Almost two decades later, the trio will return to the stage; its reunion debuting on CBS' Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Friday, April 15. A day later, at Hollywood's Spaceland, J Mascis & the Fog with special guests will perform a full show to 300 fans.

Dinosaur - 3 Stars
You're Living All Over Me - 4.5 Stars
Bug - 4.5 stars

Some records carry too much baggage, heaped on by tastemakers who deem them epochal. Such classification leads to years of indignant recommendation (“Waddaya mean you never heard that album? Are you kidding?!”) and fanzine yardsticking (“This new band tries too hard to sound like that other band”). In the end, no matter what magic spark these records might’ve held, it’s too often smothered under the stultifying sand of veneration. Dinosaur Jr.’s first three discs, now sonically dusted off and reissued with bonus videos, prove the exception to the rule.

Perhaps it’s the power trio’s synthesis of heavy metal thunder with psychedelic swirl and punkish attitude that keeps the music fresh despite years of pedestal-sitting. While the debut, Dinosaur (1985), sounds like the work of a band still honing its approach, tracks like “The Leper” and “Pointless” still pack a considerable sonic wallop. The real revelation came just over a year later when the band’s second disc, You’re Living All Over Me, dropped like a dirty bomb; creating devastating impact in certain circles. The unfortunate New Wave flavors of the ?rst disc were now completely gone, leaving the Dinosaur Jr. sound fully formed, with J. Mascis’ funky whine and scorching guitar, Lou Barlow’s thundering bass and Murph’s pummeling drum onslaught. From the monumental opener “Little Fury Things” to the creepy cover of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven,” it’s essential stuff.

While Bug (1988) boasts cleaner, more ?nessed production, it lacks none of the potency of You’re Living. “Freak Scene” ?nds J. Mascis double-tracking vocal harmonies, while “Pond Song” features acoustic sounds that would continue to appear in subsequent discs. Sadly, this would be the last offering from the original lineup. But for three releases, it made a wonderful racket.hen the story’s this good, who needs a rewrite?

In 1984, J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph formed Dinosaur Jr. in the sleepy college town of Amherst, Mass. Now, 20 years since the release of the band's self-titled debut, Merge Records is reissuing its first three full-length albums.

Originally released on the independent labels Homestead and SST, Dinosaur, You’re Living All Over Me and Bug will now be available to a new generation of music fans.

All three CDs have been remastered and will be reissued with original cover art, but the new booklets will contain never before seen images. Bonus materials include a rare live track (“Does It Float”) as well as videos for “Little Fury Things,” “Just Like Heaven,” “Freak Scene” and a recently discovered, never before seen video for “No Bones.” Also included are extensive new liner notes for all three albums compiled by music writer Byron Coley featuring interviews and commentary from Thurston Moore, Mike Watt and Robert Pollard. Filmmaker Allison Anders also contributed liner notes for Bug.