Beer and Pavement

I attended my third concert of the year. It was only the second indoors and the second time I’ve seen Dinosaur Jr this year. But, hey, live music. Amirite?

Dinosaur (as the locals say) was a bit of a white whale for me upon arriving in Amherst six years ago. I had seen them a couple of times previously. Once was at the 1993 Lollapalooza, so not the original lineup. The second was in COMO when the trio reunited to play a bunch of hardcore songs they wrote in their teens and twenties. However, after moving here, I missed the band multiple times. There have been numerous shows missed due to being out of town – three, I believe. Then, there was the time I had to pick up my daughter at a birthday party she wouldn’t leave when Dino played the town common. I had zero luck seeing the band, despite living like 2.5 miles from J Mascis.

Sure, I’ve seen all three members around. I don’t remember where I’ve run across Murph, but I’m certain we’ve been in the same place at the same time. The Valley is small. Lou has been in downtown Amherst with his family. And J and I have crossed paths at Whole Foods and even a Christmas party (where my mother-in-law asked him what he does for a living).

Still, I assumed seeing Dinosaur wasn’t meant to be. I mean, throw in a pandemic that basically shuts down live music and the chances of losing my hearing to “Freak Scene” appeared to dwindle.

Then, vaccines happened and venues started opening up. I saw them play some fairgrounds in New Hampshire, which was strange. And then there was last Friday’s homecoming in Northampton.

This isn’t a review, but you should know that band can play. They’re a bit ho-hum stepping onto the stage, but there is no letdown once they begin to play. Sets have spanned the band’s entire history. The last featured a lot more material from their latest (Sweep It into Space) with plenty of those old hardcore and Lolla-era “hits” to keep us all interested. I even called that the show would be over once you heard that Cure cover, and it was three songs into the encore.

There are few stalwarts of the 80’s and 90’s indie scenes like the Stones or Beach Boys of the 60’s and 70’s. Dinosaur Jr is Generation X’s Rolling Stones. May they never die.