Original Dinosaur Jr. lineup to play Fuji Rock

[Captain Japan]

Original Dinosaur Jr. Lineup to Reunite!
Pitchfork Media

Dinosaur Jr., one of the most legendary indie rock bands of the 80's, are reuniting to play the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan with shows in the UK to follow. The BBC reports that the embattled duo of J. Mascis and Lou Barlow will perform together under the Dinosaur Jr. name for the first time in 15 years. Ongoing feuding between the two spurred Barlow to leave the band after the release of their third album, Bug, in 1988 in order to focus on his work with Sebadoh. The 1990s saw Barlow's greatest success with the Folk Implosion and the unexpected top 40 hit "Natural One". Dinosaur Jr. briefly went on hiatus after Barlow's departure and reformed in 1991. The group permanently disbanded after 1997's Hand It Over, at which time Mascis moved on to form The Fog. That group's More Light-- released in 2000 and featuring guest appearances from Kevin Shields and Robert Pollard-- was hailed as a return to form.

No U.S. dates have been set, nor has anyone at Merge confirmed the reunion. The original lineup recorded three albums together, including the widely influential You're Living All Over Me, which are set to be reissued with bonus material via Merge on March 22.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

I read an interview recently where Lou had said that he was on speaking terms with Masics after a long stretch of silence. Quick turn around for a reunion! Good news for Fuji Rock

[AssKissinger]

Dinosaur is a great band. To me, this is bigger than The Pixies reunion. You're Living All Over Me is one of my favorite all time records. Also, I have a copy of their first record from before they had to tag the 'Jr.' to their name on vinyl. I bought it when it came out, not as a collector. I saw them live twice and J Mascis solo once.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000005JCO/qid=1109670672/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/002-6214444-3085645

That's a great record. I think I may be an audience member on some of it.

Barlow of course is a genius. Sebadoh are awesome.

Still unless they go back to offering one day passes there is no chance of me going to Fuji Rock. Give me Summer Sonic any day.

[Captain Japan]

I thought Bakesale had some good stuff on it. But other than that I could never listen to Sebadoh. I think the best thing they did was stop making music.

The first song I ever heard by Dinosaur Jr. was "Freak Scene." Great stuff. I don't know that they ever topped that.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Sebadoh's Haramacy is pretty good. The styles of songs flip with the writing. Barlow & Loewenstein just had two different approaches.

Have you listen to any "Folk Implosion" Captain?

[AssKissinger]

I could never listen to Sebadoh. I think the best thing they did was stop making music.

That's harsh but funny. Obviously, I disagree. Harmacy, good call ODG. That one song 'You can never be too pure or too connected' I think it's called Pure, man that's a great song. Captain, check out that one song at least. You'll like it. I'll put an AK guarantee on it. If you listen to and still don't like it I'll change my quote to 'An AK guarantee ain't worth a shit' for a month.

[Ptyx]

Come on, Sebadoh best albums were Bubble & Scratch and the brillantly titled Smash your head on the punk rock.

[Captain Japan]

I could never listen to Sebadoh. I think the best thing they did was stop making music.

That's harsh but funny. Obviously, I disagree. Harmacy, good call ODG. That one song 'You can never be too pure or too connected' I think it's called Pure, man that's a great song. Captain, check out that one song at least. You'll like it. I'll put an AK guarantee on it. If you listen to and still don't like it I'll change my quote to 'An AK guarantee ain't worth a shit' for a month.

No, no, Harmacy wasn't bad. But only not bad. I think what really soured me on them was the one time I saw them live. The whole thing just sucked, start to finish. And I could never get into the lo-fi stuff from before Bakesale. Even though Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock is indeed a catchy title. What was that one, Freed Weed or something?

Never listened to Folk Implosion. Should I?

[AssKissinger]

Come on, Sebadoh best albums were Bubble & Scratch and the brillantly titled Smash your head on the punk rock.

That allmusic looks like a pretty good website. If you register can you listen to full songs for free?

[Mulboyne]

Allmusic is a good site. It's free, but you can use bugmenot to register. You only get snippets of songs but it is probably the most comprehensive online music database. A little like imdb.com for films.

[mr. sparkle]

Come on, Sebadoh best albums were Bubble & Scratch and the brillantly titled Smash your head on the punk rock.

Bubble and Scrape, not scratch--I know what you mean though....
fucking buhRILLiant record.

Bring back DINO! Lou Barlow is God! Yeah baby, I saw the original lineup back in the day. I've seen Sebadoh, what 4 times?? Unlike the good Cap'n, I don't think I saw 'em do a bad gig.

A J-Fest? Hell, I ain't never done that. I am SO there!

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Never listened to Folk Implosion. Should I?

Have been listening to "Dare to be surprised" of late. Try the samples at Amazon

AK, "Too Pure" is what you're thinking of. "Willing to Wait" is damn good song writing, same album.

[Captain Japan]

Never listened to Folk Implosion. Should I?

Have been listening to "Dare to be surprised" of late. Try the samples at Amazon

AK, "Too Pure" is what you're thinking of. "Willing to Wait" is damn good song writing, same album.

I tried. Everytime a song gets going it dies (I mean the Amazon only puts parts of the songs up there). But certainly I'll give it a fair shot.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to say that Sebadoh are as bad as something the Red Hot Chili Peppers; I just never could really think most of their stuff was any good, and I liked Dinosaur Jr. better.

[AssKissinger]

as bad as something the Red Hot Chili Peppers;

Good call.

I can't link cause it's from a print magazine but there was an interview with Nick Cave recently where he said that the RHCP are so bad that when he hears them he wants to fall on his knees and weep for humanity.

[Captain Japan]

as bad as something the Red Hot Chili Peppers]

Good call.

I can't link cause it's from a print magazine but there was an interview with Nick Cave recently where he said that the RHCP are so bad that when he hears them he wants to fall on his knees and weep for humanity.

There's boatloads of things about Japan that I don't understand from a common sense point of view but the popularity of the RHCP is near the top. Why on earth?

I understand why shitty metal is popular; it's the dangerous image, the girls etc. Same reason for shitty rap and hip hop. Techno doesn't have lyrics so the beat and rhythm is enough. But the RHCP don't have anything I can see as being appealing. Not one thing. They are just a hopeless train-wreck of a band that somehow keeps going, and getting more and more popular in Japan.

I really like the Bad Seeds. And that song Nick did with PJ Harvey was great. I wonder what he's up to these days.

[AssKissinger]

I wonder what he's up to these days.

Dude! He just released a double CD that may be the best thing he's ever done.

Amazon

[Mulboyne]

From "Our Band Could Be Your Life" by Michael Azerrad

Barlow was convinnced Dinosaur could have achieved widespread popularity if they'd only preserved their original inspiration...Shortly after Nevermind was released and immediately began scaling the charts, Barlow bumped into Mascis on the streets of Northampton. "I was like totally high and drunk," says Barlow, "and I was like, 'They fucking beat you to it! You could have done it, you asshole, we could have fucking done it'"

[Captain Japan]

I wonder what he's up to these days.

Dude! He just released a double CD that may be the best thing he's ever done.

Amazon

Yeah, since I wrote that I went to his Web page. I just watched the video for "Nature Boy." Good stuff.

[Captain Japan]

From "Our Band Could Be Your Life" by Michael Azerrad

Barlow was convinnced Dinosaur could have achieved widespread popularity if they'd only preserved their original inspiration...Shortly after Nevermind was released and immediately began scaling the charts, Barlow bumped into Mascis on the streets of Northampton. "I was like totally high and drunk," says Barlow, "and I was like, 'They fucking beat you to it! You could have done it, you asshole, we could have fucking done it'"

Maybe the irony here is that Mascis did try to do it. Dinosaur Jr. stuff was pretty catchy in the early '90s. Certainly it was a departure from some of the noise freak outs on their early records. But I guess by then it was too late.

Hey Mulboyne, are you going to let me borrow that book at some point? If not, would it be too much trouble for you to type all the text into FG?

[AssKissinger]

When I saw Nirvana it was right after Nevermind came out and they were opening for Dinosaur in a small club. Things sure changed quickly but it was the best time to see Nirvana. If Barlow had stayed in the band I think Dinosaur would probably be in my all time top ten.

[Mulboyne]

Hey Mulboyne, are you going to let me borrow that book at some point?

I forget to give it back to my mate so it is with me now in Europe. I need to lend it on because it doesn't look so pristine any more and I'd like to blame somebody else for the wear and tear.

Incidentally, Japan isn't the only country to favour the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. They were largely ignored in the UK until Californication and now they can do no wrong. But only Japan gives the time of day to John Frusciante solo work.

London was just treated to a gig by the reformed The Presidents of the United States of America which I don't think anyone was calling for.

[mr. sparkle]

I saw the RHCP when they were touring on their first two albums--when they FIRST started putting socks on cocks. Back then, the SF bay area was going through "the next big thing" which we called "Thrash Funk". It was when Primus, The Limbomaniacs, Fishbone, MCM and the Monster and others began to get popular. They were great and fun shows. The Limbos even played my backyard (they were HS buddies of mine)! But then RHCP started doing smack and losing it. Hilal OD'd. The fun was over by album numero tres.

...and then Anthony thought he could sing! WRONG!

I agree with Nick Cave. Those boys should come up w/ something new or hang it up for good. At least Nick the Stripper re-invented himself after the Birthday Party. Seen him mutiple times, always great--and what a sense of humor.

Boredoms countdown is 4 days!!

[AssKissinger]

I was in a bar here with some Marines and they were singing along with RHCP. They knew every word. So I guess someone likes them. I always think if I don't like a band no one really likes them. I tend to think other people just sort of passively like them but enough people feel like that for the right marketing to send sales through the roof. But these guys seemed to genuinely love that band. Why is beyond me.

Sparkle, you've seen Nick Cave four times Oh living in the Bay Area must be wonderful.

[mr. sparkle]

I was in a bar here with some Marines and they were singing along with RHCP. They knew every word. So I guess someone likes them. I always think if I don't like a band no one really likes them. I tend to think other people just sort of passively like them but enough people feel like that for the right marketing to send sales through the roof. But these guys seemed to genuinely love that band. Why is beyond me.

I dunno. Flea is a madman with that bass. I had a friend that idolized that guy. The first album was pretty awesome when it first came out. I was a college radio DJ back then, so we played the shit out of that record. Waaaay before jocks and marines started likin' them, btw. I think of 'em as just another funny thrash funk bar band.


The Red Hots in LA, 1984

The socks gag at the Keystone Palo Alto had me laughing almost as hard as when I first got squirted with GWAR juice. Ha! 12-27-85 Can't believe it. Almost 20 years ago! That's right, that was a show where they and Fishbone traded off as headliners on that tour. Hey, get the tape!

Sparkle, you've seen Nick Cave four times Oh living in the Bay Area must be wonderful.

I said I've seen Sebadoh or some form of Lou Barlow experience, like, four times. Bakesale tour at the Fillmore was probably the best show.

I've seen Nick three times (that I can remember, anyway). Twice solo: once at the SF Palace of Fine Arts auditorium with Neko Case. Once at the Warfield Theater, also in SF. I also saw him play at the ancient I-Beam on Haight Street with the original lineup of The Bad Seeds: Nick Cave / Mick Harvey / Blixa Bargeld / Barry Adamson & Jim G. Thirlwell AKA Scraping Foetus off the Wheel. Heh heh--Lydia Lunch was there. 6-18-84 to be exact. 1 of only 10 dates on the '84 tour.

A Photo from the I-Beam Show:


Setlist: A Box For Black Paul/ From Her To Eternity/ I Put A Spell On You/ Mutiny In Heaven/ Cabin Fever/ Well Of Misery/ Saint Huck/ Avalanche/ In The Ghetto

Note: Broadcast by KALX-FM in San Francisco. Cool! A tape MUST exist.

(damn, I love the internet!)

[Mulboyne]

Pitchforkmedia: Gang of Four to Embark on U.S. tour

As band reunions have mysteriously made the transition from an occasional curiosity to a moral imperative, fans have started drumming their fingers impatiently, waiting for tours that only a few years ago would have seemed like harbingers of impending apocalypse. So it is that the deific Gang of Four are touring North America with their original lineup (which last faced an audience over 20 years ago)

[dimwit]

Ok, so the purpose of this thread is to make people like me feel very old. You've suceeded. I would love to see Dinosaur Jr. again but the thought of a bunch of people my age at rock concerts is as deeply disturbing as high school reunions are..

[Mulboyne]

Pitchforkmedia: Roxy Music Reforms
Legendary UK art-rockers Roxy Music have reformed, and it appears, will be making the UK festival rounds this summer. The band has announced an appearance at the upcoming Isle of Wight festival, where they will appear alongside Morrissey and R.E.M. Taking the stage will be original members Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera, and Andy Thompson. However, despite earlier reports from The London Times and Contact Music, Pitchfork has spoken with representatives at the U.S. offices of Astralwerks Records, and can now confirm that original member Brian Eno, who left Roxy Music after 1973's For Your Pleasure, is not presently slated to appear.

[AssKissinger]

They showed a Roxy Music concert on wowow recently. Those guys are pretty old but they can still rock. And Morrisey... I was just thinking about him yesterday cause I was listening to the Smiths. He should get back together with Marr. I like Morrisey's solo stuff but if it just had Marr's goofy little guitar lines it would be as good as those old Smiths records. Morrisey should rework the best of his solo stuff letting Marr improve on the guitar lines. Those two just have the right chemistry. There's still time. So do you think the next Pixies album will suck? I'm a little worried about it.

[Visitor K]

Boredoms countdown is 4 days!!

WHERE? WHEN?
i fly into tokyo from kansai on the 27th, so its probably too late..
anyone know of any good shows that week, the 27th-2nd?

thanks,
k

[Mulboyne]

WHERE? WHEN?
i fly into tokyo from kansai on the 27th, so its probably too late..
anyone know of any good shows that week, the 27th-2nd?
thanks, k

Not much. Ghost are on a bill of 7 bands at Holiday Shinjuku on the 30th. The Jetze Johnson have a gig and, if you want to go retro, Pink Lady are playing too. On the foreign gig front, Lemon Jelly, Prefuse 73 and Suzanne Vega will be here.