Dinosaur Jr

It’s a balmy Melbourne night and the air with thick with the scent of anticipation. The sold out crowd surges in tense readiness for the evenings feature presentation. Whilst such emotional investment is a feature of many if not most shows, tonight is different, tonight the tension is palpable, a physical presence standing besides each and every audience member.

The cause of this high tension and spirits is the fact that history was unfolding in the very midst of the audience. The collective was there to witness, some for the second time, the reformation of one of music’s most portentous outfits.

Dinosaur Jr was set to take the stage. And they took it by storm. Many in the audience were too young to have bought any Dinosaur Jr. albums on record or cassette when Dinosaur Jr first broke from garage to main stage. Indeed for any of those old enough to have air –guitared to Dinosaur Jr throughout the 1980’s , this would be a momentous occasion for another reason, for this is the first time that all three original members have graced an Australian stage.

Whilst I have read about Dinosaur Jr in many a music magazine and are completely aware of their indelible influence, I do not own any of their albums and thus musically they were an unknown quantity. Whilst on one hand I feel like a complete fraud for being here, I at least know that I will be able to give you a fair account of Dinosaur Jr circa 2006 with only a minimal hint of bias.

As I mentioned previously, I don’t own any Dinosaur Jr albums so any hopes of being able to give you a set list rested entirely with my boyfriend who, whilst recognising the tracks was next to useless in being able to tell me their titles. However, I am pleased to report that not only are Dinosaur Jr alive and well, they are alive and kicking. Whilst not a band who will win any awards in the band/audience interaction stakes, musically their performance was flawless (in that flawed rock/grunge/punk/whatever you want to call it) way. It seemed to me, and by the reaction of the sold out crowd who were able to mouth every word while swaying in perfect time to the beat, that age has not wearied them. In fact I dare say that the opposite is true, Dinosaur Jr appear to have become a fine wine in a world or retread rock vinegar.

I left the night knowing that in my ignorance of the glory of Dinosaur Jr. I had missed out. However, I can assure you that by the next time Dinosaur Jr are gracing our fair shores, I’ll be there, studied up and ready to appreciate them in the manner they duly deserve. I suggest you are standing there next to me.

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