Personally, I think this tour is especially loud. I saw J several times before and loved the shows – loud, but audible. This time, in Atlanta, it was so loud that even some people with earplugs were covering their ears at times. And, there was one song that neither my friend nor I could identify because it was so loud and distorted.

I love J and I love him loud, but I too wish this tour would have been a little less loud. I don’t want to HAVE to wear earplugs, but I think I will take a pair next time. I do know the show I saw this tour was in a smaller venue that the shows I saw before and I wonder if that had something to do with it, like he still has the volume on "big hall" or "outdoor festival".

Don’t get me wrong, I would rather see a too loud J concert than any other concert. His songs are just so beautiful that I would like to be able to appreciate them with less ear damage. Also, the melodies and lyrics can be so great and they just don’t come through at that volume.

how close are you standing?? hang out by the sound guy, you’ll hear the show much better. i’ve tried moving up to the stage and i can’t handle the volume (for any group, not just J). but i’ve seen J/Dino a few times and been able to hear the words, solos, etc if i’m in a good spot. on the flip side, i’ve tried to get right in front to get a good look at the band and i haven’t been able to even tell which song they are playing!!!

Keith

yeah, i’ll never forget hearing Sludgefeast for the first time live, it nearly knocked me on the ground!! after the song was over, my buddy (who wasn’t really into DinoJR) was just like "damn! what song was that?!"

Keith

I just read Mike Watt’s Fog tour diary and it seems technical problems might have had a lot to do with my opinion of the show I saw this tour. Maybe it wasn’t so much the volume that blew the sound, but technical problems. It took forever before they came on and when they did, they still had to tune everything and then it really was too distorted and you couldn’t hear the guitar over the bass for a good part of the show. Only the third show on the tour, so I guess these things are bound to happen.

It made me feel better to read that these were actual problems in their minds also and not intentional in the sound. I was feeling really confused not totally enjoying seeing J play.

Still, I’d rather see J play a show that didn’t sound so good than anyone else’s best show. Just watching him and Watt play was worth the ticket price.

While I agree that some of the "subtlety" of a studio recording is lost in translation, the power of live Dinosaur cannot be denied. I’ve seen J twice; the second time, when he took the stage to the monolithically sonic "raisins" in austin, texas was something I’ll never forget. I think it’s in the liner of "You’re Living All Over Me" where there’s a picture of a concert bill or something that describes early Dinosaur as "Loud Psychedelic Rock." The "loud" part has always been true, and I for one hope it always will be.

I can’t wait to see him this time in Dallas. I’m at an age now where perhaps discretion is the better part of valor, so this will be the first time I’ll ever wear earplugs to a show of any kind. In my youth, I might have ridiculed someone who took such precautions, but I would like one day to hear my grandchildren when they talk to me.

In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the subtlety of J’s records, and look forward to the rough though sure to be awe-inspiring sonic power of his live show November 22 (in pretty tight quarters, I might add, at the Gyspsy Tea Room).