After having seen the reformed Dino Jr play less than a year ago, showcasing the first
three albums, expectations were running high for the Mean Fiddler gig. I mean, I knew
going in that there is a new album in the offing, what were the boys going to pull out
for us tonight?

First up was an an acoustic set by Lou Barlow. Hmmm. It was immediately apparent
that about one half of the slowly building crowd was not interested in solo Lou. Loud
talking throughout meant that Lou’s quiet set was barely audible. Lou even made the
comments "It’s real nice to play for you <pause> people", and "It’s going to be
a pleasure to plug in and blow your ****** heads off". REBOUND was well received
by the crowd, as well as the set closer SKULL.

Lou then left the stage. Roadies then took the stage for a 45 minute set that included
setting up a microphone stand, removing Lou’s chair and putting out some fresh towels.
Seriously, I don’t know what was happening back stage, but I hope it was important.
Maybe J Mascis and friends were singing and chanting for AMMA? At one point sections
of the crowd began clapping in unison and there was the occasional loud exhortation
bellowed out. "COME ON". This wasn’t helped by the fact that one of the roadies looked
a bit like J. There were a couple of false alarms.

J and crew inauspiciously slinked onto stage and immediately jumped into the set opener
THE LUNG. I’ve heard J’s appearance variously described since the reformation, Tranny
Witch was one that immediately sprung back to mind. I think if Terry Zwigoff ever films
a BAD SANTA 2, J will be a prime candidate for lead. THE LUNG was punctuated by a
long solo. That was to be the pattern for the night, familiar pre and post schism Dino
tracks built around long solos. I was surprised to hear OUT THERE quite early in the set.
Wow, J had managed to twist Lou’s arm, but the real surprise came about mid set, THE
WAGON. I don’t know, but I would imagine that would be the track that would rankle Lou
the most. Think back to 1991. J on stage somewhere in Europe blasting out THE WAGON,
while Lou was in his room penning the lyrics to PIG.

A personal highlight was hearing two new tracks, one that I think was called "It’s All I Came
To Do", that featured no less than 4 guitar solos, and another sung (inaudibly) by Lou, with
massive, chunky guitar riffs. Both songs I cannot wait to hear on the forthcoming new album.

The usual gripes, FREAKSCENE (for the umpteenmillionth time), J’s lack of onstage patter
(I really would like to hear about his recent travels in India) and massive volume that was painful
for anyone not wearing earplugs. And what was with the weird lazy hazy instrumental intros to
some of the older songs?

All told, a solid rock show, equal lumps of melody and virtuosity, fretboard gymnastics, blah blah.