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Original Source: http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/fee … 17211.html
Quote:Feel the girth of the Dinosaur
March 10, 2006Dinosaur Jr. is revisiting Melbourne with its original line-up, writes Craig Mathieson.
AFTER a delay of a mere 17 years, Lou Barlow is finally touring Australia with Dinosaur Jr. The last time the American noise trio’s original line-up – Barlow on bass, vocalist-guitarist J Mascis and drummer Murph, aka Emmett Murphy – were preparing to visit was 1989. But just before the tour Mascis fired long-time friend Barlow.
Barlow wasn’t aware he’d been retrenched – he thought Mascis, a case study in passive-aggressive dislocation, was breaking up the group but within weeks a revised Dinosaur Jr. was laying waste to the ears of Melbourne fans.
Obliquely controlled by the perpetually diffident Mascis, Dinosaur Jr. would go on to sign to a big label and enjoy retrospective success when grunge broke in 1991 but it’s the founders who retain the critical cachet.
Their three albums – 1985’s Dinosaur, 1987’s You’re Living All Over Me and 1988’s Bug (all recently remastered and reissued here on Shiny) – introduced psychedelic sludge to hardcore, supplanted anger with ennui and inspired a generation of bands including My Bloody Valentine and Spiderbait.
It was the successful reformation of fellow Massachusetts alternative icons the Pixies that started the ball rolling for Dinosaur Jr. Mascis’ manager – "a very ambitious and aggressive person, which is just what J requires", observes Barlow – made the initial offer and Barlow, who’d enjoyed an equally successful career fronting indie-rock combo Sebadoh and releasing solo albums, considered it on aesthetic grounds.
"I just wanted to know what Murph thought," he says, from his home in Los Angeles.
"When I was asked, I said, ‘OK, but what about Murph?’ Playing with J is one thing but for me it’s playing with Murph that’s really important. If he hadn’t done it, I wouldn’t have."
Last March the rhythm section reconvened in Barlow’s LA rehearsal space.
Because Mascis plays at such extreme volume, the bassist and drummer had to reconnect while they still had a chance to hear each other.
A week later Mascis arrived, and a secret club show in Silverlake and a television appearance announced their return. If that appeared well orchestrated, the band’s internal dialogue was as nebulous as ever.
"There was nothing approaching any reality TV-style reunion. I’d be too embarrassed to act like that even in private," notes the nebbish, bespectacled Barlow, who instead derives the satisfaction he needs from the band’s music.
"I’d forgotten how physically satisfying it really is. There’s a depth and physicality to the music but it’s not angry – we’re generally playing love songs," he says.
"Even when I was in the throes of hating J, I always though the music was great. Now, when we play, it feels like the music is just carrying me along."
Nonetheless, Dinosaur Jr.’s impact is not easily discerned. If anything, Barlow’s Sebadoh, where he came into his own as a songwriter, is now more influential, having spawned the lo-fi movement and broken ground for the somnambulant folk scene.
"Right now there’s a lot of people apeing the sound of Black Sabbath and heavy jam rock," sighs Barlow, "but there’s not much heavy music with heart being played. I’m definitely interested in exploring a heavier sound next – even with an acoustic guitar you can have a real girth to your music. That’s really what Dinosaur Jr. is all about: girth."
Dinosaur Jr. play the Corner Hotel, Richmond, on Saturday and Sunday. Lou Barlow plays solo at the Northcote Social Club next Thursday and Friday.
Original source: http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/fee … 17211.html
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