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As
soon as I heard about this show, I knew I was going.
Nothing was going to stop me. There was no way I could
pass up the chance to see modern guitar legend and hero
of 80's alternative rock, J Mascis. Even though I was
pretty sure it wouldn't sell out, I went out and got
my ticket as soon as possible to ensure my place in
the presense of the ex-Dinosaur Jr. frontman.
There
was one opening act, a British guy I had never heard
of named Ben Lee. He had a few originals but the audience
was obviously not that interested. When he asked what
the crowd wanted to here, someone yelled back "J
Mascis!" After a passionate Sinead O'Connor cover,
his time was up and people started moving towards the
stage. I first truly realized what I was in for when
I noticed everyone around me was putting in ear plugs.
That, combined with the fact that he had a Marshall
full stack in Starr Hill, was enough to convince
me to go to the bathroom and grab some paper.
Mascis
and the Fog, which was bassist Matt Hunter and drummer
George Berz, took the stage about fifteen minutes later.
Mascis broke out his Fender Jazzmasters, checked his
amps, fooled around with his massive effects board,
and then the show started with a Dino classic, "The
Lung." It was about halfway through this song that
I realized I in fact did need earplugs and put the paper
in. I can honestly say it's the loudest concert I've
ever heard with the possible exception of a few acts
on Warped Tour. The bass was absolutely bone-shattering.
At one point I though my knees were going to give out.
The building shook and the world spun. Mascis's guitar
solos cut like a knife and he was solid throughout,
and it was pretty funny to watch because he was pretty
mellow the whole time.
The
set was mainly tunes off the latest Fog album, Free
So Free. A few songs I remember: "Freedom,"
"Free So Free," and "Tell the Truth."
There were also a few Dino songs; the two I immediately
recall being "The Lung," which I mentioned
before, and "Little Fury Things." They also
played the Cure's "Just Like Heaven," at an
audience member's request. Speaking of the audience,
there were some interesting incidents. Someone threw
a "Beer" hat on stage apparently in hopes
of Mascis wearing it. He didn't. Then during "Just
Like Heaven," some random guy came out of nowhere,
got up on stage, tried to sing, then hastily left, unplugging
Hunter's bass mid-song as he did so.
All
in all, the show was excellent. Everything I had hoped
for. The only problem I noticed was that Mascis's voice
was almost inaudible half the time. Oh, and I probably
would be deaf if it wasn't for ear plugs. Anyway, time
to wrap this up. I'd recommend the show to Dino fans
and anyone into really loud rock music.
Oh
yeah, I got a few pics but most of them are a little
blurry. Don't know if it's because of me or the bass
vibrations :P
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