Dinosaur Jr. plays the masquerade along with American Football and Hello Mary right before celebrating the 30-year anniversary of album Where You Been
Dinosaur Jr 09/27/2023 at The Masquerade | Sam Chapa
Nearly 40 years have passed since the original line up of Dinosaur Jr. started the band, but their energy is still as vibrant as ever. After their reinstatement in 2005, Dinosaur Jr. has been pumping out albums and tours, recently stopping at The Masquerade ATL for a performance that brought together music-enjoyers of all demographics.
At their Masquerade show they were accompanied by American Football and Hello Mary.
Hello Mary 09/27/2023 at The Masquerade | Sam Chapa
The night started with Hello Mary’s dreamy yet playful set. They are an up-and-coming band from New York City making a name for themselves in the industry with their morbid aesthetic and their shoegaze sound. The trio has come a long way since their formation, starting up as an all-female band in Tik Tok. Going on tour with American Football and Dinosaur Jr. will emphasize their spot on the map, making them a band to watch closely in the upcoming years.
American Football 09/27/2023 at The Masquerade | Sam Chapa
After Hello Mary’s performance, American Football spread out on stage, welcomed with ample applause and eyes filled with awe.
Their sound was all-inspiring, their dynamic honest and unscripted, their presence simple and strong. The band’s setlist changes from time to time, but somehow, the same otherworldly songs sound like brand new tracks due to their constant jamming. After releasing their last project, Year One Demos, American Football has performed several music festivals and gone on short tours, injecting their fans with the nostalgia that listening to their self-titled debut album for the first time caused.
Dinosaur Jr 09/27/2023 at The Masquerade | Sam Chapa
After the staff rolled in with the biggest, most visually intimidating amps, mixers, drums and speaker, after speaker, after speaker; Dinosaur Jr was ready to claim the stage.
The crowd, sprinkled with older fans as well as new ones, received the band with open arms. J Mascis's deliverance of music was admirable, concentrated on his sound yet flowing with inspiration. Murph's drums were as glorious as when the band was at its pinnacle. Lou Barlow's energy under the spotlight was all-consuming, overwhelming, it made you want to get up there and jump with him.
Dinosaur Jr 09/27/2023 at The Masquerade | Sam Chapa
Despite Dinosaur Jr's music being overall upbeat, luring their listeners to a mosh pit, the attendees at The Masquerade that night just watched completely hypnotized by the trio. Their setlist, which was of course claimed by barricading-fans towards the end of the show, went as follows:
1. The Lung
2. Garden
3. Out There
4. Crumble
5. Pieces
6. I Met the Stones
7. Kracked
8. Sludgefeast
9. Tarpit
10. Been There All the Time
11. Mountain Man
12. Start Choppin
13. Feel the Pain
14. Freak Scene
15. Gargoyle
Their time on stage ended with encores The Wagon and The Cure cover, Just Like Heaven.
The band will continue to finish their tour in Europe and then move on to their 30 year anniversary celebration of their album Where You Been involving seven Brooklyn, NY Shows, two Portland, OR shows, and two Seattle, WA shows. The setlist for all of the above will be the complete album beginning to end, fans could not ask for a better celebration. Their next show dates go as follows:
11/10 Rolling Stone Beach. Wangels, Germany
11/12 The Garage. London, England
11/13 The Garage. London, England
11/14 The Garage. London, England
11/15 The Garage. London, England
11/17 Magic Robin Hood Camp. Benidorm, Spain
11/18 Teatro Colon. A Coruña, Spain
*12/01 Music Hall of Williamsburg. Brooklyn, NY
*12/02 Music Hall of Williamsburg. Brooklyn, NY
*12/03 Music Hall of Williamsburg. Brooklyn, NY
*12/05 Music Hall of Williamsburg. Brooklyn, NY
*12/05 Music Hall of Williamsburg. Brooklyn, NY
*12/06 Music Hall of Williamsburg. Brooklyn, NY
*12/07 Music Hall of Williamsburg. Brooklyn, NY
*12/08 Music Hall of Williamsburg. Brooklyn, NY
*01/13 Revolution Hall. Portland, OR
*01/14 Revolution Hall. Portland, OR
*01/17 Neptune Theatre. Seattle, WA
*01/18 Neptune Theatre. Seattle, WA
*Celebrating 30 years of Where You Been
Dinosaur Jr 09/27/2023 at The Masquerade | Sam Chapa
Despite some bumps in their career as a band, after Dinosaur Jr's performance at Atlanta's The Masquerade with American Football and Hello Mary, it is clear they are far from losing their spark and will keep bringing together fans of all demographics with their music.
