“The first show we played with Dinosaur Jr. was last night; they were fucking incredible.” – Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater
Review and photos by Danielle Boise
The indie rock band Shearwater opened for Dinosaur Jr. on Tuesday October 2 at the Variety Playhouse for a powerful, riveting performance full of rich and lush songs set to dominating melodies. With an intense primal-ness to their music that was balanced with a sober quality, Shearwater performed songs off their latest release, Animal Joy, which came out on February 14 from Sub Pop Records. Their set included “Landscape at Speed,” “Animal Life,” “Dread Sovereign,” “You As You Were,” “Insolence,” “Rooks,” “Immaculate,” “Pushing the River,” “Breaking the Yearlings” and “Star of the Age” before ending with a cover of REM’s “These Days.”
Shearwater will continue on tour with Dinosaur Jr. through October 27 . For more information on Shearwater or their latest album Animal Joy, visit shearwatermusic.com.
What I love about venues like the Variety Playhouse is that you can literally reach up and touch the artist performing before you; you’re that close to greatness. The acts that you’ve grown-up with who have influenced, altered and molded your musical tastes over the years for good or bad are within arm’s reach. When you have the feeling of being swallowed in an intimate moment versus feeling like you’ve been swallowed whole by the masses at larger venues, it’s really the ability to form a real connection with the artist before you. That makes it a treat to be able to experience emerging artists and tour favorites at venues like this. Seeing Dinosaur Jr. at the Variety Playhouse was truly the perfect way to experience them live.
“We love to come to Atlanta. We’re here tonight because we have a new album out (I Bet on Sky).” – Lou Barlow
J Mascis knows how to play the guitar with such vigor and audacious fortitude that doesn’t rely on anything showy, just pure talent on stage as Dinosaur Jr. performed at Variety Playhouse to a nearly sold out crowd of fans. Some drove in from Ashville, NC to see Dinosaur Jr., while others came in from Greenville, SC to see Shearwater with the bonus of getting to experience Dinosaur Jr. live for the first time.
Dinosaur Jr. performed songs off their new album, I Bet on Sky, which was released September 18 from Jagjaguwar; along with show staples with their 16 song set list. Dinosaur Jr.’s started the night off with “See It on Your Side” then got the show really started with “No Bones” followed by “The Lung,” “Rude,” “What Was That,” “The Wagon,” “Don’t Pretend You Didn’t Know,” “Watch the Corners,” “Feel the Pain,” “Start Choppin’,” “Freak Scene,” covered Deep Wound’s “Training Ground” and ended with “Forget the Swan” for the regular set before they came back out onto stage and performed “Kracked,” “Sludgefeast,” and ended the night with “Chunks” with special guests Kevin Sweeney and Kyle Spence.
Dinosaur Jr. will be on tour through December 1, so if you get a chance definitely go out and see them live. It’s well worth it. For more information on Dinosaur Jr., their new album I Bet on Sky or for more tour date information, visit dinosaurjr.com.
