I ♥ the 90’s Part 1

90’s rock band Dinosaur Jr. rocks Coachella and Cali

As a teen growing up in the 90’s, my first introduction to pop and rock came from bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains…all those 90’s alternative grunge bands. Trained as a classical violist from the age of nine, you’d think I’d be into Bach, Beethoven or Brahms but that was totally the opposite.  I never listened to classical music unless I was specifically told by my teacher that I had to, and then it was still a chore.  This is absolutely why my career as a violist is rock, pop and jazz based…I literally cannot imagine performing professionally in an orchestra–not my thing!

I was stoked to get a chance to see Dinosaur Jr. when they came to the west coast.  They played Coachella this year, so naturally they booked a few shows nearby. I had never been to the Glasshouse in Pamona (about 45 min east of LA). The venue is actually pretty sweet…very intimate and standing room only.  I would definitely come back to see another band here–small venues are where it’s at!

Love the merch!  I’m actually kicking myself for not buying that hat–so 90’s retro:)

So a couple things that make this band really unique: the lead singer/guitarist/shredding god, J Mascis, tunes his guitar between EVERY song. So, while most bands have a little banter, or rehearsed segues from song to song, J tunes his guitar.  AND he tunes it out loud–a faux pas in the world of rock and guitar tuning. But since he is a LEGEND on the guitar, he gets away with it.  They absolutely killed it (of course)…J’s signature guitar sound with heavy feedback and distortion, and his drawling vocals always take me back to those awesome years as a teen discovering the world of rock music for the first time.

Next unique and interesting fact…J uses not one but three Marshall stacks! Yup, for every show. Literally a wall of sound. And of course the signature purple head on the top right:)

Being the rock and art fanatics that we are, we don’t leave a concert without buying a poster. Our front room has turned into a gallery of framed concert posters, all limited editions. With every new addition we play a little tetris on the wall and hope it fits amongst the others.  It’s a work in progress over the next couple years, but is going to turn out to be the coolest room in our home with black wood floors, grey walls and crazy concert posters. Interior design updates to come:)