Inaugural performance

The alt-rock gods must be smiling on Bloomington, as the legendary Dinosaur Jr. will make eardrums bleed at the Bluebird Nightclub on Friday.

With Michigan’s own Awesome Color kicking off the night, the show marks a milestone for Bloomington and for Dinosaur Jr., who signed with local label Jagjaguwar in February.

“They are one of those bands that has been with us since our earliest days buying records,” said label co-owner Chris Swanson, “and it still feels really crazy to have the opportunity to release one of their greatest records yet.”

Formed in the early 1980s in Amherst, Mass., by frontman/guitarist J Mascis and bassist Lou Barlow, the band went through a few lineup and name changes before recruiting drummer Murph and adopting the name Dinosaur Jr.

After touring with alternative legend Sonic Youth, the band exploded on the scene with their sophomore recording released on SST Records, ’87’s “You’re Living All Over Me.”

Combining deafening rock riffs with dissonant distortion and unusual structure, Dinosaur Jr. established itself as a prominent influence in the alternative-rock scene.
However, when Barlow was kicked out of the band in 1989, later forming Sebadoh, the group went through eight years of lineup and label changes until Mascis ended it in the late ’90s.

Mascis and Barlow mended their severed ties and reunited in 2005, releasing an album of new material in 2007 entitled “Beyond.”
Still shuffling around between labels, they finally settled on Jagjaguwar, who will release their next album, “Farm,” on June 23.

“The opportunity to work with Dinosaur Jr. is a dream come true to all of us at the label,” Swanson said. “It was a pretty incredible affirmation for us when they got in touch with us as they were working on the new album and said that they were fans of the records we’ve been releasing.”

Local Dinosaur Jr. fans are just as awed by the band’s local ties.
“I’m really pumped that such an influential band in indie rock signed to a label that’s in Bloomington,” said freshman Madeline Dowling.

Jajaguwar is really making a mark on the music industry lately, and to have such a celebrated band throw their weight behind the label is really cool.”

Friday’s main event will be preceded by a free all-ages performance by Barlow 6 p.m. at Landlocked Music.

Locals anticipate the power-trio’s first Bloomington visit, even if they are not able to attend due to the show’s 21-and-over age requirement.

“I bet the turnout is going to be pretty spectacular,” sophomore Rachel Mishler said . “A friend of mine has been to a Dino show before, and he said it was the single loudest experience of his entire life.”

Swanson’s excitement is also apparent.    

“They’re one of the greatest live bands in the world right now,” he said, “and we get to see them at the Bluebird. It’s going to be awesome.”