Dinosaur Jr. performed at Baltimore Soundstage in Baltimore, Maryland on November 18, 2019 — and I, Andy Jillson, was there taking photos and having my ear drums blown out. All three original members of Dinosaur Jr. are out on a fall tour of North American and I was able to score a photo pass despite the obstacles. Continue reading below for full concert review. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson.

American indie/alternative rock heroes Dinosaur Jr. recently stopped at Baltimore Soundstage to play an ear-piercing set of new and old songs. Frontman and guitarist J Masics, bassist Lou Barlow, and drummer Murph punished the audience at Soundstage with their signature sound and intense volume. Their Marshall triple stack amps must have gone to 11! They literally blew the crowd away.

Dinosaur Jr. indeed plays louder than just about any band I’ve seen in a small club. I wasn’t entirely sure if J Mascis’ hair was blowing around due to the high-powered fans on stage or due to the ridiculous volume of his guitar amps. The wasted no time — belting out a blissful sonic barrage of songs during their set. There was little to no talking in between songs. The show was not quite sold-out, but it was extremely close. The venue was packed tightly and the crowd was soaked in sweat and beer. It was indie rock heaven.

I’ve been a fan of Dinosaur Jr. since I was a teenager; however, this was only my second time seeing them perform live. The first time I saw them was at Lollapalooza 1993. They were one of the daytime acts that year. Whoa. Long time ago. Barely remember it. Anyway, I’m glad I caught them performing live in my adulthood. There were only two or three other photographers in the photo pit. I was able to move around to move around with ease and I really enjoyed the whole show.

My ear plugs were no match for J Mascis’ and Lou Barlow’s Marshal amps though. No too mention Murph’s jet engine drumming holding it all together. My ears were still ringing well into the next day. Noteworthy songs Dinosaur Jr. played included; “Thumb,” “No Bones,” “Left/Right,” “Does It Float,” “Out There,” “Feel the Pain,” “Little Fury Things,” “The Wagon,” “Freak Scene,” and “Gargoyle.”

Luckily for the fans, Dinosaur Jr. is still “out there” on tour playing pioneering alternative rock music, loud as hell! Be sure to check out the Official Dinosaur Jr. Website for all upcoming tour dates and other info about the band. Don’t miss out! See Dinosaur Jr. while you still can!

Here are some more photos of Dinosaur Jr. performing at Baltimore Soundstage in Baltimore, Maryland on November 18, 2019. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson/Hazy Eye Music Media.

Stream these classic Dinosaur Jr. albums on Spotify: