Notes on Dinosaur Jr.'s gig at Urban Outfitters
By JIM SULLIVAN | May 29, 2007
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Not only have the reunited J. Mascis/Lou Barlow DINOSAUR JR. just released a new album, they’re coming to town. And they’re playing on June 11 in Harvard Square, at, yes, Urban Outfitters. Over the phone, Barlow pondered the Spinal Tap aspect of a gig at a clothing store and joked that it’s “a chilling glimpse into the future of Dinosaur Jr. Actually, our manager wanted us to play retail stores, but this is the only one.” Barlow isn’t concerned about Dinosaur Jr.’s reputation for playing quite loud: “Maybe the clothing will soak up some of the sound.” And he doesn’t have any personal connection to Urban Outfitters, but he admits that he used to shop there when he was in his 20s: “They used to sell me over-dyed jeans.” The more complete answer to “Why are they doing this?” is that Dinosaur Jr. are one of 13 bands playing one-off gigs in Urban Outfitters stores as a promotion for Toyota and its Yaris model. The non-commercial Emerson College radio station WERS is also in on the action; for details, visit www.FreeYrRadio.com. . . . Dorchester hip-hopper T-MAX won an on-line video contest sponsored by Music Nation that has landed him a contract with Epic Records . . . MIT’s WMBR celebrates 15 years of its Laura Wilson–hosted goth radio show, BATS IN THE BELFRY, at Skybar June 9. The headlining DREAMCHILD, who are two-thirds of the way through recording a new disc, promise a Grand Guignol–like experience when they play the Lizzie Borden–inspired “What Lizzie Took.” . . . And now that the Kirkland Café has closed, Mickey Bliss is moving his CLUB BOHEMIA night to the Cantab Lounge. His first show there is Friday June 22.
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Jim Sullivan: jimsullivanink@verizon.net
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