Dinosaur Jr. at The Observatory (Photos)

The legendary trio hit the West Coast for a brief string of shows.

Photograph by Joshua Alvarez

Photographs by Joshua Alvarez (@joshua.jam3s) on February 26, 2023:

With a wall of Marshall amps behind them, the celebrated Dinosaur Jr. made a stop at The Observatory in Orange County just prior to heading to Hawaii, delivering a hefty array of contemporary greats from 2021's Sweep It Into Space and staples from seminal records, Where You Been (1992), You're Living All Over Me (1987), and more. In short, it was a showcase performance reflective of the impact the Massachusetts band have on the alternative rock genre.

From seeing the amps at the start, you just knew it was about to be a loud performance, and that it was. The Lung opened the set, met by enthusiastic cheer as the noise filled treat filled the room.

Photograph by Joshua Alvarez

The band consistently blew the lid off of The Observatory, welcoming excited crowd surfers to the front. Face melting grooves comprised the night for a lengthy 20-song set that incorporated Start Choppin to Feel the Pain, each of which shines in the live setting. J, Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph sounded tighter than ever with Lou shredding like a mad man stuck in his own world, feeding off and engaging with the crowd.

Photograph by Joshua Alvarez

Dinosaur Jr. are worth their weight in gold; that isn't arguable. The versatility and compositional strengths present that evening highlighted what split the trio into their own unique spectrum of rock. The joy and evident passion in their facial expressions and body language spoke volumes of their commitment to the craft. They capped the night off perfectly with a cover of The Cure's Just Like Heaven, which turned that song on its head through a dynamic Dinosaur Jr. flavor.

Dinosaur Jr. Photo Gallery