photo by Jaime Lees
Dancers on stage during the Stooges set
Negative Approach, Trauma Harness and members of Dinosaur Jr played a show at the Way Out Club last night. It wasn't technically a "secret" show, but it was unadvertised and promoted primarily via word of mouth. Dinosaur Jr slayed at a sold out concert at Delmar Hall just a few days ago, so as a professional courtesy this performance at the comparatively tiny Way Out Club was to stay fairly underground.
This smaller show was organized by Jeremy Kannapell, who in addition to being a seemingly inexhaustible show booker/promoter, is also the program coordinator for New Music Circle and performs his own music under the name Ghost Ice. Kannapell started putting the word out over the weekend and by the time doors opened at the Way Out Club on Tuesday night, it was clear from the size of the excited crowd waiting outside that word had gotten around.
Dinosaur Jr bassist Lou Barlow opened the night with a quiet, sincere, beautifully delicate solo set — just him sitting on a stool with a tiny guitar. The vibe of the room changed quickly when Dinosaur Jr guitarist J Mascis took the stage with a band made up of Dinosaur Jr's hugely talented tour crew, and they launched into a set of songs by the Stooges. (It ripped, yo.) This was followed by Negative Approach, who drenched the place with so much energy that it seemed like it might explode. The headliner for the night was local band Trauma Harness, and these future legends fit in seamlessly alongside the established greats. KDHX DJ Jeff Hess provided music between the sets.
Many attendees described this show as even better than they could've imagined — saying that they felt honored to witness these unique performances at such a small venue for a mere $10. It was a memorable, magical experience.
We captured this holy night for you in photographs and in video. Please enjoy below.
PHOTOS:
photo by Jaime Lees
Lou Barlow of Dinosaur Jr plays a solo set
photo by Jaime Lees
Lou Barlow from the side of the stage
photo by Jaime Lees
More Lou Barlow
photo by Jaime Lees
DJ Jeff Hess spins records between sets
photo by Jaime Lees
J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr with his excellent band
photo by Jaime Lees
J Mascis digs gear
photo by Jaime Lees
The bar was busy
photo by Jaime Lees
The impossible-to-photograph Negative Approach
photo by Jaime Lees
This crowd was rippling like a river
photo by Jaime Lees
Local heroes Trauma Harness
photo by Jaime Lees
Where the magic happens
photo by Jaime Lees
J Mascis feelin' it
photo by Jaime Lees
The crowd waiting outside, just after the doors opened
photo by Jaime Lees
The late crowd loved Trauma Harness
photo by Jaime Lees
The Way Out Club, before the show
photo by Jaime Lees
Bob Putnam, owner of the Way Out Club
photo by Jaime Lees
John Brannon of Negative Approach at soundcheck
photo by Jaime Lees
Lou Barlow of Dinosaur Jr soundcheck
VIDEO:
Lou Barlow solo
J Mascis and Dinosaur Jr's tour crew cover the Stooges
Negative Approach
Trauma Harness
Bonus footage - John Brannon of Negative Approach sings the Stooges' "TV Eye" with Dinosaur Jr at Delmar Hall on March 19, 2017
