Dinosaur Jr - The Wagon [5-21-92]

[@oaeoeaoRust]

House band guitarist with 8 gauge strings on an ESP Strat into a cold Marshall playing box form technique teaches us all that tone comes from the soul.

[@El_myth]

Amazing comment

[@MuscleDad420]

Will Lee sure is getting into it tho

[@MichaelMenard89]

Haha 8 gauge. My finger pressure alone would bend it outta tune instant.

[@MrDobolinaMrBobDobolina]

When Letterman was on NBC, and bands had to mix with the house band - it saved time, because they didn’t need to do separate soundchecks - most bands just told them to play it like it was on the record. But J knew exactly how to use those extra four musicians to bring the song to another level, and THEY ARE SO INTO IT. Easily one of the best live-in-the-studio TV performances of all time.

[@moondog5553]

Nice observation

[@TerryTolkinnnn]

I was at my desk one morning when Thurston called. "dinosaur jr are taping the Letterman Show this afternoon and j's really nervous about it. Can you go over there and hang out?" I told him: "Sure" I hung up and rolled a couple of joints. I worked at 75 Rockefeller Center and Late Night taped across the plaza at Studio 6A in the 30 Rockefeller Center building. I met the guys at the freight elevator and we loaded up their gear. It was gonna be their first TV appearance. Green Mind had just come out on Sire Records. I'd been to the Studio before so I showed them to the Green (Mind) Room. Paul Shafer came in and I introduced everyone. The band took their equipment onto the stage and setup their gear. I watched the soundcheck and camera blocking. When we got back to the Green Room we were surprised to find Donald Trump sitting there watching TV. He stood up and introduced himself. He's a tall guy. His hands are thick but it's his fingers that are short and disproportionately fat. He had on a rather well-worn, tired looking single-breasted navy blue suit. It had those shiny patches behind the elbows that come from excessive wear. It wasn't tailored so the area on the top of it's shoulders and around his neck sported a concentric series of furrows. They were dusted with a layer of dandruff. These were tough times for The Donald. He was going through a very public separation from Ivana for over two years at this point and his relationship with Marla Maples had only recently become public, further clouding his divorce negotiations. The Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City was in the final throws of it's bankruptcy death. The Trump Shuttle airlines had also just declared bankruptcy. It shut down without notice leaving many passengers stuck with their pre-purchased monthly passes. All this caused much speculation that his whole "Trumpire" was on the verge of collapse. There he was, gorging on the complimentary Deli tray. I couldn't help myself. "Man, Donald, I've just been striking out non-stop lately with the ladies. What's your secret, man?" I asked. He passed on the joint. "You gotta get them to think that you're listening to them. Let them blab on. They're not gonna listen to your opinion anyway. Just act all sympathetic. Works like a charm" Letterman came into the room. "Smells like 1975 in here!" He grabbed some cheese wedges offa the now almost barren tray. "No wonder you're so hungry" I pointed to The Donald and said: "Not us, Dave, this guy is out of free business lunches" Everyone laughed. Except The Donald. "Great. Kick a guy while he's down! Do me a favor, don't ask me for anymore advice, OK?" He continued: "You believe this guy? He was just asking me for dating tips" Letterman got it. I rolled my eyes into my head as I looked upwards to the ceiling. "Next thing you know he'll be asking you for business advice" Dave said. Everyone's chuckling. The Donald asked Dave to please not get into anything to do with Marla or his divorce. "Well, what the fuck are we gonna talk about then? The Taj?" Dave asked. "Ask me about Miss America. I got a bunch of announcements I can make about that" "OK" replied Letterman. Dave turned to me and asked if I'd been talking to Don (Van Vliet a/k/a Captain Beefheart) recently. I told him that I had been and that I would be flying out to see him sometime soon. Then I gave him a CD of Trout Mask Replica that I was soon to have reissued on Warner Brothers. He asked: "Think that you'll get him to make that Blues record for you?" We talked about that for a bit. "Make sure he knows that I want him back on the show. You think you can get him to autograph this for me?" "Sure N'uff N will do" I told him. I don't know if it made it to the final edit of the show that night but like, the first thing he said to The Donald was: "So in the Green Room I heard you giving out advice on women to the band. How's that going for you?" dinosaur jr performed great that day. When they finished the camera cut to Letterman. He was taking his fingers outta his ears. "Man, that was the LOUDEST band that's ever played here!

[@whatsforafters7843]

Thanks a helluva lot for sharing that! I didn't usually watch all of the Letterman shows, from start to finish... just set the tape for the last 20 minutes or so, in a bid to catch the musical guests, but every now and then, I'd watch more. Didn't see "the Donald" for this date, but I *do* remember Letterman giving Paul and the band continual remarks about how loud Motorhead were going to be, when they appeared, and did the Chuck Berry cover [guessing Dave stuck around for the rehearsal...] I find it incredible, looking back on it, how many times dinosaur jr / j mascis were invited to play on his show, considering how out of left field, it seemed, to book such a band, at the time. I'm guessing that had more to do with Paul. Lucky us.

[@TerryTolkinnnn]

@@whatsforafters7843 hahahaha! Well, I tried parsing the dinosaur tale down but then it wouldn't have made as much sense or been as good of a story.

[@TerryTolkinnnn]

Just trying to make the KZbin comments section Great for once,@LEE 3! ;)))

[@BrownsburgKevin]

And then you woke up, genitals covered in Funyuns flavoring.

[@saintmiller3584]

Can confirm, I was the Don's dandruff.

[@Rob954ever]

Dinosaur Jr......I don't know what my life would be without them.

[@robbysoaks]

I hear ya! I feel that way about The Ramones too. It doesn't bear thinking about!

[@Huelogy]

the amount of emotion this guy puts into the guitar is just phenomonal.

[@vincefalcone171]

One of the greatest bands of the era...green mind is a soundtrack of much better days

[@SimAlex20000]

Mascis' solo here is amazing.

[@TwentyTwenty90]

'kin hell J is absolutely KILLING it. Those guitars sound so aggressive. No wonder Kevin Shields and J are buddies.

[@stereopolice]

This is something that you don't see much anymore. It's called ROCK AND ROLL; and it's presented here in its purest form. This ought to be standard viewing for any kid out there interested in music of any kind. Thanks for the vid!

[@whatsforafters7843]

stereopolice You're welcome! It is definitely a timeless moment on television. Thanks for the nod of appreciation.

[@curly_wyn]

Fuck rock and roll, this is MUSIC at its best!

[@marcusparks]

I remember watching this on tv and having it up as loud as it would go.

[@rogerramjet1038]

Cant believe I have never seen this. Rare to see J so animated. Legendary! Thanks for sharing.

[@whatsforafters7843]

+Roger Ramjet Love it when someone stumbles upon a clip that they've never seen before and truly enjoy it. Thanks for taking the time to send a note of appreciation ;)

[@rickg8015]

Roger Ramjet His physical aggro attack on the guitar was natural for J from the very beginning up to the early 90's when this album came out..

[@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84]

Rick G But I think it’s fair to say that he hasn’t been nearly as energetic on stage since he’s gotten older, which is understandable. You can clearly see the difference now.

[@brianandashleywadlington5779]

I remember watching this that night, recording it on the VCR. I was a senior in high school, about 2 weeks away from graduating. Man, 29 years later and it's still massively impacting. J, Murph blasting on the toms, and Mike looking cool as ever. Such an incredible band. Nice to see Lou's back but Mike holds an important part to me. Great memories!

[@atexcellent]

WOW. I have listened to Dinosaur since Bug was released and Green Mind is probably the greatest record of all time but I had NO idea they performed on Letterman durint this era until tonight. Mind blown.

[@dan_slawinski]

House band guy does a solo, Then J completely murders him. Made me laugh.

[@jameskaihatu277]

Sid McInness is a total pro. You're not supposed to outshine your guest.

[@charliemurphy1216]

Gosh... Fair point.

[@SimAlex20000]

also, i thot Sid's solo was awesome. great for the song. as you said--total pro.

[@japhygoldman8856]

If you watch all their Letterman appearances it's easy to see that Sid's a fan

[@ricardomendoza1162]

love it same

[@Anthonythomas5511]

I love it. Paul Schaeffer recognized that Dinosaur Jr. rocked.

[@punkrockefeller]

"recognized by letterman's paul shaffer" i'm sure that carries a lot weight.

[@Anthonythomas5511]

More than you might think, young fellow. The point I was trying to make was how an original hep cat like Paul Schaefer jumped up and out of his seat during the wagon. Reminds me of lollapalooza when I first saw these guys. Before that, I just assumed they were another rem rip off band. No! J. Mascis rocks

[@wtevo8881]

J has one of the best voices and guitar sounds ever

[@BrettMorin]

Got to say J has some of the riffs I remember the most. He is like a dirty version of Jeff Beck. He just does things in riffs others don't even think of in timing and chords. He just kind of like threw his own flavor into everything and it ROCKS!

[@kevinc809]

The house band guitarist is Sid McGinnis. He played the solo from the studio version and did a pretty good job. He probably just learned it that same day. Btw this is the best quality version of this beauty I've seen. Thanks for sharing

[@whatsforafters7843]

Thank you for posting the note of appreciation. Glad you enjoyed the clip :)

[@cheesefrog99]

One of favorite TV moments ever! I swear after the commercial break, Dave was joking that his ears were ringing cuz the band was so loud. Anyone else remember this?

[@vojtasTS29]

tbh Sid Is feeling it as fuck here. :D I love watching him sing along and do the actual lead guitar parts from the record.

[@garageink74]

This was my intro to Dinosaur Jr back in the day. And I’ve been a fan ever since!

[@djlazypaul]

Awesome. Thanks for posting. Nice. Saw them in the 90's at a dive bar in Houston. Weirdest show I've ever been to. It was like a father and son get together. Dads were launching their kids into the mosh pitt. Stained my brain and loud as hell.

[@clintwilson6380]

You remember what bar?

[@effscott]

J "let me show you how to solo"

[@mike0glx]

mother of god, two lead guitars. amazing sound, but Jmascis is exuberant

[@deannilvalli6579]

How brilliant that both bands play together! Two drummers, three guitarists, bass and keys....

[@lethrneck4]

huge dino fan here, and just sayin the house guitarist was playing the exact solo thats on the album while J is singing, its very subtle in the background of the album track..J wasnt mad about him playing it or trying to show him up...he played the solo as it is on the album, even the house guitarists second solo is same as the album...

[@charlessale409]

no i'm insecure about liking dinosaur jr and i have to tell everyone on the internet that im cool and think playing on television is 'selling out' or something

[@pstrokeslibsarctic]

The fuck u saying

[@jessemullen9083]

Exactly. Except Don Fleming plays it on the album version

[@sammack1564]

Jesse Mullen , you are correct. The only guitar on the whole album and just about the only instrument that J didn’t play on it.

[@mrCUTNPASTE]

Weird I though the other guitarist was Biden back in the day hoping to smell some teen spirit hair.

[@AaronAndersonify]

I saw the guitar j is playing at the emp museum in Seattle

[@lucaserojas]

Aaron Anderson Wasn't it stolen?

[@goodolcharliebrown1]

+Lucas Rojas was it? i saw it back in 2013 it might have been stolen since then.

[@scoobtube5746]

Incredible performance. Thanks for sharing.

[@whatsforafters7843]

ScoobTube My pleasure. Glad you liked it, and took the time to say so.

[@kevinmartin1327]

dude on the floor toms in the back is feelin it the whole song. Love it!

[@dnc1769]

I have several of these kinds of clips "somewhere" on old randomly labeled vhs tapes. I remember recording this one, Sonic Youth, L7 and a couple others off Letterman & Jon Stewart back in the day. Nicely done, sir.

[@whatsforafters7843]

You're welcome! Thanks for the nod of appreciation, too :)

[@shanedeel2]

John Stewart always had great bands

[@FreakSceneNet]

Nice! Thank you. This is by far the clearest capture I have seen of this.

[@whatsforafters7843]

I had shared this once before, but in a different format. Thought this might be a slight improvement. Thanks for confirming that for me.

[@seancurran3603]

What a joy it must have been to play with Paul and the boys; musical surgeons.

[@NickHarman]

That was some solid bass playing from the house guy.

[@Urrecordingneedsmusicbox]

I thought that was Mike Johnson?

[@pabloisusi6097]

@@Urrecordingneedsmusicbox yes! He is Mike Johnson

[@strangeledplanet9576]

@@pabloisusi6097 Mike Johnson is playing the electric sitar in this one. Bass player seems to be the house guy unless I'm crazy

[@pabloisusi6097]

@@strangeledplanet9576 you are not crazy! I'm. Mike Johnson at J's left is playing some kind of strange guitar. The house guy is playing the bass, right

[@willis475]

Wish this video lasted forever

[@mirraco323]

The house guy is just playing the background solo that is actually on the record. Lmao poor son of a bitch is just doing his job and people are leveling him

[@matty6878]

lol fuck 'em

[@BijahD]

God I miss those days....

[@cooluser4017]

3:36 sends the drum stick flying lol has a spare one near by

[@MURMENLIFE]

WHAT A PERFORMANCE.

[@AdamLeeRosenfeld]

How am I seeing this only now?

[@DonnieRockett]

Dave’s house band always seemed to really enjoy playing with Dinosaur Jr.

[@coureyfeerer5314]

Shred Fest! Love it!

[@davidmphill]

Incredible tune.

[@josiemac917]

Bloody hell just discovered this. This is amazing... J floors it!

[@pierograziani8885]

Una forza d'urto impressionante ❤️

[@clintwilson6380]

Its insane to me that they weren't way way more known.

[@theelevan2]

This is really great. Thanks. The only thing that I have a problem with is Sid McGinnis trampling all over J's vocals at 02:35

[@whatsforafters7843]

Glad you enjoyed it, and took the time to say so :)

[@Braulios_Penesecou]

in the original studio version there's some lead happening in that part too. It's quite remarkable he tried to recreate that without being a band member plus J's owns him with the solo that comes.

[@l70173]

my god they're AMAZING

[@rahulbhaskar6790]

I love this band.

[@kentmitchell7262]

Good lord, this rips. Who are all the other people!?

[@bttp011]

Great performance and funny as hell. That inhouse band does a great job, I’m not sure what Murph and that new Dinosaur basist who seems to hold the guitar are doing because it seems to me that the inhouse band is playing it all with Jay Mascis. They look like some 80s band, Toto or The Cars type, with the haircuts and bass players jumps, sunglasses and all lol. Great job though, the guitarist nailed the solo, the drummer banged the hell out of it and the bass player looking funny, it’s all good. It sounds great! 😲😂

[@drawrings]

2:15 WOW!!!!!

[@scottmyers5633]

AWESOME!

[@edwinruiz3553]

The standing (second) drummer feels like a visual reference to the Jesus and Mary Chain

[@dourtan6928]

Love the TWO guitars!

[@czwirner]

So good!

[@apolamperouge6013]

Totally underrated performance. J. is the fucking man.

[@erikabee3498]

The only question that remains! Where have you been? Yes I saw them in the legendary "podium Vera" in Groningen (the Netherlands) somewhere in the '90's probably. I Loved their music. I have gone wild on their concert. But in the Netherlands I heard nothing much after this concert again. But this video is a great reminder of this band, I enjoyed so much in Vera.

[@hackatao]

AMAZING!

[@DailyBrusher]

MASSIVE RESPECT to J. Mascis for this! I hate it when a TV show has a great band, and the musical guest comes on and does their act, out of the box, missing out on the chance to collaborate with other musicians!! And he let's one of Paul's guys add leads to the song! Paul and J. are real musicians, whatever else you want to say about them!! I BET THIS SOUNDED FUCKING HUGE, TOO!!

[@thehowlingjoker]

That lead is off the track itself.

[@stuartharrison165]

I saw D.Jr do Feel The Pain on Letterman as well , also Sonic Youth , Blur , Nick Cave . He booked some good acts .

[@Lank2thepast]

Holy fucking shit. so great.

[@MarvinMonroe]

That's a thing I love about Letterman. He had the stipulation that the house band would always get to back up the guest band. Think I've read that some bands refused to do the show because of that

[@mkjh]

Likin the mic drop at the end! J knew what he was doin..re:feedback

[@paulrob55]

What's with the stand up drummer playing like 2 drums? weird mix of players but it works.

[@2mfnokin]

Because of the requirement to play with Letterman's house band back around the time this was taped, the members of Dino.jr had to work around this. Murph was forced to play floor toms.

[@latontolog]

Velvets/Mary Chain style. I like it!

[@2mfnokin]

When I first saw the video, I didn't like it myself, but now I actually don't mind it. I kinda like it myself.

[@pabloisusi6097]

That second drummer is the first drummer! Murph!

[@charlesgund4812]

‘The Green Mind’

[@Deuces-l3w]

Still jamming DJ 2024 🤟🏼

[@lucifercokedog4792]

Two drummers!!

[@AdamCampettiVideo]

I didn't think Mike Johnson was with the band for Green Mind. I didn't think he came on with the band until "Where you been" in 1993.

[@darylcumming7119]

The early nineties .

[@skullduggery3377]

They used to get banned from clubs for being too loud.

[@decadepasts]

Drum stick goes flying and hits David Letterman. You can't see it but it happened.

[@jameskaihatu277]

Huh. A electric sitar. Always figured that there was something like that going on.

[@chikkipop]

I lent that Coral sitar to them for the show, and they Fed-Exed it back after the taping. The next morning at my guitar shop, we were opening the box and checking it for damage when a customer came in, saw it, and said "I saw a guitar exactly like that on Letterman last night!" Cool to see a video of it after all these years.

[@Ballonpoire39]

@@chikkipop That’s yours?!

[@chikkipop]

@@Ballonpoire39 Well, it was back then. Wish I still had it.

[@misakiyoshida]

@@chikkipop Cool! I got to see something similar in person. It was a Danelectro sitar that Billy Corgan used on Siamese Dream. Looked like a pain in a dickens to maintain.

[@avidrocker]

Cousin It, jr. love it!!!

[@blueconversechucks]

aw man, Dave had a great comment when they came back from commercial and his finger was in his ear since they were so loud. sad that's not in here.

[@blueconversechucks]

btw, not a knock on this. Thanks for loading it. really fun watching it again.

[@whatsforafters7843]

Appreciate that :) I believe I used the break as the cue for the next segment to tape over, but I completely understand what you mean - the comedic element of Dave with his finger in his ear, and slamming his cue cards on his desktop, for cheap laughs, always worked. Thanks for taking the time to post a note of thanks, too, and glad you enjoyed it.

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

...and another mic-stand bites the dust to an early '90s modern rock luminary!

[@SkunkBud101]

Awesome. Love seeing Sid getting into solo. He knows how special mascis playing is. So much feeling like the indie Neil young

[@SuperSparrow45]

Jesus. Could you imagine that guy with Nirvana?

[@wesleygreen5594]

Kurt supposedly asked him to join twice

[@jessegpresley]

I saw Nirvana open for Dinosaur Jr 25 years ago.

[@acarlovonsexron1994]

Dave, Krist, and Pat played a surprise club gig right immediately after Nirvana's rock n roll hall of fame induction with guest vocalists, J was one of them, he played School and I think a couple of others. Some people managed to get a bit on their phones on KZbin.

[@SupernovaA-dj8dh]

+james broussard Greg Sage of Wipers gave birth to all of 'em.

[@YourFaceBrah]

just watched J play School, wow... thanks for sharing that info

[@shanekurenoff5136]

So fun!!

[@jackburton3540]

Mike is playing an electric sitar, incredible

[@shinypng1850]

J looked astonishing back then woah! his hair was all shining and completely straight

[@roseveltbarahona4221]

genio de genios!

[@Heretic_Hero]

You won’t see meeee

[@krewgarr]

Whoa!

[@MarkScott-v7b]

Dinosaur jr were on uk tv when "freak scene " was released. The bbc even filmed a video in a london back garden. Murph and lou barlow were the og band. . green mind is the start of js' solo phase. Lou was booted out and put his efforts into sebadoh. It was only years later that the 2 guys made up. Shit happens.

[@MarshalTennerWinter]

Awesome.

[@JeffreySykes]

You won't see me ..

[@smoofest]

this is just too fucking good.

[@oliverzone]

the power!

[@danieltripp2578]

ok but spoiled kinda (by the house band dudes - reminds me a bit of the SNL "more cowbells" sketch for Don't Fear the Reaper [and I'm a huge blue oyster cult fan :D])

[@bttp011]

Daniel Tripp no way it’s spoiled, they played it perfectly plus they’re funny as hell looking like some 80s mainsteram rock band, haircuts, body language and all. It’s so funny watching and listening those types of dudes playing Dinosaur Jr. song, singing it no less 😂😂 If anything they improved it, made it special. Looking at that new Dinosaur bassist I’d be bored as hell, those 80s dudes make me laugh!

[@drumngrewve]

Wow.....Anton Fig sitting in with Dino Jr.!

[@pierograziani8885]

Where are the bands that play like that anymore?

[@S44BBOI]

best video

[@masonb9788]

Back when everyone had to play with “the band”

[@liamebers6844]

Like the house band playing with them or not, the fact that all these old dudes are rockin the fuck out to Dino is awesome

[@LeGrandeOrange]

god bless J Mascis!

[@ltomolo]

Cousin It's debut on David Letterman!

[@xsilkierpowerx4367]

j is so hawt n this video 🤩😆

[@matthewweltzien4561]

If J didn't like the house band he wouldn't have gone back. ❤️😭

[@flagemdown66]

Sid McGuiness nails the leads here... one of the loudest things on letterman, for sure

[@bluegreenface1193]

+flagemdown66 yes very good gtr player but he cant sing for shit :/

[@IndependencePrintage]

@@bluegreenface1193 what you missed here is that he couldn't hear anything, because Dinosaur was the the first time they had a band this loud on set.

[@clintwilson6380]

I read Kurt kept asking him to join Nirvana.