Live music review: Dinosaur Jr, Vicar Street, Dublin

Grunge was rock’s last truly significant musical movement (rap metal doesn’t count and shame on you for suggesting). And few bands have stayed more loyal to the scene’s manifesto of sweet riffs paired with self-pitying lyrics than Dinosaur Jr, who came to Dublin touring a new album that suggested, in the best way, a mild variation on previous records.

Quality control has never been an issue for the Amherst Massachusetts three piece, fronted by the wizardly J Mascis and with Sebadoh’s Lou Barlow now permanently reinstated as bass player (a falling out with the lead singer had seen Barlow controversially depart in 1988, shortly before the release of their break-through, Bug). As demonstrated by eleventh long-player Give A Glimpse of What Yer Not, Dinosaur Jr are happiest cleaving to a successful blueprint, with songs that once again surf waves of early adulthood melancholia against a blitzkrieg of guitars,