Dinosaur’s first tour, my first tour, was a 2 week run of shows opening for Sonic Youth in 1986. We referred to them as ‘The Youth’. I liked the irony that they were older than us but way more energized and engaged in their surroundings. We shuffled around like old men, complaining and dismissing everything in our paths. My self-consciousness afflicted me like arthritis. Meanwhile the Youth were bouncing through thrift and record stores, delighting in their finds. I remember Lee Renaldo holding out a portable cassette recorder to capture the sound of a clattering industrial size fan at one place. Openly, brazenly creative, right there in front of everybody. I was fighting through some serious ‘not worthy’ feelings in their presence. I don’t think I uttered a complete sentence the entire tour.Â
 I was awed by their live shows where their breezy daytime aura transformed into a storm of noise, grimacing and wrestling their guitars, shouting abstract poetry into the mics. I absolutely loved it and thought Dinosaur were embarrassingly traditional in comparison.Â
 In their traveling party was Carlos van Hijfte who had booked several tours of Europe for them and was invited along as their quasi tour manager. He was approachable, to me, because he wasn’t in the band and also because he was legitimately friendly with a charmingly exotic Dutch accent. The tour was, easily, the pinnacle of my initial 4 years with the Dinosaur (I was fired in 1989, remember?). We were happiest in the bosom of The Youth.
 After that tour Carlos became our booking agent in Europe while developing a jaw dropping roster of late 80s noise rock bands. Big Black, Swans, and Pussy Galore, to name a few. He took care of all of us, opening his home, catering to our eccentricities. He continued to book Dinosaur Jr until his retirement 10 years ago. These days he drops in on us as a civilian and genuine friend. When he suggested Adelle and I interview him for RAW Impressions I was #1 shocked that he was a listener and #2 excited that we could share Carlos with y’all. He dishes a plethora of tasty tidbits about that first tour and beyond. What band were he and his wife’s favorite houseguests? The answer might surprise you! (Scratch Acid). What band was the scariest? The answer won’t surprise you at all. I would suggest watching the interview because he and I recorded our side of the conversation outside, whipped by the wind. Adelle is in early morning cozies back in Greenfield. It’s probably easiest to understand what’s going on with visuals. Enjoy! Â
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