Night one of Converse Rubber Tracks’ epic five-night residency at The Sinclair with The Young Leaves, Dinosaur Jr, and The Replacements has blown over, so let’s dig in, shall we?

Over the past few years, shows sponsored by Converse Rubber Tracks have been springing up around Boston. Free shows from awesome up and coming artists? Yes please. This week’s series of events is kind of like a culmination of all those events rolled into one well-produced extravaganza.

A lot of publicity and hype certainly made Boston music fans excited for the opportunity to attend one of these shows. But unlike prior free Converse shows, potential attendees had to enter to win tickets, instead of just RSVP-ing and showing up before the room hit capacity. Many a disappointing email was sent out to those who didn’t win, which sent diehard fans scrambling for other ways to win tickets.

This set up made the whole event feel very exclusive, and it sort of was. Just you and 500 other VIPs who by some undisclosed form of magic (or connections to Converse or Bowery Boston) were granted entry.

A red carpet-style photo wall, plastered with Converse posters, greeted all those who entered. So did a wall of people, who spilled off of the floor, into the bar area, and even all the way around the balcony.

If you weren’t lucky enough to get tickets, you were in the same boat as some other people who were actually given tickets. Entry was granted on a first come, first serve basis, so some people with tickets couldn’t actually get into the show once it hit capacity. But since there was no reentry allowed, as people walked out, the line of folks with tickets waiting outside did dwindle ever so slightly and slowly.

All in all, here’s what to expect from a Converse Rubber Tracks show this week:

• A packed house. The tickets may be free, but the crowd and acts are there to have good time. People will come out in droves, wiggling through the crowd for a better view, or waiting patiently in line in case someone gives up their coveted spot inside.
• Snide remarks about how much Converse must have paid these bands to perform tonight. I walked by a few folks who were passing the time between sets this way, which is fine, and definitely an elephant in the room when it comes to an event such as this. The Replacements were the only ones to make a comment about the $0 everyone paid to see them. Paul Westerberg’s “You’re gonna get what you paid for!” was definitely lighthearted and well-received, before The Replacements launched into another energetic tune.
• Free posters! Hey, if you want to remember this night forever, what’s better than one of those posters you saw all over social media and the Boston area to call your own?

Looking at the rest of the lineups for this Rubber Tracks residency, I’d say last night’s foray with Dinosaur Jr. and The Replacements was a fairly entry-level show. It was a Monday night, when Sunday’s hangover still had its hold on much of the working-class crowd. By the time The Replacements took the stage, their libations had been renewed, and their enthusiasm spilled over the balcony with a little more vigor.

The bands were definitely Loud: J Mascis left no Marshall stacks behind for this gig, setting up his side of the stage with his signature amp grotto surrounding him. Dinosaur Jr. did breeze through their set, ending with nothing more than a “That’s it. See you later,” but not before ripping through a few crowd pleasers like “Feel the Pain” and “Little Fury Things” with crazy skill. Oh, there was also a cover of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” to really make you start crying, thrown in for good measure. J Mascis was just at The Sinclair last October, a solo, reserved version of himself compared to last night, but still with the aura of a rock deity.

But with two of the three acts playing on their reunion legs, it left the crowd more awestruck than exhilarated. Local trio The Young Leaves have that 90s indie punk rock vibe, so it was definitely a great fit, and it was especially great to see them open the show with a fresh vibe and a solid performance.

As the week continues, I can only assume the shows will get better and better. With lineups like that, it’s impossible to be disappointed.

Edit: For clarity, we made it a little clearer that only people with tickets can get into these shows. That being said, some people with tickets still couldn’t get in if they arrived late and the room was at capacity.