J Mascis is the whacked-out grandfather of the loud, ruckus, jagged guitar style that permeated the 1990’s grunge scene. Guys like Kim Thayil, Kurt Cobain, and James Iha all owe debt to Mascis for the technique he pioneered on early albums with his band Dinosaur Jr.
When Dinosaur Jr. released two indie-rock masterpieces You’re Living All Over Me and the enigmatic Bug, in 1987 and 1988, respectively. They sent the underground music scene on fire. The intellectual buzz swirled around that grinding, apocalyptic guitar sound, and the singer that “kinda sounds like Neil Young”. Both qualities that have become synonymous with Mascis.
Eventually Mascis and Dinosaur Jr. bassist Lou Barlow had a falling out and the band split up for a decade, before reuniting in 2007. Barlow focused on his other band Sebadoh and dallied with a few other groups including Folk Implosion. Mascis on the other hand was a journeyman, constantly forming and disbanding new groups with names like: Deep Wound, Witch, Upside Down Cross, Heavy Blanket, Sweet Apple, and The Fog. This prolific tendency toward constant collaboration has molded Mascis into one of the most respected guitarists of his generation.
The son of a Dentist and hailing from the college town of Amherst, Massachusetts – Mascis’ work has always dangled around the fringe, pushing limits that people aren’t always ready to push. He also manages to do it with a signature brand of intelligence and wit, which thumbs its nose severely at the mainstream that hipsters only aspire toward his level of indifferent scorn.
Mascis will be in town tonight performing at Zanzabar. He will most likely be performing songs that span the entirety of his career – including material from his bands Heavy Blanket and Sweet Apple – both of which released albums earlier this year.
The show tonight starts at 9 PM (doors at 8 PM), tickets are $20.
