Written by: Rosemary A.W. Roberts

On a Tuesday afternoon, the last day of September 2014, my husband and I found ourselves driving from Mobile to Birmingham, AL. We had been at our “day jobs” all day; we knew we had to work Wednesday; but still, we made the drive because Dinosaur Jr. vocalist and guitarist J Mascis was performing a solo concert at a tiny club called the Bottletree Café, and we absolutely HAD to be there! With the recent release of his gorgeous solo album Tied To A Star, J Mascis will be touring coast to coast in the USA this fall, before heading across the Atlantic for more shows. Tour dates can be found here: http://www.jmascis.com/tour-dates/

Though we were expecting a “café” setting with tables and chairs, the tiny venue had cleared the floor space to accommodate the sold out 250-person show. The evening began with Australian duo Luluc, who like J Mascis have released their most recent album Passerby on acclaimed Seattle-based Sub Pop Records. Soft dreamy melodies captivated listeners, as Zoë Randell shared her lovely, spellbinding voice and strummed her guitar. Meanwhile, Steve Hassett coaxed a honey-dripping echo from his guitar and sang in beautiful harmony with Zoë. Songs like “Without A Face” and “Tangled Heart” created an air of wistful bliss, and time seemed suspended; I thoroughly enjoyed their set. Learn more about this fascinating band and check out their music here: www.lulucmusic.com

The intimate stage was then equipped with a microphone, a chair, and two Gibson guitars (CF100’s, I think), and J Mascis sat down amidst the roar of the crowd. Opening with “Listen To Me” instantly pulled us in, reflecting the sentiments I’d been feeling for weeks: “I can’t wait to see you, I can’t wait…” A joyfully melancholy set began to unfold, with J’s uniquely pleading voice slicing through space, and his sublime guitar work tugging at our heartstrings. The opening track from Tied To A Star, “Me Again” was beautiful beyond belief. “Little Furry Things” was played with acoustic simplicity at the start, but when J cranked it up and injected some piercing delicious distortion, the audience erupted with cheers. The juxtaposition of acoustic beauty with electric fuzz and hum provides a stimulating comfort, an emotional intensity, a wild ride; it’s truly wonderful to hear this man play. Next came “Ammaring”, a song that encapsulates the other paradox J Mascis presents his listeners: it is pure sorrow, but simultaneously pure joy. This is why we came here.

From the new album, “Stumble” held genuine sweetness, and “Every Morning” was uplifting and light in melody, though its lyrics tell of struggle. To the delight of the Dinosaur Jr. fans, “Get Me” was well played and received. The new instrumental “Drifter” gracefully floated into “Heal The Star”, and the outgoing guitar solo was masterful and stunning. Dipping back to Dinosaur Jr., the haunting “Not The Same” highlighted the beauty of J’s voice, and “Pond Song” both whispered and screamed with rebelliousness. A surprising sparkle of beauty emerged as J Mascis covered Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You”; this song fits him like a glove. “Ocean In The Way” came off quite nicely, and “Not You Again” brought a bit of punk to the party. To close the set, “Alone” wrapped me in a sonic shroud, and tears of joyful gratitude clung to my eyelashes, as J’s soul seemed laid bare on his guitar. Re-appearing for an encore, J Mascis asked for requests before settling on the well-chosen “Flying Cloud”. It was a totally fulfilling night of musical delight, worth every minute and every mile it took to get there and back. Always take the time to see music that moves you: it’s healing salve for the soul. This combination of Luluc and J Mascis gave me exactly what I needed.

Setlist:

Listen To Me, Me Again, Little Furry Things, Ammaring, Stumble, Every Morning, Get Me, Drifter > Heal The Star, Not The Same, Pond Song, Fade Into You, Ocean In The Way, Not You Again, Alone

Encore: Flying Cloud