As my 2014 gig calendar closed, so my 2015 gig calendar opens and I find myself back at the Brudenell, which has a packed list for the first few months of the year. Given the influence and popularity of Dinosaur Jr, it’s hardly surprising tonight’s show has sold out the 450-capacity venue long before the doors open.
And so Mascis’ Sub Pop labelmates Aussie folk/country duo LULUC receive a warm reception that contrasts with the blizzard conditions outside. Promoting their second album ‘Passerby’ they offer up some pleasing melodies and some dainty little narratives – and some heavier, darker reflections delivered with an admirable delicacy.
It almost goes without saying that J Mascis is an outstanding guitarist. It’s no criticism that he’s not such an outstanding vocalist: his plaintive vocal tones coupled with his expressive fretwork is a combination that can convey so much emotion. It’s also no criticism that despite having spent over 30 years in the industry, he remains a reluctant performer and not the type to engage in lengthy dialogue or banter with the audience: he’s a man who prefers to let the music do the talking. And it most certainly does.
Shielding himself with a flight case, on top of which is a carton of fruit juice, a bottle of water and a half-empty bottle of something altogether stronger-looking (that remains untouched during the set), as well as a music stand on which rests a set list and crumpled lyric book, J creates something of a fort around himself, and reduces the stage space to the absolute minimum. He perches himself on his stool and plays.
Touring to promote his second solo album, the acoustic-led ‘Tied to a Star’, it’s inevitable he should draw heavily from it during his set. Opening with ‘Listen to Me’ from his first solo album, 2011’s ‘Several Shades of Why’ before airing ‘Me Again’ from the new album, it’s a pleasant and enjoyable country-tinged start to the show. But he also knows he has a much-loved back-catalogue, from which he lifts ‘Little Fury Things’ by way of his third song, blasting huge waves of distortion from his acoustic guitar. And yes, this is what we’ve all come to see. The three tracks from 1993’s ‘Where You Been’ - ‘Get Me’, ‘Not the Same’ and ‘Out There’ are definite highlights of the set, and ‘Pond Song’ from ‘Bug’ is welcome not least of all because of its scarcity.
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With judicious use of a loop pedal and distortion, Mascis fills out the sound and cuts loose with his magnificent soloing, covering the string parts of ‘Not the Same’ with his guitar and succeeding in retaining the song’s fragile beauty. Now, I’m generally not a fan of guitar solos, but J is a true master, wringing every last ounce of emotion and conveying all the words he can’t find through those six strings. Meanwhile, ‘Not You Again’ is emblematic of Mascis’ capacity for precise pop tunes and lyrics that encapsulate eyes-to-the-ground awkwardness and self-deprecation, the closing line of ‘Sorry I fucked it all up’ hurried and collapsing into a flurry of chords.
Not one to outstay his welcome or prolong his time as the focus of attention, the set’s over after a little more than an hour and culminates with a searingly anguished rendition of ‘Alone’. He doesn’t hang around and milk the applause, shuffling offstage with barely a word.
He’s back about a minute later for the encore: just the one song, a classic rendition of The Cure’s ‘Just Like Heaven’. With his guitar awash with tremulous and crazy FX that creates a sound like tweeting birds, it’s short and beautifully bittersweet and ends as abruptly as the 1989 studio version. And with a brief ‘thanks’ and ‘see you next time’, he’s off. Next time can’t come soon enough.
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