Brilliant but enigmatic Dinosaur Jr frontman continues to play cards close to his vest

John Kendle

Amateur psychologist have been trying to figure out J Mascis for years.

In Michael Azzerad’s indie rock omnibux Out Band Could Be Your Life, the singer/guitarist/frontman for Dinosaur Jr is variously described–as an "asshole," "a prick", and "like a three toed sloth."

Interviews with the 41 year old musician regularly begin with apologies from journalists unable to get much from the conversation. The bespectacled modern rock hero can be laconic to the point of near silence. Indeed, Uptowns recent 20 minute chat with Mascis was marked by several awkward pauses. More often than not, he answers questions monosyllabically or with "I dunno. I can’t remember."

It’s patently obvious then, that Mascis prefers not to reveal much of himself to very many people.

What’s also evident is that Mascis has long been a musical genius, a visionary whose legacy is far more significant than the benchmarks by which careers are usually measured in the mid-to-late 80’s when Dinosaur first roared out of Amnerst, Mass. Mascis’ searing lead guitar work and melodic punk meets rock sensibilities helped the trio stand out in a crowd of post-hardcore thrashers and REM like alt-rockers.

Along with Pixies, Dinosaur (the Jr- with no comma or period- was added in 1987 after a trademark claim was filed by a ’60s band) is considered the seminal forerunner of the loud-quiet-loud sound that was perfect and made globally popular by Kurt Cobain and Nirvana.

Even when turning heads with its amazing first three albums, Dinosaur Jr was never a settled, peaceful rock band. Bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Everett Murph Murphy were perpetually at odds with each other, with Mascis, or both.

As the group grew, Mascis exercised almost complete control over the band’s recordings and finances. Barlow was fired by the other two in 1989 when they led him to believe the band was breaking up, and he went on to make his mark as a solo artist with his Sebadoh project. Murph left Dinosaur shortly after Mascis recored 1991’s Green Mind album almost single-handedly. Three more Dinosaur Jr albums followed before Mascis dropped the band name and began recording solo.

As the 90’s became the 21st century, few music observers thought Dinosaur Jr would be heard from again. However, as the indie-rock generation began to turn 40, books such as Azerrad’s started to appear, DVD’s of 80s punk alternative and indie bands became popular, a whole new generation of fans began to discover the roots of today’s punk, alternative and modern rock. Dinosaur Jr’s albums-and Mascis’brilliance-were once again hailed, this time for their historic influence.

And then reunion tours took off. Boston’s Mission of Burma started the ball rolling in 2002, followed by the Pixies in ’04, and Mascis, Murph and Barlow were soon on the bandwagon, reconvening in 2005, for a tour that lasted through most of last year.

Now the trio has recorded a new album, the surprisingly consistent Beyond, and is commited to touring right through the end of 2007.

Uptown caught up with Masics on a cell phone in his tour van "somewhere in Washington or
Oregon, I dunno"

what follows are excerpts from that conversation

U-So Beyond is out and now you get to go on the road with new material. How’s it gong?

JM-We’re kinda still improving every day. Last night (May 17 in Portland, Ore.) was the best show so far, so we’re almost up to cruising altitude.

U-What does it take for you guys to get up to speed?

JM-It’s basically down to Murph getting his chops up. He doesn’t play a lot in between. And then I have to get used to playing new songs. Everynight I forget the lyrics to something. Usually some words will come out of my mouth, either I’ll repeat the verse or sing something that fits, but I can’t ever remember trying to sit down and memorize lyrics.

u-Do you make a setlist every Night? Does it change?

JM-I make a list, yeah, and it’s a mix of all kinds of different things. Because my voice on this tour started out a little sore, it’s been kind of different. I actually took a voice lesson the other day so I could get thinking about singing in a more technical way. I can’t remember the last time I took one.

u-Do any of the new songs on Beyond date back a few years, or were they written after you decided to record a new album?

JM-Most of them were made up just for the record, but there was one that goes back a bit-The Thing That I Came To Do.

u-How do you write? Music or lyrics first? In your studio or with a portable?

JM-I have a portable cassette recorder than I use. The studio’s a bit involved, just to sit down and turn everything on. And I always have the music first. I usually have the melody of what the lyric is supposed to be, but it’s gotta fit into the song.

u-Do you feel your songs have changed as you’ve gotten older? Are you different?…

JM- I know I’ve changed a lot, but I hardly remember what I was like.

u-How do your shows compare to what they were like when the band first started out?

JM-They may be more consistent because we can play better now and we have more reliable equipment, so we do a generally higher level of show.

u-And what are the crowds like this time out compared to two years ago?

JM-On this tour thnigs are definitely getting younger. I think a lotta people my age can’t be bothered to go to shows anymore.

u-But you’re out there…

JM-I don’t know what it is, I’m just more into playing these days. I’m not sure why.