“FREAK SCENE’ IS STILL AN ANTHEM FOR DISAF FECT ED YOUTH'
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udge east
Amazingly, D NOSAUR JR are reformed and back on the road. Henry Northmore talks to J Mascis and gets less than he bargained for.
inosaur .lr helped shape modern music. their
resonating guitar distortion and thrashed
l‘reak-outs all underpinned by an unspoken sadness that provided even their most intense moments with intimate pathos. ‘l‘reak Scene’ is still an anthem l‘or disal't'ected youth. Its juddering rel‘rain and pained vocals struck a chord and it's a sound that has been much imitated but never matched. They were the ‘godfathers ol’ grunge‘ and without them there would have been no Nirvana. no nu—metal. no emo. J Mascis. Lou Barlow and Murph invented a new means of expression via music. Between 1985 and 1988 they made three (recently re—released) classic albums: Dinosaur. You 're Living All ()l't’t' Me and the indispensable Hug. a true modern masterpiece. Then they imploded. Lou Barlow left to l’orm Sebadoh while Mascis and Murph carried on for another few albums. It was always Mascis‘ baby alter all —— his vocals and guitar delined the hand.
Now. and it‘s something many of us never thought we‘d see as the animosity seemed to run deep. all three are back together for a series ol’ live shows. .\lascis. of course. has been cropping up on the radar in the meantime with the Fog and solo. still treating the world to sortie ol' the true gems of the grunge era. a sound feeling as relevant today as it ever was. The screamed 'l)on‘t' still sums up rejection like no other song and his remix ol’ ‘l)o You Love Me Now" by the Breeders turning it into a liragile duet — is one of the most heartbreaking tunes you‘ll ever hear.
With him being as lamotls for his nonchalant attitude and laid back stoner vibe as his sonic invention. l was prepared for a slow. drawled delivery.
but his non—communicative nature is beyond any expectations. He sounded like a sullen teenager who‘s
just been crowbarred out of bed (which wasn't the
case — he was backstage at a theatre in Kentucky waiting to go on stage in a few hours). and getting any kind of response was like pulling teeth. So here we go. the gospel according to .l Mascis:
How have the reunion shows been going I’ ‘lir line. pretty good.‘
Do you still think the musie sounds ashes/i I()(/(l_\' as when it was released." ‘I dunno.~
How did itfee/ when you realised 'l'it'eak Si'ene‘had heeonte an sue/t an anthem.” 'I dunno.’
It '3‘ still played today. How does that make voujee/f’ ‘1 really don't think about it much.‘
What do you think when people eredit you with inventing grunge.” ‘1 don‘t really know what to think about that. I don‘t really know.’
Bear in mind all ol‘ these non-committal replies l'ollow ten seconds of uncomfortable silence. and remember this is a man who hits 40 in December. llis discomfort in talking about himself is painful. making you wonder why he ever agrees to interviews. the only vague insights being that the original line-up split because ‘I just couldn't stand Lou any more. I tried but couldn‘t. I mean there was nothing in particular. everything pretty much.’ The startling revelation is that ‘I talk slower than most people‘ or that ‘I don't like happy songs that much.’ How this man created something so ground-lueaking when he seemed to have difficulty with a phone conversation is just one more of lil’e‘s mysteries.
ABC, Glasgow, Mon 29 Aug.
Valery Ponomarev International Quintet The
now pretty much annual visit from the hard-hitting New York- based Russian trumpet star (pictured), who will team up with Martin Zenker (bass). Chick Lyall, (piano), Gordon McNeil (sax) and Bill Kyle (drums) for this residency. Expect punchy hard bop and tender ballads. The Jazz Bar. Edinburgh, Thu 25—Tue 30 Aug. (Jazz)
Bert Jansch Still time to get out of town and catch this legendary guitar master at work. Forty years on he's still deftly fingerpicking like few others 00uld even dream. Dundee Rep Theatre. Thu 25 Aug; To/Ibooth, Stirling, Fri 26 Aug. (Jazz)
7:553: Jurassic 5 While everyone's fave gangsta rap numpty Fiddy Cent will be here — sans his mentor Mr Mathers, of course — next issue, we must. in the meantime, bathe in the joyous, old school, feel good hip hop vibes which pervade from this cunning septet of beat juggling verbalists. See listings caption page 48. ABC, Glasgow, Sat 27 Aug. (Rock 8 pop)
Dinosaur Jr and De Salvo See preview, left. ABC, Glasgow, Mon 29 Aug. (Rock & ROD)
iii-’1' Musicworks It's still a media conference of course. dismissing and debating all the pertinent issues behind the scenes but thanks to the extensive programme of live music showcases there’s a chance to see all manner of new talent from around the country. See listings captions and listings. Various venues, Glasgow, Wed 31 Aug—Sun 4 Sep. (Rock 8. pop)
De La Soul Hip hop's elder statesmen prove they have still got what it takes with a rare up close and personal visit. See 5 Reasons, page 49. Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Fri 2 Sep. (Rock 8. pop)
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