Live Concert Photography: J. Mascis and Luluc at Rough Trade 12/7/18

Live Concert Photography: J. Mascis and Luluc at Rough Trade 12/7/18

Born Joseph Donald Mascis, Jr., J. Mascis is best known as the lead singer, guitarist and primary songwriter for acclaimed alt rock/grunge rock band Dinosaur, Jr. — although he has also released a several albums as a solo artist and has collaborated with a number of other bands and artists, playing drums and guitar.

Interestingly, Mascis can trace the origins of his music career to when he joined his school’s jazz ensemble, initially playing drums. When he turned 17, he joined a short-lived hardcore band Deep Wound with future Dinosaur, Jr. bandmate Lou Barlow, Scott Helland and Charlie Nakajima; but by 1984, Mascis, Barlow and Emmett Jefferson “Patrick” Murphy, a.k.a. Murph founded Dinosaur, Jr. with Mascis switching from drums to guitar — with the band gaining a national profile. Mascis dismissed Barlow from Dinosaur, Jr. and over the next eight years recorded several Dinosaur, Jr. albums as well as the 1996 solo acoustic album Martin + Me.

During that time, Mascis played drums in Boston-based doom metal band Upsidedown Cross, an act that released their 1991 self-titled debut on Taang! Records. He also wrote songs for the film Gas, Food, Lodging, in which he made a cameo appearance, played a small part in the movie Grace of My Heart for which he also contributed a song for the soundtrack. in 1998, Mascis retired Dinosaur, Jr. and began recording and releasing material with his new band J. Mascis and The Fog, as well as a bunch of solo material.

In 2005 Mascis along with Barlow and Murph reformed the band for a tour celebration the re-release of their first three albums and since then the reunited band has released four albums — 2007’s Beyond, 2009’s Farm, 2012’s I Bet on Sky and 2016’s Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not. Since 2011, Mascis has also released a handful of solo, mostly acoustic albums starting with Several Shades of Why, which featured a who’s who of guest musicians including Kurt Vile, Band of Horses‘ Ben Bridwell and Sophie Trudeau among others. He then toured North America with Vile to support the album.

Earlier this month Mascis headlined an intimate, career-spanning, headlining set at Rough Trade that featured material from his recently released full-length album Elastic Days. Opening the night was the Brooklyn-based (by way of Melbourne, Australia) folk duo and Sub Pop Records label mate Luluc. Check out photos from the show below.

Consisting of Melbourne, Australia-born, Brooklyn-based duo Zoe Randell and Steve Hassett, the Brooklyn-based duo Luluc have released three full-length albums — 2008’s Dear Hamlyn, an attention-grabbing, critically applauded album written following the death of Randell’s father; 2014’s Passerby and this year’s Sculptor, both which were released through Sub Pop Records in North America, and Mistletone Records throughout Australia and New Zealand. Each of their three albums established the duo’s reputation for crafting a gorgeous sound centered around sparse arrangements and equally gorgeous harmonies.