J Mascis: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

[@JohnTurner313]

10 years have passed (it is 2024), I'm sitting here with my cat, and we're jamming to J Mascis. Like always. 👍

[@loontil]

Five years have also passed, so...yeah....basically, umm......

[@gusananas9069]

And me

[@daddylafe7016]

The acoustic version of Little Fury Things is a masterpiece

[@AndySalinger33]

Yes! It’s so good here! It makes me crawl.

[@RobertsAdventure]

100% I'm almost certain there's a b-side that's much more like this version out there somewhere.

[@ram_s_d27]

when he gets to the double time strumming part >>>>

[@robmarley6520]

Agreed

[@losscairo128]

True!

[@darkwaterblue]

There are not many artists that look cooler as they get older. This is one of them, and he is cool as fuck.

[@SmewthePew]

Yes, he is an honest to goodness original

[@warshipsatin8764]

his playing and live performance have continued getting better too. and he was always an incredible songwriter

[@oliveoil4380]

Well, that’s just like, your opinion, man

[@richardjones4897]

mascis and fruciante my two favorite guitarists. they hit me in the feels every time.

[@andij-gitarrist1505]

richard jones Yeah Jimi Hendrix, John Frusciante and J Mascis are my biggest influences. Especially John's music gives me those intense feelings that I don't get anywhere else.

[@judeleese7783]

..me too...🙃

[@benjamingregoire2683]

Same here! those two have some shared influences, so it make sens !

[@son4821]

@@andij-gitarrist1505 ...me too...

[@gagefraw3182]

RAW TALENT

[@Cascademenace]

These versions bring out the subtlety in the chord shapes and phrasing you don't always get when he's at his typical volumes.

[@petec525]

I love J. Every other performer when finishing a set: "yeah, thanks for listening, you've been great!" J Mascis: "Uh.. thanks" /shrugs :D

[@chrispowell3880]

Pete3D he's just soooo fucking legendary!!!

[@martinspud8325]

lol

[@matthewheckman4522]

That's because J knows he's cool and doesn't need to prove anything to anyone.

[@davidbrett570]

COOL STORY BRO

[@Sasquatch10]

I love that shrug. Man just took that acoustic guitars virginity and acts like it's nothing.

[@teddyhose]

Little Fury Things! One of my favorite Dino Jr. classics. Sounded gorgeous in acoustic and way to keep it real for the ending wall of noise, minus the distortion and flanger.

[@seandolstad7194]

For those of you noobs that want perfect vocals and falsetto....go watch American Idol and leave the real music to the musicians. Thanks J for sharing your raw abilities with the world. When the internet crashes and everyones laptop recording studios and pitch correction programs don't work we'll have guys like you to listen to by the fire........peace

[@texdarcy]

Sean Dolstad YES!YES!YES!

[@camdenadler235]

Sean Dolstad well said

[@Eeygasten]

+CleftMan theres always someone better in guitar, theres always someone better in singing, theres always someone who can rhyme better. but its about the feeling and the expression. sometimes a beginner who just plays the beginning of hey joe for the first time correct is much better to listen to than the ebst metal artist who has played a song a thousands times before. you know why? the expression. the guy who jsut played it right is probably really fucking happy and you can ehar that. you can hear it when a song is written sad and its played by someone who feels it (even though the vocals arent that good) its much better than listening to someone from american idol who doesnt put any feeling in it.

[@fakeplastic31]

+CleftMan Your right but we should be talking whole package here. Writing, playing, AND singing.

[@RoguePlanetSounds]

Not to mention this dude is a legend on guitar and plays and sings at the same time!

[@adbeepat]

J Mascis is an absolute treasure!

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Yep.

[@Neil-Aspinall]

In what way exactly?

[@oliveoil4380]

@@Neil-Aspinall haha 😂

[@oliveoil4380]

@@Neil-Aspinall exactly. Details. Don’t be fu$king around here.

[@Neil-Aspinall]

@@oliveoil4380 Ol, in English please.

[@parhelio___]

One of my favorite humans, along with Daniel Johnston and Ian Curtis.

[@tonysalas99]

Ricardo how could you compare J to those nut jobs?? great musicians tho😂😂

[@718elderson]

Ian Curtis, The Great!

[@windyhollow7869]

Jeff Panetta ok lol

[@declankilleen9128]

Jeff Panetta smh

[@autumnandderek]

@@jeff7764 I met him. He was a good dude.

[@WolfataDoor]

One of the best guitarists of all time.

[@Neil-Aspinall]

LOL yeah OK

[@WolfataDoor]

Neil Aspinall yep

[@Neil-Aspinall]

@@WolfataDoor Stop making fun of who ever this individual is (is he a comedian?)

[@WolfataDoor]

Neil Aspinall nope

[@deanyy3373]

@@Neil-Aspinall he is though

[@cakredi4132]

J is like that cool guy you like to hang out with in skate parks.. Only quieter.

[@JalenJaguar]

I agree

[@mlaforce321]

One of the best guitarists of all time, a pretty great drummer, also plays bass, keyboard and banjo AND writes his own lyrics and music (unlike most of the top commercial performers today) and there's morons out there commenting on his falsetto range lol. People are fucking dumb.

[@haroldbrown6630]

His drumming in high school was insane. Years later, when Dinosaur Jr. hit, I was blown away to see him absolutely shredding on lead. Such a huge talent.

[@chuckabbate5924]

Loved Deep Wound, J and Lou's hardcore band, but Dinosaur was a step further sonically, and You're living all over me was just epic.

[@void0094]

He is singing low in his falsetto range. He could have sang the notes in chest/mixed voice but chose not to.

[@wowimaoi]

He makes it look effortless

[@TSPH1992]

He's a straight up Savage!!!

[@jamiecrawford1634]

Nothing he is doing takes much effort...smh good grief this guys sucks.

[@benddawson]

@@jamiecrawford1634 Bet you couldn't do it like him

[@jamiecrawford1634]

@@benddawson wouldnt want to do it like him lol

[@benddawson]

@@jamiecrawford1634 Pahahahahaha

[@LymbicSystemuwu]

He is absolutely wonderful solo. I'm glad this NPR thing happened.

[@brianfleury5861]

the shrug at the end is all you need to know, nailed it, one of the best ever

[@herbaljam-cd4pc]

the j shrug

[@jameswestervelt6808]

I go to my guitar lesson with a J Mascis song and if I practice it hard enough I can play it but then I hear something J is doing within the song that I can’t do… I am glad he is out there

[@fuzzywuzzy696969]

A lot of people here have obviously never heard Dinosaur Jr. The falsetto is as the falsetto does, baby

[@francoestrubia6503]

We love Dino jr and J, buy this is a complete joke.

[@Md-ji3qo]

This is just terrible. Seems like a complete mistake 😂

[@predeterminedmeat5024]

​@@Md-ji3qoSend your ears back to the factory they're defective

[@oliveoil4380]

What? Shut up.

[@kiaora12]

J is an original and not for everyone. He's ok with it and us fans don't really care what you think.

[@TigerDriver66]

If J isn’t for you, I don’t even want to speak to you. I agree with everything you said, but listening to this music and getting it is a right of passage. Like Ween.

[@saladhands1127]

@@TigerDriver66 Ween and butthole surfers

[@dml1776er]

Well said! Agreed 100%

[@bella_testastretta]

I know you are out there

[@thecrankedamps]

He's brilliant. Let those people go back to listening to Taylor swift and Drake 👍🏻

[@christophefermanel]

I love you Jay! Thank for all opus you bright my life since 35 years 💟

[@areyouaUFO]

Mighty Boosh t-shirt! Love the acoustic version of Little Fury Things

[@HumanBeanbag]

I'm Old Gregg

[@martinspud8325]

Ever drunk bailey's from a shoe?

[@HumanBeanbag]

I do watercolors.....

[@martinspud8325]

HA!

[@mlaforce321]

Both are awesome lol

[@Northernsoul1222]

Amazing performance, to think that Little Fury Things came out in the late 80s says a lot about the genius of J Mascis. He very much paved the way for both grunge and indie… ❤️

[@fhmxlx9246]

one of my favorite musician of all time. his melodic solo really get me everytime

[@scottwiemer942]

His strumming is amazing. Perfection on an acoustic.

[@oliveoil4380]

Strumming?

[@jackspicerisland]

3:57 💓

[@patricewebb9806]

Always liked Dino Jr but had no idea J played acoustic this way! That was very pleasant.

[@danpetty3162]

Martin + Me is one of the greatest acoustic albums ever! Check it out!

[@stevejohnson747]

Check out Cortez the killer he plays

[@patricewebb9806]

@@stevejohnson747 thanks. I'll take a look.

[@PAWGSMusic]

@@patricewebb9806 His solo albums Several Shades Of Why and Tied To A Star are also just perfection 🤌🏽. Still Gotta listen to Elastic Days more

[@patricewebb9806]

@@PAWGSMusic thanks for the suggestions!

[@OthersOrSomething]

that last song was sick, open tuning crazy strumming lead patterns weird scale. fuck yeah j mascis. I don't care how depressed and uncharismatic you are between songs, you're still a rad ass dude.

[@TheDemdem66]

Yo what key is he in tho?

[@mrgreanjeans]

I was wondering the entire time what tuning. Open G?

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

This is just so great. I've been listening to it every night to fall asleep. J is a transcendental artist. Love the Tony Harrison T-Shirt...Night night.

[@emin.organic128]

The real definition of cool is J.Mascis

[@bluetomatorecords]

Awesome! Thank you J and thank you NPR for having J.

[@Krazy_Shorts]

Awesome! I can watch this guy play all day!

[@REDDsoDOPE]

The first song is as awesome as it gets

[@BillLowenburg]

I enjoy this performance more every time I watch it - and I’ve watched it a lot of times. So glad NPR recorded and shared it.

[@DilbertBodfrey]

Ole J got him a nice little tan. Incredible guitarist. One of the best to do it.

[@bradoozy]

stumble is one of the most beautiful songs i have had the pleasure of listening to during the last month of this dreadful year. talk about some solace.

[@theguitarmanifesto]

J Mascis makes life good again :)

[@TampaFanatic1]

Love Dinosaur Jr. Great Boston area band that was cutting edge college/indie/alternative rock back in the '90s.

[@lolttyl143]

His falsetto is the best. I don't know what anyone else is talking about.

[@Neil-Aspinall]

Tell that to Barry!

[@jhendricks02]

J plays his falsetto tunes first to get rid of the posers in the crowd. if they stay through the falsetto tunes he knows they’re the real deal

[@billpholde4816]

Guess I'm a poser.

[@BigBoy-ox6xk]

Yeah man that’s definitely the case :)

[@dannyalleyway6835]

@@billpholde4816 You definitely are

[@billpholde4816]

@@dannyalleyway6835 Geez, you got me there, Danno. Suddenly my self-esteem, and the street-cred I never had, are just gone. All because I don't want to listen to some geeky, high-pitched old dinosaur. Dang I so wanted to impress you.

[@jhendricks02]

@Steve B not acting like that at all. everyone knows J’s falsetto totally sucks. that’s what makes it awesome. He’s definitely not winning any awards with that falsetto 😂. Just saying that i think most mascis fans are really into it. doesn’t mean that they deserve a reward. i could care less if anyone likes mascis’ falsetto

[@jon.yama-otoko]

When he picks up that Gibson and starts playing 'Drifter' my jaw drops to the floor. Just so fucking cool.

[@enjoiandrew4]

Not as cool as just putting the prior acoustic straight on the ground like an animal

[@Neil-Aspinall]

Ain't strange how 2 persons can look and hear something so differently?

[@WeAreCameron]

really the whole thing was perfect to me

[@caroline2978]

He really smacks those strings around huh? Brilliant

[@dalehood6267]

been listening since the 80"s . This music has been with me thru some hard times....all boos to me.

[@badimport]

one of the best guitar players of all time!!!

[@Chandler17447]

+badimport I'd say he is one of the best songwriters of all time for sure

[@mikemorgenroth8902]

are you on crack lol

[@TouchmyWrath]

Yeah i dunno about that. Not technically. He's one of my favorite musicians for sure. He's very good. He doesn't show off on guitar he just plays cool sounding interesting stuff, a lot of suspended and diminished notes in there that give it the darkness and tension. I am a big fan but as a technical guitar player, nah. That's not the point. He's not showing off not playing masturbatory guitar solos and insanely fast harmonic minor guitar runs. But that stuff sounds like crap anyways. Listen to Yngwie Malmstein or one of those guys if you want virtuosity and guitar masturbation. I can't stand it.

[@aaronking2000]

Jesus Christ I love him because he focuses more on the song and the melody and playing something that sounds nice rather than just showing off his "chops".

[@anitamann9217]

Dinosaur Sr. You're right, he doesn't just start choppin'

[@cornucopia8591]

I really loves him solo. Such a beautiful things.

[@lucaborierogendremartins1514]

one day J Mascis will be remembered as THE GREATEST Guitarist of the 21st Century! Viva J!!!

[@Neil-Aspinall]

LOL I like you Luc, you have champagne humour.

[@frayden]

@@Neil-Aspinallyou again?

[@Neil-Aspinall]

@@frayden In reference to?

[@trahtybarahty]

a living legend, fckg love him

[@GustavoH86]

The World loves your music Hermano J Mascis!!!

[@boranakip7937]

He's J the best musician I'm ever seen on my life!

[@Neil-Aspinall]

Bors, you better get out a bit more.

[@jeeziecreezies]

Jesus, that outro of Heal the Star. That guitar sounds incredible

[@ecggraff]

this man is a fucking legend

[@duanehicks6962]

DJr. Is among the greatest bands/artists out there. Always have been. Was surprised to hear Little Fury Things, but far from disappointed. And J. Mascis is such an amazing guitarist.

[@whatsabryan]

11:07 I was on another planet listening to that solo.

[@topher2179]

So articulate so pure! Finally saw Dino Jr. for the first time worth the four hour drive from El Paso. Regret not getting a photo from J. Mascis. He's just a dude trying to get a sushi roll in downtown Albuquerque. Didn't want to bother the wizard in the middle of his his pre-ritual ! Then John Brannon from Negative Approach sang "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and I lost it, I had to start a ruckus and pogo! One of the top ten shows Eva!

[@mitarmusic]

Idk what these naysayers are hearing but he killed it.

[@Joshua-fy1lu]

j mascis is the don!! Seeing him in Bristol uk in march

[@samt9387]

Amazing emotions i 6:46 n subtle screams. I don't see live stuff much anymore, but Jay is a must now, I believe. Great vid 👍

[@AB-lx8cf]

amazing set! dinosaur Jr, Sonic youth, defined the sounds of my youth living in NYC and skating around Alphabet city in the late 80's. and for the haters out there, OMFUG! get with it.

[@mikeymumblesreal]

Little Fury Things was at a crucial time of my life, leaving a friend of 10 years behind, I grovel in my self disappointment as I cringe into a fetal ball.

[@jaysharpESQ]

I've seen him solo, with Dinosaurs, with different lineups.... And I've seen him play with Witch, yet.... I've never heard him play a set this good/sound so solid. Man this is epic Thank you tiny desk! How can I get to be there, like in the room for a live performance/taping of one of these. How blessed those cats were to be so close to Dolores O'Riordian , Wilco, Billy Corgan, Doug Martsch, Billy Callahan, Dawes, Weezer... or even those kids who got to sing with the Edge and Bono. I can't thank you,nj666

[@stewartchampion4260]

dinosaur jr became such a big band for me pre internet ,it took a while to find all there albums ,then finally got to see them when they reformed back in 2006 i think it was ,dream come true,, i loved the search tho that was what it was about ,,, was all part of it ,,,, to me j influenced me big time on the guitar ,,,,im not surprised the world caught up ,,,, as a singer you could say his style n voice is scretchy yet ,,,, his tunefullness takes over and sense of melody soon starts to become just as interesting as his guitar, i think ,,his wierd country american twang was really cool to me a guy from england ,,,i like neil young etc so it was not to much of a far out thing ,,it works ,he hardly trys does he ,and it fits ,,,unique

[@chrispowell3880]

J is my hero!!

[@Indianclassicmusic1]

Wonderfull music !!!!!

[@enfokado]

every time that i see to j mascis playing his guitar, i think that is a real hero, like a strings god!!!! available for some humans.

[@8thstreetgoons53]

Beautiful

[@lukegee4526]

Amazing, so timeless

[@nolliebags]

Makes me wonder what Nick Drake would be like on this. Great show

[@iangonzalezlopez220]

I'd like to know that too.

[@cuezaireekaa]

oh wow. what a concept. if only...

[@basstea338]

David Lander imagining cello song or time of no reply.

[@kinksbeatlesstones]

Yes, indeed!

[@jimthreatandthevultures4905]

After listening to him for years, he reminded me of Drake for the first time recently.

[@1777DK]

When you have pulled the pots out of a vintage CF-100, and covered the holes with purple stickers, you have won in life!

[@khaaleliilighntingcoronado9009]

Lol fucking J! Always turns everything he touches into a J mascis thing! Just like kurt did with a fucking d-18 that most people would hang on the wall and never play, he puts a pickup in it plays it upside down and runs it through a fender twin with effect pedal lol. Gotta admire artist like this.

[@hardnetzip]

❤️🎧🎖🙆‍♂️🤙 Amazing! Thx for the music Dinosaur JR

[@personofpinterest4281]

I saw him live in 2011 at Maha in Omaha great show he had just really got serious about this version of his music great show he did the first album from 2011 then did a bunch of Dinosaur Jr songs and shredded with the acoustic great show miss those times a bit

[@tonysalas99]

i watch this when im sad

[@judeleese7783]

tony salas same here...there is something about his music that makes you feel better. 😊

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Aww. Don't be sad. It's still a beautiful world when there's people like J in it.

[@WarzEdits]

the whole solo of heal the star is a gem

[@papamilo2671]

Great songwriter! ❤ Shout out from Kazakstan

[@alfredovassquess6583]

J Mascis makes my life easier

[@gratefulhank]

Me too...

[@dumpstercat5557]

Beautiful.

[@silvinasicoli4980]

A true artist 💕

[@TouchmyWrath]

It blew my mind seeing J Mascis on @Midnight on comedy central (rip). I had to rake my memory for other J. Mascis's who were comedians and looked just like the guy from Dinosaur Jr and holy crap it is the guy from Dinosaur Jr. I'm sure the writers helped, but he was genuinely funny too! Freak Scene and Feel the Pain were two songs that really turned me on the to the possibility of indie music back in the 90's when the radio was getting excessively corporatized and homogenized. Great performance here, glad he played some of the classic Dinosaur Jr stuff.

[@ButchCassidy529]

Can't wait to see him at Newport Folk Festival!!

[@STP1991]

saw him in Amherst this year he was absolutely amazing

[@sologuitardeath]

Awesome! J's music is one of a kind!

[@mikkelgo]

J!!! You're such an amazing artist 🎨

[@ChrisMartin-tk4dh]

this dude gets it. always grabs my fucking soul.

[@Joshua-fy1lu]

J mascis you're my hero

[@Jean-PierreLeaud]

Saw J do an acoustic set just like this opening for dead moon, blew me away

[@jamiejefferson2929]

Great song the drifter... love it J !!!

[@oneball1926]

Dude is awesome!

[@bammerbiff1621]

Reported for being the best NPR Tiny Desk performance ever.

[@TheLarryburns84]

This is fantastic.

[@Apemopo]

j mascis is cool. goood songs

[@howdyitsdavid]

Little Fury Things might be my favorite song ever.

[@shearerson]

I REALLY enjoyed this.

[@TheBallsbreakers]

Love you J!

[@skyborax5159]

J fans clicking on the video wanting to know what miracle occurred that made j smile in the thumbnail

[@tomholden6869]

intensity- well played! Powerful.....he doesn't need an amp

[@GnomeChomsky9999]

Love all the idiosyncrasies of J Mascis’s music!

[@lindajeremysmith531]

Drifter/Heal The Star, the guitar for me is reminiscent of J.D. Blackfoot "The Song of Crazy Horse" recorded at Stebbing Studios, New Zealand, 1973;

[@davidbaise5137]

This fellow should be in the movies.

[@TheBallsbreakers]

ha! Saw him in "Double" a few years ago haha

[@dinosaursr]

Saw Dino Jr at Desert Stars show a few years ago. Beautiful night in the desert and the stars up in the night sky likely picked up the decibels from J’s Marshall stacks. But he can do acoustic no problemo.

[@aidantripp9370]

Best guitarist of all time

[@lewisclark2686]

Thought I couldn't like the fella anymore, turns out he's wearing a Mighty Boosh t-shirt. Legend.

[@cenkerdemir]

So good!