For There Near, Dinosaur Jr.’s 13th album, J Mascis went back to the gear: a 1970s Mesa Boogie MK 1 amp, the same model used on the band’s 1985 debut, to recapture a guitar sound he told Relix he “hasn’t gotten for a while.” The band brings the record to House of Blues Houston on Wednesday, Nov. 4 with Detroit’s Stef Chura opening.
About the Show
There Near (11 tracks, due August 28 on Jagjaguwar) was built at Bisquiteen Studio in Amherst, Massachusetts, in “short, intense bursts over the course of a year” by the core trio of Mascis, drummer Murph, and bassist/vocalist Lou Barlow, with Ken Mauri adding piano and organ. The Mesa Boogie MK 1 carries what Relix calls “a souped-up Fender sound,” distinct from the heavier tones of later models, and Relix describes the guitar work as “even more animalistic than usual.” Mascis told Consequence he made the choice deliberately: “You always hear how Rick Rubin always makes bands he’s producing sit down and listen to their first album and say let’s get back to that sound. So I just gave myself his advice.” Lead single “Several Got Away” is what Consequence calls “classic Dino Jr. fuzzed-out guitar and a sunny disposition.” The band formed in Amherst in 1984, broke up in 1997, and has been touring with the original lineup since reforming in 2005; sets at mid-sized venues typically run 75 to 90 minutes, with “Freak Scene” and “Feel the Pain” as established live staples. Dinosaur Jr. spent this past summer co-headlining with Band of Horses; the fall run (October 9 through November 7) brings Stef Chura as support throughout. Originally from Alpena, Michigan, Chura developed her sound through home recordings and live performances in Detroit’s underground scene before a Saddle Creek deal followed Messes (2017, reissued 2018), described as “intimate yet abrasive.” Her second album, Midnight, came out in 2019.
Venue & Logistics
The Houston show lands second in a four-date Texas run: Dallas on Nov. 2, Houston on Nov. 4, Austin on Nov. 5, San Antonio on Nov. 6. House of Blues Houston is at 1204 Caroline St. Show is at 7 p.m.
Tickets
No ticket price was available from sources at the time of publication. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster. Buy tickets