J Mascis will unplug this spring — or, as Dinosaur Jr bandmate Lou Barlow put it, ‘pretend he’s a peace loving acoustic guy’ — for a just-announced 22-date North American tour in support of his first-ever solo studio album ‘Several Shades of Why.’

With Dinosaur Jr on break, bassist Lou Barlow is shifting focus to a revived Sebadoh, with plans to release expanded reissues of 1994’s ‘Bakesale’ and 1996’s ‘Harmacy’ this year and take the famously lo-fi act out on the road for the ‘Bakesale/Harmacy Remembering Time Tour.’

For our latest Vintage Video installment, we present this pro-shot footage of Dinosaur Jr’s original lineup — J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph — rehearsing at the University of Massachusetts in 1986.

Taking a pause from the ongoing Dinosaur Jr reunion, Lou Barlow this week released a new digital EP called ‘= Sentridoh III’ — recorded with his current backing band, The Missingmen — and announced two rounds of North American summer dates.

The reactivated Dinosaur Jr will spend most of May touring Europe with fellow guitar rockers Built to Spill — a six-string lover’s dream, no doubt — before bassist Lou Barlow returns to the U.S. for a 14-date solo trek in June in support of last year’s ‘Goodnight Unknown.’

Record Rack: A weekly round-up of the pertinent new albums, reissues and/or box sets due out Tuesday. ARTIST: Kraftwerk RELEASES: Autobahn, Radio-Activity, Trans Europe Express, […]