The rumors that J. Mascis, guitar guru, original slacker and front man for Dinosaur Jr. has retired are untrue. It seems that some believed Mascis had left the music scene in order to join the professional golf circuit, this according to a press release on the band.The non-extinct Dinosaur Jr’s new release, Hand it over, should put an end to any such ideas, and although it’s been over three years since his last heavy rock record, Mascis hasn’t exactly been sitting on his backside.Besides writing and performing a number of songs on the recent film Grace of My Heart, Mascis released a solo acoustic record entitled Martin and Me’s, which featured covers by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Carly Simon.Mascis also did a gig last summer opening for Alanis Morissette in Toronto.”I wanted to see if maybe we could hang out with Alanis,” Mascis said, “but it wasn’t meant to be, my friends wouldn’t let me do it.” Mascis recorded most of Dinosaur Jr’s new album, Hand it Over in the basement of his Amherst, Massachusetts house, which he calls “Bob’s place.” (Bob is Mascis’ bulldog)Hand it Over features background vocals by Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine, and consists of all Mascis originals.There is one song that is dedicated to the band New Order, Mascis said, “but you’ll have to figure out which one it is.” The power trio that is Dinosaur Jr. bassist Mike Johnson, drummer George Berz, and Mascis have been around since 1987’s “You’re Living All Over Me,” and according to Rolling Stone magazine have “served as a vital influence for bands like the Lemonheads, Pavement, and even Nirvana.”Unlike those bands, Dinosaur Jr. never went mainstream. This is perhaps due to Mascis’ whiny Neil Young-like vocals, and his quiet demeanor, but more likely it’s because Mascis prefers it that way.Dinosaur Jr. will be performing tonight at the Newport Music Hall. Smokin’ Popes and Lotus Clown will open the show. Tickets are $12.50 in advance, and $15 the day of the show.