John R. Miller brought J Mascis on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, marking the Dinosaur Jr. frontman’s first appearance at the venue. Their performance of Miller’s “Steering Wheel Drums” paired an Appalachian alt-country artist with an influential alternative-rock guitarist, underlining the Opry’s willingness to host unexpected musical collaborations.

Miller’s new album, The Great Unknowing, was released digitally last week and was recorded at Leon Russell’s Church Studio in Tulsa. Mascis also joined Miller at Nashville record shop Vinyl Tap for a cover of Neil Young’s “Cortez The Killer”; elsewhere on the same Opry bill, Switchfoot made its debut and invited Lainey Wilson to perform “Beautiful Life”.