It's early and the crowd is sparse. It's a shame because the hoards really are missing out on a treat. Oppenheimer makes stacks of noise considering there are only 2 of them. Shaun decides that as there are so few of us here, he will dedicate songs to the lucky few who are present. Their first track 'My Son The Astronaut' is dedicated to Andy on the balcony. Thankfully their music doesn't fit directly into any pigeonholes and it is a lovely blend of indie, pop electronica with massive helpings of humour. Shaun's really soft vocals are almost at odds with his frantic but perfectly paced drumming while Rocky manages to balance his guitar playing with keyboards, effect tinkering and setting it all down over the Apple Mac. Each of their infectiously sweet songs is kept short and we are left wanting more.
Highlights are 'Breakfast in NYC' and 'I don't care what everyone says about you, I think you're alright' where Rocky takes on the vocals (distorted through a vocoder), and Shaun takes a break from the drums in the middle of the song to play melodica. He then picks up the sticks and bangs the tubs with what seems like a renewed determination.
They depart after telling us about their forthcoming album launch in Hoxton and I am sorely tempted to be a part of their new following I think they have a number of freshly recruited fans after tonight's performance.
Set List
My Son the Astronaut
OK Lets Take This Outside
My Test
The Only Goal Winner
Breakfast in NYC
Major Television Events
I Don't Care What Everyone Says About You, I Think You're Alright
Look Up
While we await Bob Mould and band on stage, Koko slowly fills up and we do the same at the bar. By the time Bob and co. make their way to the stage, the place is looking quite busy (although at a guess, not quite sold out).
Bob plugs in his guitar, and fellow band member Richard Morel settles behind his keyboard, Jason Narducy is on bass and Brendan Canty on drums.
Without any words of introduction, the band set about playing a blistering rendition of the Sugar song 'The Act We Act'. The volume is immense and looking around, there are a fair few among us who are mouthing all of the words in unison as Bob barks them out.
No let up for the second song and another Sugar classic 'A Good Idea the bouncing bass intro alerts all of us to what is coming. The crowd erupts again, lapping up the frenetic pace. Sugar were a mid 90s band fronted by Bob Mould. Prior to Sugar he had a brief spell as a solo musician, and before that, he was in Hüsker Dü. Currently working with bands and solo projects, Mould is touring to promote his new album District Line. The pace of the latest release seems almost pedestrian in comparison to what we are hearing live. At the age of 47 he could be forgiven for mellowing but not a bit of it. He's stomping all over the stage and bending in front of the stack to get the right levels of feedback. His unique style seems to blend bits of lead and rhythm guitar to amazing effect.
After storming through the first 7 tunes, Bob says hello to the crowd. He doesnt sound out of breath. In fact he sounds like he's been settled into an arm chair and on his 4th cup of tea of the day.
The set is a real trip through his extensive back catalogue: Sugar, Hüsker Dü and solo work.
When the band play 'Circles from the previous album 'Body of Song', the crowd and band quieten down. The keyboard introduction is haunting and Mould joins in with the softer side of his wide vocal range. Guitar and bass join in gently and the mood sweeps the appreciative crowd. The track builds and builds and the gentler edge gets harder as the song progresses. Eventually Bob is spitting out the final words of the song and we are back onto the harder plateau that had been carved out before.
'Paralysed' follows and again the tempo and raw energy radiates. We're heading to something deeper and darker than grunge and as energy filled as the early days of punk.
During the early part of the pumping track 'I apologize' I notice a broken drum stick flying off in several directions - testament to the efforts that the whole band are putting into grinding out this set. The main part of the show is rounded off with the brilliant 'Divide and Conquer' from the Husker Du days.
As we take a well earned rest, the band appear back on stage and I'm pleased to hear 'If I Can't Change Your Mind' from the Sugar days and a perfect end to the night with 'New Day Rising'. Mould's songwriting skills are a lyrical masterclass.
Younger artists could learn a lot from Bob Mould. He's not the most communicative performer but what he lacks in words, he makes up for in actions.
Set List
The Act We Act
A Good Idea
I Hate Alternative Rock
Hoover Dam
I Am Vision I Am Sound
The Silence Between Us
Hanging Tree
Missing You
Your Favourite Thing
Circles
Paralysed
I Apologize
Celebrated Summer
Divide and Conquer
Encore
Judas Cradle
If I Can't Change Your Mind
Makes No Sense At All
New Day Rising
article by: James Tayler
photos by: Andy Pitt
published: 30/05/2008 10:00
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.