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Concert review of the man, the legend, Bob Mould at Neumos in Seattle, WA, Thursday October 15

October 30th, 2009 Posted by: Dust Devil

The Dust Devil has been on hiatus for a spell in terms of actual live reviews, but do I have three great shows to tell you about! I visited Seattle for the first time from October 14-20 and had an opportunity to see three amazing concerts. Seattle is definitely all it is cracked up to be, great coffee, great vibe and killer music scene. Let’s start with Bob Mould at Neumos on October 15.

I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing Mr. Mould two previous times this year, at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis back in March and at Coachella in April. Both sets absolutely smoked and were very different from one another. The Varsity Theatre show was just Bob and bassist/guitarist/backing vocalist Jason Narducy. Coachella added Richard Morel on the keyboards and Jon Wurster on drums. This evening was minus Morel, so we were treated to Bob Mould once again part of a killer trio. Obviously for the knowledgeable that should conjure up images of not only two of the best trios in rock history, but two of what should be considered to be the best bands of all-time. Yes, I am referring to Husker Du and Sugar. If you are not familar with either of these bands, go pick up New Day Rising from Husker Du and Copper Blue from Sugar. Now. Seriously, you can read the rest of this later.

My first visit to Neumos
I enjoy venues like this. Simple, nothing extravagant, a stage for the band, a bar off to the side, an area to buy merchandise and plenty of GA room to roam and make your way up front if need be. Which of course I did, even though I have seen the Man enough to know my ears would bleed the next day.

Neumos is located at 925 E. Pike Street, just off 9th Avenue on Pike Street. Easy to get to via the King County transit system, this club is located right next to a very cool bar by the name of MOE Bar and a hop, skip and a jump away from some killer java served at Caffe Vita. After a hazelnut latte and some interesting people watching, it was time to head inside.

The Bob Mould Band live
I honestly do not know what else I can say about Bob Mould that I have not already said in the two reviews I have already posted this year. It amazes me that at the age of 48 (he actually turned 49 the next day) this guy STILL puts the type of energy he does in a performance. Artists are “supposed” to mellow with age, and although some of Bob Mould’s latest material may tone down the gnarl of his guitar a bit, you cannot tell when he performs live. What makes his sets so special is the combination of solo tracks, Sugar songs and tunes from Husker Du.

Jason Narducy is a stellar musician, able to play guitar and bass equally well, and lends outstanding backing vocals to Bob Mould’s fiery delivery. I suggest you check out the catalog from a past band of his by the name of Verbow, great stuff! Jon Wurster is the drummer for an indie band by the name of Superchunk and destroys on the drums. Bob is very fortunate to have two accomplished musicians like these guys supporting him, and when Richard Morel joins them on keys it is an even more dynamic outfit. Check out Blowoff when you get a chance, a DJ/dance project in which Mould and Morel have joined forces.

Right out the gate he played Wishing Well from his first solo effort Workbook, released shortly after the Huskers disbanded. A great tune, a great start for the evening. Next up we were treated to another Workbook standard, See a Little Light. It is hard for me to believe it has been twenty years since that album came out, and neither track has lost any of the power or beauty over time.

Sugar ranks in my top five bands of all-time. I only saw that incredible trio once, December 8, 1994, at a great club in Tempe, AZ by the name of the Electric Ballroom (RIP). Yes, that is the correct date, I still have the stub! They shredded on that evening. I highly suggest picking up anything from their great, but all-too brief collection.

Hoover Dam, Your Favorite Thing, Needle Hits E (I think) were a few of the Sugar tracks Mould and co. unveiled on this evening, with the incredible A Good Idea part of the set as well, one of my favorite Sugar tunes. Unbelievable stuff, delivered with the fury that I have come to expect from this band.

My favorite part of this blistering set was actually a five song interlude when Mr. Mould stripped things down considerably and delivered some of his more mellow and delicate material. Life and Times, The Breach, and I’m Sorry Baby But You Can’t Stand in My Light Anymore, three tracks from his latest solo effort Life and Times, were delivered with the quiet eloquence I have come to expect from Bob, having heard these songs played earlier this year at the Varsity Theatre show or Coachella, if not both. Sinners and Repentances, another killer Workbook song followed. The highlight of this interlude had to be the Husker Du classic from Candy Apple Grey, Hardly Getting Over It. I was blown away.

Just like at Coachella earlier this year Bob, Jason and Jon ended things with some of the best tracks from the Husker Du catalog, including I Apologize and Celebrated Summer from New Day Rising, Makes No Sense at All from Flip Your Wig and Chartered Trips from Zen Arcade. I hope Bob reads this, because I swear the band brought out In a Free Land, one of Husker Du’s earliest singles.

What an increidble show, but what makes this show even more special is the fact Bob was ill at the time, yet he still paced around stage in that maniacal fashion of his while hammering away on his guitar, and still let loose his incendiary vocal style on the appreciative crowd. He apologized a couple of times for his singing; I ask why?

I really do consider myself fortunate I have seen this legend three times in one year. During this tour he was selling off a lot of old merch, so I picked up some things, but more important was the sale of the Live at ATP 2008 disc, only for sale on the tour! If you have not seen Bob Mould this year, find this disc somehow, this is a great representation of what the man does every night he plays.

Now please Bob, a Phoenix trip next year! Three plane tickets to see you in one year is enough! But of course, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Next show to review, Sunny Day Real Estate at the Paramount Theatre!

Cheers,
The Dust Devil

Filed under: Venue News & Reviews, Event Reviews