Date: 26th January 2006

Venue: Glasgow ABC

Review by Skivi

This was a biggie for me.
I have been listening to Bob for, God!, 18- 19 years and as the majority of his stuff has not been overly popular it has been a very personal obsession.
Like myself he has a tendency towards the melancholy and along with J Mascis has got me through a lot of my most self indulgent (and in hindsight self inflicted) moments.

I had absolutely no idea he was playing in Glasgow so when I got the Tickets on Xmas morning I was overjoyed!

Bob set up his own kit (placed down two guitars and effects pedals) then disappeared back stage to prepare.

I have only seen him live once before with Sugar at the Barras in ’93. I really liked Sugar but live they sucked!
Bob has a tendency to harmonise while singing which just screwed up the whole Sugar sound (for me) but here it is just Bob and a Guitar and it worked perfectly.
He covered his whole career tonight; Husker Du, solo, Sugar, solo and it was a dream gig for me.
To be honest with you I really did not want to analyse this gig too much so this could all be a bit vague.

He opened with an acoustic set “Wishing Well” being first then another song from that Workbook/Black Sheets of Rain era but for the life of me I can not remember which one.

Then “Hardly Getting Over It”.
Choke
I had not come wanting to hear any particular songs but that was the one for me.

The cheers that went up at the end of every song were amazing, but there was a kind of respectful silence between songs I have not experienced at any other gig.
It was a smallish venue that was sold out and filled with real fans of Bob Mould and that added to the night for me. The songs requested where not the most obvious ones (Sugar) and the songs that got the biggest reaction were probably Husker Du/solo ones.

Here is a list of songs I remember in no particular order;
Wishing Well, Hardly Getting Over It, Hoover Dam, I Apologise, Makes No Sense at All, Paralyzed, Underneath Days, Egoverride, Circles, High Fidelity, If I Can’t Change Your Mind, Needle Hits E, Never Talking to You Again……. And loads more
Two sets first acoustic second him and an electric. He came across as a shy but focused guy and I have grown to like his music even more for seeing him in this stripped down way.

You can shove your Coldplays and Blunts where they belong give me a Mould or a Mascis anyday!

I hope he doesn’t wait another 13 years to return.

Skivi