Bob Mould still full of 'Life'
Bob Mould has been a solo artist for roughly twice as long as he was a member of seminal punk outfit Husker Du, and yet people still can't seem to discuss his music without referring to that earlier band.
That makes sense in a way, as Husker Du remains one of the most beloved and influential bands to come out of the 1980s underground.
But the Huskers broke up in 1987, and Mould has released nine solo records since then, along with three from his 1990s power-pop band Sugar.
Will the comparisons to Husker Du ever end?
“I don't know, to be honest, Mould said in a recent phone interview. “It cuts both ways. I'm really blessed to have had such a powerful experience in the '80s with Husker Du. I think the work we did stands on its merits still.
“But that also set the bar so high, and when I do something different, like (Mould's 2002 dance-rock album) ‘Modulate,' people say it doesn't sound like (Husker Du's 1985 record) ‘Flip Your Wig.' Well, no, it doesn't. That was then. I'm trying to do new things now.
Mould's latest record, which came out in the spring, is “Life and Times. It finds the 50-year-old rocker examining the often rough terrain of friendship and romantic relationships.
Over and over, the characters in his songs wonder if giving in to love is worth the pain it might cause down the road. “Why'd you have to come around/and turn my whole world upside down? Mould sings in the title track. Later: “Somehow you're getting into my thoughts/that piece of my heart I protect.
Musically, the record touches on virtually every aspect of Mould's career. (He played all the instruments himself except for the drums, which were provided by Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster.)
The acoustic guitar and keyboards on a song like “Bad Blood Better recall the introspection of Mould's 1989 solo debut, “Workbook. Other tracks, like “MM17 and “Argos, display the full-throttle electric fury of Mould's work with Husker Du and Sugar.
“I'm really happy with this record, though sometimes I wonder if I put it out too close on the heels of ‘District Line' (from 2008), Mould said. “The writing went well on this one. It reminded me a bit of the experience I had on ‘Workbook,' which was a very important record for me.
Mould is in town this weekend for two acoustic shows, one at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and the other at the Montrose Room in Rosemont. The intimate nature of both rooms will give Mould a chance to open up the setlist a bit and chat with the audience more, he said. The shows will also provide a showcase for Mould's distinctive singing, an aspect of his music that often gets overlooked.
“And, let's face it, shows like that are a bit easier for me now, he said with a chuckle. “I'm getting older, and rocking out with a full band is more taxing than it used to be.
Not that Mould has shown any signs of slowing down. Since 2005, he has released three solo records, a live album and a performance DVD. He remains active in Blowoff, a regular series of DJ gigs at clubs around the country that he does with producer and remixer Richard Morel.
Mould is also putting the finishing touches on his autobiography, which he's co-writing with noted music writer Michael Azerrad. He hopes the book will be released next year.
“I'm feeling pretty motivated these days, he said. “A lot of that goes back to Blowoff, which is what kept me a music fan. Spending hours and hours listening to music has been very inspiring, and that has kept me productive with my own stuff. I'm not ready to stop any of this yet.
Bob Mould
<p>Chicago: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. (With Tim Eriksen.) Sold out.</p>
<p>Rosemont: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Montrose Room, InterContinental Chicago O'Hare, 5300 N. River Road. (With Jason Narducy.) </p>
<p>Tickets cost $15 in advance, $20 at the door. </p>
<p>See montroseroom.com or call (847) 544-5300. For tickets, go to ticketmaster.com.</p>