Bob Mould: Solo/Acoustic

Cat's Cradle
Carrboro, N.C.
March 27, 2006

With a voice that rumbles then explodes like a cartoon bomb, Bob Mould conducts a seminar on clenched-face intensity unlike anyone else.

So it was refreshing to see the former Hüsker Dü and Sugar front man banter with the crowd—-a rare sight--during his mostly solo acoustic show. When Mould spoke of adding 2,000 miles onto a rented Mercury Grand Marquis for the last few tour dates he surmised, "It's a bit of work, but it sure beats pimping."

Energized and free from any album promotion demands, Mould gleefully pared down the overproduced gloss of the recorded originals. In doing so, he offered a first-half blast of the familiar---"Wishing Well," "See a Little Light" and "Hardly Getting Over It"—--all acoustically rugged. He even dropped in the b-side from his Sugar days, "Needle Hits E," the catchiest song in his canon.

About six songs into the nearly two-hour set, Mould slowed the tempo and focused on exploring the quiet, moody side of his work. With "Panama City Motel" and a new song, Mould crafted low-key vibes from a catalog that spans more than 25 years.

"I'm feeling a bit laid back so don't mind me," he said.

After he softened the audience, most of whom sat on folding chairs, Mould plugged in his Fender Stratocaster and offered fuzz-drenched reworkings of "Your Favorite Thing" and "Celebrated Summer." The amplifiers crackled as he bellowed, "My circle of friends is shrinking" from "Circles."

Quite a feat considering a year of touring and exertion has weathered Mould's voice. But he cut loose anyway. When he finished the restrained ballad, "High Fidelity," he said," I was trying to see if I could play that any quieter."

He smiled.

"Nope."