Singer Bob Mould is returning to Chicago Oct. 12. He sat down with Windy City Times to discuss his new CD, Life and Times.
Windy City Times: Hi, Bob. How have you been? I haven't talked to you since the Blowoff event.
Bob Mould: Things have been good. The last Blowoff was during Halsted Street Fair. I have been busy trying to get my autobiography finished. That has been the major project for the better part of last year. I have spent a lot of time in New York working on that. I am in San Francisco this weekend for a Blowoff event out here. I go back to Washington, D.C., for a few days, then start off the band tour.
WCT: Explain how your solo tour is different than when you tour with Richard Morel and Blowoff.
BM: First let me say, Chicago has always been my strongest market for my music. [ Radio station ] XRT has always been a big supporter of my work. Whether it's working with JAM or the Metro, I have been playing Chicago since I was 20 years old.
This is a three-piece rock band. My drummer is Jon Wurster from the group Superchunk. My bass player is named Jason Narducy, who is actually from Chicago.
The music that we play on this tour runs the spectrum of things that I have written and recorded over three decades. Whether it was Husker Du in the '80s or Sugar in the '90s or my 10 solo records. This is muscular aggressive guitar-based pop music. That has been my life's work. It is in sharp contrast with Blowoff, which me and Rich Morel started seven years ago in D.C. when I moved there. Blowoff is primarily a gay club event. It usually skews to a bit of an older audience to guys in their 30s and 40s, some in their 20s and some in their 50s—more of a bear, leather, masculine, beer-drinking crowd.
My rock and DJ life are both part of what I do but they compliment each other quite well.
WCT: When are you ever off tour?
BM: Blowoff is a constant tour. We are in Chicago five times a year [ with another Friday, Oct. 30 ] . The same with New York, San Francisco and, with D.C. it is every month for years. I did some solo and acoustic shows in March when the album was originally released. This tour is pretty brief. It is only three weeks but covers all of North America. Once that is done I have a tour in Europe solo but this is the only full band tour for the year.
WCT: Isn't the Metro a great space to play in?
BM: Yes. I first played there in 1984. It has been 25 years that I have been playing in that room. It's a great neighborhood and the Metro is a world-class venue.
WCT: I have been listening to your 2008 CD, Life and Times. Tell our readers about it.
BM: Life and Times is the most recent solo record. It's a guitar-based album, mostly electric but some acoustic guitar songs. The tone is introspective, confessional autobiographical and observational. It's a darker point of view. It looks at the downfall of a relationship.
WCT: Speaking of relationships, are you currently single?
BM: No; I have been in the same relationship for almost four years now. It's getting started; it is getting revved up. I have had two long relationships in the past so I am kind of wired for that.
WCT: So you are performing with Grizzly Bear in San Francisco. I really like that group.
BM: Yes, on the Treasure Island Festival. I know their stuff from the beginning. They are great. Flaming Lips, The Decemberists, Yo Lo Tengo and Grizzly Bear, if you like indie rock it's pretty much the show.
WCT: Tell me about the book.
WCT: Well, welcome back to Chi-town with this tour. We are looking forward to the show!
BM: It's Columbus Day, so [ it's ] a holiday. I hope everyone can come out to see the concert since they are off work.
Bob Mould is returning to Chicago at the Metro, 3730 N. Clark, Monday, Oct. 12. Visit www.bobmould.com .
