Life

Bob at Fort Reno

I first heard Bob Mould’s voice nearly 20 years ago, when a camp counselor played a tape of Husker Du’s Zen Arcade for me. People throw out the phrase “seminal moment” all the time, but that’s what it was for me. Over the years I’ve caught Bob live a couple of times on solo and group tours, and had just one disappointment: he wouldn’t play Husker songs after the band broke up. People would call out titles at his shows and he’d just ignore them and play his newer stuff (which was really good, too).
But last night, in front of perhaps 200 people at Fort Reno – a DC outdoor site with the barest of trappings – Bob Mould stepped onto a platform with just his guitar and played songs from Husker albums “New Day Rising” and “Candy Apple Grey.” It was, to me, electrifying – something I almost gave up hope of hearing live again. And it reminded me just why I was hooked from the first moment I heard his voice. Catch Bob on his solo tour this summer if you can.