Boblog

This And That

2008-05-13T22:19:00.000-04:00

A nice write-up at fuzz.com.

A nice album review at jambase.com.

Two reviews of last weekend's solo electric show. Herald and Globe.

A preview of this Friday's BLOWOFF in Charlottesville.

A spotlight on this blog, courtesy smarterthanyouraverageblog.com.

Back to NYC in the morning. Hope to see you in C'ville and DC this weekend.

Home For A Moment

2008-05-10T09:22:00.002-04:00

Stopping quickly in DC, back from work in NYC. I have a show this afternoon in Boston. Stop by early if you can.

BLOWOFF next Friday in Charlottesville, and Saturday in DC. Great art by Pat.

Before BLOWOFF next Saturday, Eric Himan will be performing at Solly's U Street Tavern. Check him out if you get the chance.

It is also National Police Week, with many activities planned for the DC area.

Have a great weekend.

This And That

2008-04-25T14:31:00.001-04:00

I heard about this story yesterday. The beginning, the middle, and (maybe) the end. The whole thing is brilliant.

In other thoughts before I punch out for the weekend, I am not attending Coachella for the first time in four years. It looks to be 100 degrees all weekend long, which I won't be missing. What I will miss, however, is Classixx at the Music Loves Fashion party. Cold Act Ill is off the chain.

To Wax Means To Grow

2008-04-25T13:33:00.004-04:00

I went out last night with one of my best buds. Not unusual for me, seeing as it was Thursday night. Green Lantern, 10 PM, Shirtless Men Drink Free. Same drill as most Thursday nights. And, as is becoming more common, the second (and final) stop involves a few games of pool at the Eagle. But no, we couldn't leave well enough alone. My bud, who doesn't go out all that much, convinced me to go with him to "college night" at Apex. Believe me, I was nervous as we walked up to the club. The sidewalk in front of the club was filled with teens and twenty-somethings, chattering and chain smoking. What had I gotten myself into?

We paid our 5 dollar cover charge, and entered the club. Pounding hard music, strobes and crowd blinders going off every 10 seconds. We wove our way back to the video room. Rail thin, shirtless, hairless guys pole danced with the nearest warm body. Gals darted around the room. I tried my best to keep my head down, hoping to not catch the scorn of some youngster. At one point, I asked my bud, "so where is the corner where the old guy hides?", praying the spot wasn't occupied by someone 10 years younger than me.

We stayed for about an hour, then I had to beg off. Somewhere in the course of that hour, my bud waxed philosophical on the passing of time, missed opportunities, realizing where you stand in your life at any given moment. I looked at my surroundings and mused, "you know, this isn't that different from what I do when I DJ, except my people are twenty years older". A quick decaf to go, and we began the drive up the hill. Soon, it's 2:15 AM on a school night, and we're still yakking away on the back deck.

I don't feel like life has passed me by. I've had plenty of missed opportunities. I've had lots of disappointments, mainly because I aim so high. Missed opportunities and disappointments should never be confused with regrets. Five years ago, I could not have imagined where I am standing in my life. It's all good; even my bad stuff is pretty good, compared to what some people have to endure. Music keeps me young, keeps me interested, keeps me active. I never take that for granted. Friends keep me grounded, but are wise enough to give me the room to fly when needed. I am wise enough to take flight, and in the end, I usually land at the right place.

Assorted photos from the past few months.

This And That

2008-04-18T09:33:00.002-04:00

The Europe band dates can be found here. In addition, I have a solo electric performance in Boston on May 10.

Last Saturday, BLOWOFF DC was good fun. Chatted with Kaki King, who had opened for Nada Surf earlier that evening. Pictures of the evening's festivities can be found at MW.

More BLOWOFF NYC photos (HX) and comments (Next). Jeff has pictures and commentary as well.

A funny comic strip can be found here.

Allergy season has begin in DC. Thanks to Pataday, I was able to keep my hands out of my eye sockets. A half dose of Claritin-D seems to help alleviate the other symptoms, without knocking me flat on my ass.

Better Late Than Never

2008-04-08T08:01:00.001-04:00

After a solid show in warm sunny Austin, we flew on to Colorado. A fun night off (complete with home cooked meal) courtesy an old pal in Denver, then a snowy show in Boulder. On to the West Coast, where Jon Wurster joined in on drums for the remaining week of US dates. Great shows in San Diego, LA, and SF. Portland may have been the best show of the tour - everything clicked perfectly. Seattle and Vancouver rounded out the trip. Thanks to everyone who turned out for the shows. Special thanks to Frank and Tim, the hardest working crew in show business.

Last Saturday's BLOWOFF in NYC was off the charts fun. Thanks to all the folks who showed up and helped us rock the club until 4 AM. Joe blogs his synopsis. A late dinner at Vynl, and up until sunrise for the first time in years. Sunday brunch with some buds, shenanigans at the Dugout with the rock stars, dinner, a nightcap at the Eagle. Monday, hang time in the Village, a Chelsea Boy Special, and a quick drive home. Great weekend.

BLOWOFF DC this Saturday. Another great poster by Pat.

Go here for Bob Mould Band EU dates and tickets.

An interview for LOGO.

A wonderful piece by Kurt B. Reighley for The Advocate.

A nice mention by the local NBC affiliate.

A thoughtful piece at Noise.

Ted Allen makes kind words about the NYC show.

Greetings From The 512

2008-03-20T12:34:00.000-04:00

Greetings from the road - specifically, Austin TX.

It's been a while, but here's the Cliff Notes version of the tour. Toronto was a solid show. Day off driving from T.O. to Boston. Finally shook the snow around Springfield MA. Boston was one of the best shows so far. Great crowd energy, and the venue has done some sound upgrades that were long overdue. NYC was rock. Made up for the sub-par performance in October 2005. The first stage diver of the tour as well. Philly was solid the following night. DC was a big blur, between the early band show and the late BLOWOFF. Long long day, capping off 10 shows in 11 days. Sunday, brunch with the crew, and a quiet dinner at home with friends.

Monday, a very smoky Charlotte. Folks, please leave the cancer sticks at home. It is even harder than normal for me to sing when my throat is on fire. Tuesday, Atlanta was great fun. David Barbe stopped by, and joined us onstage for a rousing encore. Yesterday was a tough travel day. What was to be four hours in the air system turned into twelve. Three meals in airports is not good for the soul. But, now that I'm in Austin, all is good. Looking forward to tonight's show at Antone's.

If I had only known it was so easy to get attention by saying funny things, I would have started many years ago. The short version, the long version.

A very nice writeup at DCist.

A nice review at Philly.com.

A nice review of the DC show.

Stories

2008-03-12T11:56:00.002-04:00

Bob Mould finds happiness.

Bob Mould walks the line.

Bob Mould hasn't quite mellowed.

Core progression.

Years after he gave up on rock music, Bob Mould plugs back in.

Bob Mould runs through every era of a 25-year career.

Mould content in his musical comfort zone.

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A blog entry that is way more important than those other stories.

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This Saturday (March 15) is a special day at the 9:30 Club in DC. The early homecoming band show, followed by BLOWOFF. If you attend the early show, you are eligible for a reduced admission to BLOWOFF. Hope to see my all my buds on Saturday (and Sunday brunch). Another great poster by Linas.

Quick Update From The Road

2008-03-10T16:13:00.002-04:00

Day six of the tour. I am in Toronto, regrouping from a long week of rehearsals, and an even longer first five days of tour. Last Wednesday, the homecoming at First Avenue. Thursday, a solid show in Milwaukee. Chicago on Friday was excellent, voice issues notwithstanding. Saturday, we hit the blizzard head on in Ohio. The Cleveland show was a very special night for those who braved the storm. I grew up in snow county, and this was a real blizzard, folks. Sunday, the roads were clear to Hamilton. Show tonight in Toronto.

Some pictures below. Wish I had more to say, but my fingers hurt almost as much as my voice.

The Bomb.

Merlin's Magic Touch.

Interstate 90 Eastbound, Ohio.

Withdrawl.

Kung Fu Nation

2008-02-29T22:59:00.002-05:00

Kung Fu Nation is the new online vendor for all things Bob.

If you are planning to buy the new album or DVD, do so from Kung Fu Nation.

Week In Review

2008-02-25T11:09:00.003-05:00

Last week was non-stop press for the upcoming tour. Dates can be found here.

Thursday, an afternoon train to NYC, and a unique performance at Upright Citizens Brigade. It was fun to be the musical guest on the Dave Hill Explosion, as well as the ensuing discussion with Dave and Amy Sedaris.

Friday, the snow was deep and wet, making for a challenging day. A visit with Frank DeCaro at Sirius, some video blogging at LOGO, and a performance and interview for a June airing of PBS In The Life. Dinner with a bud, followed by a nightcap at Snaxx. DC in the house.

Saturday, breakfast at Florent. The rest of the DC posse arrives for lunch, followed by a quick DC takeover of my old coffee shop. An early sushi dinner, a disco nap, and then.....a sold out BLOWOFF NYC! Unbelievable fun. Lots of DC buds, recent NYC friends, celebrities, Nasty Pigs, you name it, we had it going on. Thanks to everyone who showed up, hope to see you all on Saturday April 5! A five-star night.

Sunday, brunch with the crew. Soho shopping, then back on the road. A dinner stop in Baltimore with our gracious and handsome hosts, and everyone is home safe and sound by Midnight.

Rehearsals begin on Wednesday.

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A nice interview with David Dye.

More Press, BLOWOFF Dates

2008-02-15T10:37:00.002-05:00

A well-written piece in today's Guardian.

A nice review at The Onion's AV Club.

An acoustic performance in Paris.

An appearance on Fair Game.

A nice review at Washington Blade.

BLOWOFF this Saturday in DC, and next Saturday in NYC. Another fine poster by Pat.

The foreclosures appear to be ramping up in DC. Bethesda MD, just outside the District line, is number one. Up the road, Baltimore is number four.

Home For A Moment

2008-02-07T19:23:00.000-05:00

Check out the electronic press kit for the new album. Also at YouTube.

Thanks to those who sent kind words about the new album. The last week has been a bit of a blur. Was in NYC, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Minneapolis, promoting the new album at radio stations. Stations included WFUV, WNYC, WXPN and Y-Rock, WXRT, Chicago Public Radio, Cities 97, and The Current. Search around, and you will find lots of live performances and interviews.

Google Bob Mould, then hit NEWS. There are tons of reviews and links. A particularly good one at PopMatters, complete with EPK link at the end.

The SPIN interview.

Streaming The New Album

2008-01-29T12:15:00.001-05:00

The new album is available for listening here.

Order the new album here.

Enjoy.

Weekend In Review

2008-01-28T09:56:00.000-05:00

Check out the February 2008 newsstand version of SPIN. There's a big article, and a very kind review of the new album.

A nice review at Blogcritics.

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Friday night, a quick stop at BHH. Good to see the gang. Saturday, our five year anniversary BLOWOFF! One of the best nights ever. Lots of old school attendees, the room was comfortably packed, classic tunes, a few new songs, and a great video retrospective. A very touching time. Sunday, a bunch of us relaxed with coffee at Clickboo's fabulous party lounge. Later in the evening, a dinner gathering with old business associates.

Speaking of business associates, a letter sent 20 years ago today. Freedom, sweet freedom! One of my best decisions ever. The end of one trip, the beginning of an amazing journey.

This And That

2008-01-25T17:40:00.001-05:00

A nice article about five years of BLOWOFF.

Sound Off, in the Washington Blade.

We are taking pre-orders for District Line. Your support is appreciated.

Week In Review

2008-01-24T19:46:00.000-05:00

The press is in full force. KEXP has a song, as does Brooklyn Vegan. A Q&A with MSNBC, storming the CMJ charts, and let's not forget about the DVD. An interesting commentary rounds out the short list. You can Google NEWS or BLOG to find more stuff.
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Five years of BLOWOFF. The anniversary gig is this Saturday night. Excellent art by Linas.

I will be in NYC and Philadelphia this coming week. Check with World Cafe Live for info about next Friday's Noon set.

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Last Wednesday, an early morning flight from IAD to LHR. Arrived in my tiny Soho hotel room by 11 PM. Dropped off the gear, grabbed a cup of coffee, and headed to Barcode for a nightcap. On the way back to the hotel, the first of several meals at Balans Cafe.

Thursday, the first full day of Euro press. The Beggars folks are quite a nice lot, and they kept me very busy with lots of phone interviews (Spain, Norway, Germany, UK). Later that evening, over to XFM to talk with John Kennedy, and to play a few songs.

Friday, more press, grocery shopping, and two interviews at BBC: one with Steve Lamacq (look for the interview), and another for BBC Poland. That evening, headed to the Eagle. Vauxhall is the newest gayborhood, and Tonker was a bit reminiscent of a certain DC club night.

Saturday, slept in, drank coffee, walked around the town, very warm weather. That evening, I headed to XXL, which is the big shindig for the London crew. I have to say, it was quite a fun time. The club was retrofitted inside several railway arches, and there were plenty of rooms of all sizes in which to dance / chill / hide / etc. I don't normally do the big clubs, but it turned out to be a (very late) fun evening.

Sunday, not much of anything. More walking, more coffee, more window shopping (the exchange rate rendered the dollar useless), karaoke at Kings Arms, and a quiet evening.

Monday, press at the Beggars office, followed by a solo show at Roundhouse Studios. Morrissey was beginning a six night stand in the big room; the menu in the lobby was changed from all food to vegetarian-only, in honor of the star act. My show was OK, but the crowd was on fire! I will be back in the UK in May, with the full band.

Tuesday, an early train to Paris for a very full press day. After a live performance for Liberation, I hopped back to London, and settled in for the night.

Wednesday, arrived at LHR to find my United return flight had been cancelled (mechanical). I managed to talk my way onto a Virgin flight, and was thrilled to have two economy seats to myself. I needed badly to catch up on sleep, and still do, 24 hours later. The jet lag is SO on.

A-Bomb In Wardour Street

2008-01-22T18:51:00.000-05:00

Greetings from London. What a busy week it has been. Been slumming in Soho, tonkering in Vauxhall, big clubbing at the Arches, and a quick trip to Paris as well. Lots to get caught up, which I will try to do on Thursday. Heading back to the US shortly.

Three from The Jam, courtesy YouTube.

Weekend In Review

2008-01-14T06:48:00.001-05:00

The single is available for purchase at iTunes.

We are now taking pre-orders for District Line. Click on the top banner, or here.

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Wednesday night, ended up at Halo with some buds. I had not been there in at least a year. Thursday, worked on the XMU AIR Time shows, which air on Tuesday at 7 PM PT / 10 PM ET on XMU Channel 43. You can hear encores of the show on Wednesday at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET, and Thursday at 3 AM PT / 6 AM ET.

Friday, a long press day, followed by a fun time at BHH. A huge turnout, with all the familiar faces in attendance. The first week, we had 30 people. Week two, 75 or so. This past week, I would guess 200 unique visitors from 7 - 9 PM. Saturday, breakfast with the guys, a decent workout, and not much else. Sunday wasn't much more productive. Lunch at Thai Tanic, coffee, gym, and finally, the Christmas trees are down.

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Testosterone and / or HGH. It's not just for pro wrestlers and baseball players. Story here and here. Mary J. Blige - didn't see that one coming. No more pain, probably.

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Super Bowl XXVII, Jan. 31, 1993: "Movies, Music, Hollywood"
Tribute to music and movies featuring the Rockettes
Fly over by Navy's Strike Fighter Squadron, USS Nimitz
ANTHEM: Garth Brooks (American Sign Language performance by Marlee Matlin)
COIN TOSS: O.J. Simpson
HALFTIME: Michael Jackson and 3,500 local children. Finale included audience card stunt.

Home For A While

2008-01-10T10:00:00.001-05:00

A review of Tuesday's show at Disney Hall.

The single is available for purchase at iTunes. It was nice of them to feature me as a new release.

We are now taking pre-orders for District Line. Click on the top banner, or here.

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Last Friday, another fun happy hour gathering at 30 Degrees. The crowd was triple the size of the week prior, with more of the original BHH crowd joining our crew. The bar is about to undergo some changes, and I think our crowd will feel even more at home as these changes become apparent.

Saturday, breakfast with the gang, a lazy coffee afternoon, and an Epiphany party to close out the night. Sunday, lots of walking time in the 'hood with friends, followed by homemade pizza.

Monday, an early AM flight to LAX. Spent the afternoon at Current TV, taping a long interview which will air shortly. Look for Current on your local cable system listings. A great channel.

Tuesday, a taping of two solo songs for Fuel TV's The Daily Habit. Next up was a taping of three solo songs for Dead Air at Indie 103.1. The show at Disney Hall was lots of fun. The Gehry-designed building is beautiful, from both the street and stage. Highlights included songs from Kyp Malone and Annie Stela. Good to see John Doe and Money Mark as well.

Wednesday, a quick flight home. Slept most of the way, as the plane was maybe one third full.

Operators Are Standing By

2008-01-05T10:59:00.001-05:00

We are now taking pre-orders for District Line. Click on the top banner, or here.

Happy 2008

2008-01-02T09:42:00.000-05:00

Check out XMU A. I. R. Time this month. I'll be the month-long resident indie rock DJ. The shows premiere on Tuesday nights, and are replayed throughout the week.

Songs Of The City is next Tuesday in LA.

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The past few weeks has been filled with socializing and celebrating of the holidays. On the 20th, a birthday dinner at Paolo's, followed by a nightcap at SMDF. Friday the 21st, the final night of WOOF at Titan's Ramrod. We will all miss the old WOOF, as it was the place where many of us started our DC weekends. Titan / Ramrod was the home for the past few years; prior to that, it was held above Dupont Italian Kitchen on 17th Street. Saturday, Rich and Nick hosted their annual party, with the usual excellent food and company. Sunday, a lazy day. Monday night was Christmas Eve, which means Baltimore, hun. Rob and Pat outdid themselves this year; lots of DC and MD buds were in attendance.

Christmas, dinner for 25 at the ranch. Tenderloin, turkey breast, ham, all the sides and desserts. Wednesday was another recovery day. Thursday, a house party in Columbia Heights. Friday, many of us congregated for happy hour at 30 Degrees. The space is very nice, and the bar staff seemed quite happy to see so many friendly (and well-tipping) guys in the bar. Lots of the old WOOF staff were in attendance, and we all agreed that 30 Degrees could make a good home for our social event. Here's hoping it works out.

Saturday breakfast, coffee and workout, followed by a houseful of guys watching the UFC pay per view. Great fights, good company, and some tasty meat loaf makes for a fun sleepover. Sunday, off to Baltimore for hang time at Brewer's Art. My first trip, and I will be back on a regular basis. There's no place quite like it in DC; that can be said for most establishments in Mt. Vernon. A great neighborhood.

Monday, New Year's Eve spent with a small group of friends. There were many party choices, both in DC and NYC, but with the travel picking up this month, I wanted to have a quiet night. Last year's NYE was hectic enough.

Yesterday, a splendid day means lots walking in Columbia Heights, U Street, and Logan. A bunch of us curled up to watch Ratatouille. A cute movie.

Lots of pictures from the holidays, courtesy Jeff and his new camera,

This And That

2007-12-20T05:54:00.000-05:00

A mention of an upcoming show in Los Angeles.

A mention of an upcoming solo set in London. Ticket information.

Photos from last Saturday's BLOWOFF DC.

More BLOWOFF DC, courtesy Bubala, Mumi, and Max.

A lovely column, written by Carrie Brownstein, over at NPR.

Wrap It Up With A Nice Ribbon

2007-12-19T09:05:00.000-05:00

A fun weekend in the 202. WOOF on Friday was rock solid, packed with fun guys. Saturday's DC BLOWOFF was great fun, despite the doom and gloom weather forecasts all day long. The town was a bit slow all around; lots of the B'more guys stayed home, but not Ruphus. Clickboo was in fine form, and other non-bloggers shared in the Christmas spirits. Lots of joy was spread, and some of the naughty kids unwrapped their gifts a little early. I guess that's what holiday parties are all about, isn't it?

Tickets for the March 2008 US tour are available here.

Two mentions at HX, talking up BLOWOFF NYC.

Happy Holidays to everyone. 2008 should be a busy year.

Catching Up Ever So Slightly

2007-12-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

I have been swamped lately. There have been many times over the past month where I thought to myself, "what have you done to your blog?" Crazy things in the news I should have commented on, fun nights out with buds, Thanksgiving pictures. They all came and went. Sorry. That happens sometimes. I will try to be a better blogger, despite the fact that I seem to have no free time these days.

Last Saturday, BLOWOFF in NYC went real well. Lots of DC and Baltimore buds were there, as well as famous people. It appears that we will be in NYC on a regular basis in 2008. The DC edition is this Saturday night. Great poster by Pat.

After NYC, I was off to LA for record company meetings and a solo showcase performance. Back in DC at the moment, putting the finishing touches on the EPK for the new album. I hope to find time to put up the tree, seeing as I will have a house full of people on Christmas Day.

The new myspace page is nifty. Check it out. And, if you haven't downloaded it yet, here's the link to the first single. Send the link to all your friends.

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The "steroids in baseball" story is everywhere. I knew this was coming. All the accusations and investigations that surrounded pro wrestling earlier this year, and here we are with baseball. It's part of the same drug busts. I talked about this in July. The big issue I have with steroid use: when athletes are idolized by young kids, the kids emulate their behavior. I don't have any problem with full grown adults making their own choices in regard to drug use. The tricky part is kids using steroids in high school, which interferes with natural growth patterns. It can cause serious and lifelong health problems. Otherwise, people, have at it. The warning labels will tell you everything you're getting into.