Music & Concerts

New Mould album deeply satisfying

Tight set is savage, tough and lean

Published

9 years ago

March 24, 2016

Bob Mould’s new album is a visceral, satisfying and succinct new chapter in an illustrious career. (Photo by Alicia Rose)

Bob Mould cements another level to the ridiculously impressive and influential musical legacy he’s built over a 35-year career with his superb new album, “Patch the Sky.” It’s Mould’s third album in four years, following the stellar “Silver Age” (2012) and “Beauty & Ruin” (2014).

The gay, alternative-rock icon’s career has veered in multiple directions over the decades. He was an integral part of the widely revered trio Hüsker Dü during the ‘80s, recording albums like “New Day Rising” and “Candy Apple Grey” that are among the decade’s most hallowed in alternative rock. After departing the trio, Mould’s acclaimed first solo album, “Workbook” (1989), became one of the cornerstone albums of that era, thanks in part to the hit “See a Little Light.”

Thus started a long and fruitful solo career for Mould that continues strong as ever. Some albums have done better than others (“Copper Blue” with Sugar was particularly successful), and there are some hidden gems (“Black Sheets of Rain” doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves). “Patch the Sky” is vintage and essential Bob Mould — it builds on everything that has come before it.

The album begins with a cascade of electric guitar descending into the brisk rocker “Voices in My Head.” Mould’s voice sounds as good as ever and the melody grabs hold immediately. It’s like welcoming back an old friend, and he’s unburdening himself the only way he knows how. ”The End of Things” is particularly savage and seems imbued with bitterness. The band plays with reckless abandon, like the whole thing is going to careen off the rails at any moment but never does.

“Hold On” is a tight-as-nails melodic rocker that could fit onto “Copper Blue” with no problem. Mould delivers an impassioned vocal which is well down in the mix to be part of the electrical storm surrounding it. “You Say You” is a rigid three minutes of garage rock played with tight precision. Mould has surrounded himself with ace musicians (Jason Narducy on bass and Jon Wurster on drums) for this set, and that comes through loud and clear in every song.

”Pray for Rain” is a force of nature, a potent hard rock explosion with blistering guitar. One imagines it was so loud when it was recorded that the air practically sparked with electricity. “Hands are Tied,” at a brisk 1:45, could be a raucous ode to the days of playing tiny rundown hell-holes with Grant Hart and Greg Norton in Hüsker Dü. “Black Confetti” is one of the album’s more complex tracks, with an expansive sound and tremendous vocal by Mould that’s submerged in massive swells of guitar.

Mould says on the Merge Records website that the dark intensity of “Patch the Sky” reflects ongoing turmoil in his personal life.

“I’ve had a solid stretch of hard emotional times, and thanks for the condolences in advance. I don’t want to go into the details — more death, relationships ending, life getting shorter — because they’re already in the songs. Just listen and see if you can fit yourself into my stories. The words make you remember. The music makes you forget.”

As a catharsis, the album delivers. It’s tight, potent and packed like a musical sucker-punch. “Patch the Sky” gives us everything we love about Bob Mould. The raw energy and frazzled emotion are there. These feelings are wedged into three-minute power-pop gems that are performed with blazing intensity and musical dexterity.

Mould’s remarkable career continues with yet another great album. How long can the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame continue to ignore Mould and this enormous contributions to rock and roll? “Patch the Sky” likely won’t be a Top 10 album, and it will most likely be die-hard fans that pick it up. This is a shame, because Mould is one of the preeminent rock musicians still going strong in American music, and it’s time his consistently strong and vast body of work gets the recognition it deserves.

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Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Singer Tom Goss is back. (Photo by Dusti Cunningham)

Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.

For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.

Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

4 weeks ago

April 5, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Kylie Minogue visits D.C. on Tuesday.

Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed “Tension” world tour to D.C. next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.

The show features songs spanning her long career, from 1987 debut single, “The Loco-Motion,” to “Padam, Padam” from her album, “Tension.”

Music & Concerts

Busy season for live music in D.C.

Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring

Published

2 months ago

March 14, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Cynthia Erivo plays WorldPride in D.C. on June 7. (Photo courtesy of World Pride)

One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the fresh wave of live music coming to Washington. With more than 10 venues and a diverse lineup of artists, the city offers no shortage of live performances for the new season.

In addition to this impressive list, don’t forget the many artists coming to town for WorldPride, May 17-June 8. In addition to headliner Cynthia Erivo performing on Saturday, June 7 at the two-day street festival and concert, many other performers will be in town. Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul are among the featured performers at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds, June 6-7. Visit WorldPrideDC.org for a list of other performers.

MARCH

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Mary J. Blige will take the stage at Capital One Arena on March 26 for her For My Fans tour. Two days later, on March 28, J Balvin will also perform at Capital One Arena for his Back to the Rayo tour.

The Lincoln Theatre will host the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for three performances—one on March 15 and two on March 16.

If dance parties are more your vibe, you’re in luck. DC9 is hosting a series of themed dance parties this month, starting with Poker Face: 2000s + Dance Party on March 14, the ever-popular Peach Pit ’90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!—a burlesque and drag revue featuring a lineup of local drag kings, queens, and everything in between on March 29.

APRIL

Australian queen of pop Kylie Minogue will bring her Tension tour to Capital One Arena on April 8, with British dance artist Romy as her special guest.

Indie singer-songwriter mxmtoon will stop in D.C. for their Liminal Space tour on April 4 at the 9:30 club, followed by indie rock band Gossip on April 5. The 9:30 club will also host two dance parties in April: Gimme Gimme Disco – a dance party inspired by ABBA on April 11 and Broadway Rave on April 18.

The Atlantis will feature Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad on April 2.

Comedy duo Two Dykes and a Mic will bring their Going Hog Wild tour to the Howard Theatre on April 19.

DC9 has two dance parties lined up this month: Bimbo Night on April 4, hosted by Baltimore’s “premier red-tattooed Filipina diva” Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating “queer transcendence through music, movement, and community.”

The Anthem will welcome a lineup of big names in April, starting with Alessia Cara on April 8. Lucy Dacus will take the stage on April 18 and 19 for her Forever Is a Feeling tour, while funky pop artist Remi Wolf will headline on April 27, joined by special guests Dana and Alden.

MAY

Indie-pop artist Miya Folick will bring her Erotica Veronica tour to The Atlantis on May 1, followed by multi-genre musician SASAMI on May 2. Pop artist Snow Wife will close out the month at The Atlantis on May 31 as part of an official WorldPride 2025 event.

Queer rock band Lambrini Girls will perform at the Howard Theatre on May 4, while rock trio L.A. Witch will take the stage at DC9 on May 12.

Union Stage will feature Rachel Platten on May 3 for her Set Me Free tour, followed by Femme Fatale: A Queer Dance Party later that night.

The popular DJ festival Project Glow will return to RFK Stadium grounds on May 31 and June 1.

JUNE

Pride month kicks off with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trixie Mattel, who will perform at Echostage on June 3 as part of a series of official WorldPride 2025 events.

Queer icons Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe will take over The Anthem on June 5 for a WorldPride 2025 event performance.

Perfume Genius will bring his signature sound to the 9:30 club on June 7 as part of WorldPride 2025 festivities. Later in the month, Blondshell will hit the 9:30 club for her If You Asked for a Tour on June 24.