A legendary figure in the alternative music scene, Bob Mould came to prominence in the 1980s with his group Husker Du, who influenced independent music for years to come. Mould later formed the band Sugar, and now moonlights as a DJ (alongside local producer Richard Morel) at Blowoff, a popular dance night at the 9:30 Club where he spins everything from Depeche Mode to Gwen Stefani to his own material. This Saturday's Blowoff will be a particularly special event: after a couple of hours of spinning, Mould and Morel will play a 20-minute live set off material off of their upcoming Blowoff CD. Mould took some time to talk with DCist and answer our questions about his music, the local scene, blogs and World Championship Wrestling.

VITALS:
Full Name: Bob Mould
Age: 44
Hometown: Washington D.C. (current), New York (always)
How long have you lived in Washington: 3 years
Occupation: Musician
Why did you move to D.C.?: A large city, walkable scale, strong gay neighborhoods, proximity to NYC

What was the motivation to start Blowoff, and how has it progressed since it began?

We saw a need for a gig which served the needs of the homo music fans. There are other great parties in town, and we share some overlap. The typical Blowoff regular is a bit older, and therefore less concerned with fashion, than the average club goer in DC. It's grown steadily over the 2 years, and Saturday's gig will be a high point for us, and for the audience.

What do you think of the music scene in D.C.? Always been good, from straight edge days, through later Dischord days, and up to the current crop of bands.

Are there any local bands or artists that you're currently a fan of? The Medications, Garland Of Hours, The Evens, Morel, Q And Not U, Brandon Butler.

Your performance of "Hoover Dam" was one of the standouts on the Burn To Shine DVD. How did you get involved with the project? Was there any interaction between the different acts?

Brendan Canty [of Fugazi, and who produced the DVD] is a friend, and he asked me to take part in the first installment. I was happy to help, and I think the project turned out great. Everyone hung out during the day, it was very casual. No dressing rooms.

In past interviews, you've mentioned an inclination towards playing some top 40 stuff. Any mainstream songs out there right now that you think are good?

"Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson. It's a swift kick in the balls kind of pop song.

You run a blog at boblog. What's your opinion of blogs, and how do you think they've impacted music and artists?

Blogs are good. Who doesn't have one now? They are changing the way people find out about new culture; it's as if everyone has their own cable channel, or, at the least, public access show.

Your upcoming album was made at Inner Ear, a studio that's recorded signature DC bands like Fugazi and the Dismemberment Plan. Do you feel like the studio, the city or its music has influenced your latest work?

Sure. There's no other way it can be, unless I were to write an album about living on the Moon. It was a real pleasure to work at Inner Ear - top flight gear, great vibe, everything went great.

What kind of stuff is on the Blowoff CD? Do you think it's more of a record to listen to at home, or something to be experienced live?

Both. There's a lot of variety on the album, from rock to pop, house to downtempo. Live, we're currently focusing on the guitar-oriented tracks.

We've heard vague rumors about the reformation of your former band Sugar. Any truth to that?

Not in name, but certainly in spirit. I have a new album, "Body Of Song", that will be released on July 26. There will be a world tour in the Fall, and my band will be learning some SUGAR songs.

Some of my male friends have forced me to ask this question: Can you tell us a little bit about consulting for World Championship Wrestling and what you thought of the experience?

I worked at WCW for 7 months, late 1999 through mid-2000. It was a wild experience, I could definitely write a book about the characters involved in that wild ride. I learned a lot about diet and working out. The travel was tough, but I've done that all my life. The egos are both fragile, and larger than life.

Finally, a few questions about D.C. ...

Favorite restaurant/watering hole? Duplex Diner
Washington Post or Washington Times? Post
Favorite monument? Washington Monument / Iwo Jima (tie)
Favorite thing about D.C.? October
Least favorite thing about D.C.? Pollen
If you could change one thing about D.C., what would it be? The name of "that" airport (back to Washington National)

Blowoff is at the 9:30 Club this Saturday. Doors are at 11, and tickets (sold only at the door) are $10. 21+