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.
