The Bob Mould Band at the Codfish Hollow Barn -- April 15.
Tuesday, April 15, 8 p.m.
Codfish Hollow Barn, 5013 288th Avenue, Maquoketa IA
Touring in support of his new album Here We Go Crazy, a recording that Rolling Stone raved "mixes raw power and deep honesty," iconic alternative rocker Bob Gould and his band open the 2025 season at Maquoketa's Codfish Hollow Barn, their April 15 concert treating fans to a night with the artist principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s.
As stated at AllMusic.com, "Bob Mould was born in Malone, New York, on October 16, 1960. He cut his teeth musically listening to singles his father bought used from a jukebox distributor, and in his early teens he picked up the guitar. Mould got a copy of the Ramones' first album for his 16th birthday, and he soon immersed himself in punk rock. He moved to Minnesota to attend Macalester University in the St. Paul-Minnesota area, and there he met a fellow music fan named Grant Hart. Mould and Hart formed Hüsker Dü in 1979, and they released their first album, a loud and frantic live effort titled Land Speed Record, in 1981. After they signed to SST Records, Hüsker Dü became more musically ambitious, and musically and lyrically, 1984's Zen Arcade was a major critical breakthrough that opened the band to an audience outside the hardcore underground. In 1986, Hüsker Dü became one of the first bands who came up from hardcore to sign to a major label when they inked with Warner Bros. for the album Candy Apple Grey. 1987's Warehouse: Songs and Stories helped expand their audience, but personal difficulties and strife within the group had taken a serious toll, and by the end of that year, Hüsker Dü fell apart.
"After the band split up, Mould signed a solo contract with Virgin Records in 1988. The following year, he released his first solo album, Workbook, which represented a major shift in sonic direction. Workbook was an introspective collection, featuring keyboards, acoustic guitars, and even strings. The record received excellent reviews and spent 14 weeks on the charts, peaking at 127; 'See a Little Light' became a Top 10 modern rock hit. Mould returned to loud, guitar-driven rock on his second solo album, 1990's Black Sheets of Rain.
"Frustrated with the business operations of major record labels, Mould left Virgin after the release of Black Sheets of Rain; they would later release a compilation drawn from the two albums, Poison Years. Mould then formed an independent record company, SOL (Singles Only Label), which released 45s from new, developing acts as well as cult bands. In 1992, he formed a new trio, Sugar, with bassist David Barbe and drummer Malcolm Travis; the band signed with Rykodisc in the U.S. and Creation in the U.K. Sugar's first album, Copper Blue, was released in the fall of 1992 to enthusiastic reviews and became Mould's most successful project to date. Copper Blue nearly went gold and spawned several alternative radio and MTV hits, including 'Helpless' and 'If I Can't Change Your Mind.' In the spring of 1993, Sugar released the mini-LP Beaster, a more abrasive collection than Copper Blue that was recorded at the same sessions.
"Mould inched back to alt-rock on 2009's Life and Times, then devoted himself to writing his autobiography with the assistance of Michael Azerrad. See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody was published in the summer of 2011. The following year, Mould returned to the sound of Sugar, playing the band's 1992 debut in its entirety while on tour, reissuing the band's catalog in deluxe editions, and, finally, reviving its sound on Silver Age, his first album for Merge Records. Recorded with Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster and Split Single bassist Jason Narducy, Silver Age was greeted with strong reviews, as was its 2014 successor, Beauty & Ruin, which also appeared on Merge and featured Wurster and Narducy in Mould's favored power trio format. Beauty & Ruin debuted at 38, Mould's highest chart placement to date.
"He once again worked with Wurster and Narducy for 2016's Patch the Sky, and for 2019's Sunshine Rock, the trio delivered an especially energetic, upbeat set that strongly recalled Sugar's most celebrated work. While Sunshine Rock depicted Mould in a positive frame of mind, Blue Hearts, released in September 2020, was a raw, raging, politically charged set, with Mould speaking out against the rise of the right wing and the COVID-19 pandemic. Mould followed the release with extensive touring, performing trio shows with Wurster and Narducy as well as solo electric shows, where he played with his typical ferocity despite the lack of a rhythm section. 2025 saw the release of Here We Go Crazy, his sixth album with Wurster and Narducy. A set of thoughtful, impassioned songs that touched on personal and political themes, Here We Go Crazy was recorded in sessions in Chicago, Illinois, and in various studios in California."
The Bob Mould Band brings their "Here We Go Crazy" tour to Maquoketa on April 15 with an additional set by Craig Finn, admission to the 8 p.m. concert event is $40-45, and more information and tickets are available by visiting CodfishHollowBarnstormers.com.
