Back to basics
Guitar god Bob Mould returns to rock

By Tom Laskin

Mould follows his muse wherever it takes him.

Bob Mould's in a good mood. A parade of emergency vehicles has just obliterated his response to a question about the evolution of his songwriting, but he couldn't care less. "I have no control over that," he laughs over the phone as the sirens begin to ebb. His recent solo album, Body of Song, has received kudos for bringing passionate, guitar-soaked rock back to his songbook after years of concentrating on electronic music and DJ-ing at dance clubs. A brief tour with a full band - his first band gigs since the late '90s - was treated warmly by music scribes and fans alike, and he figures that the solo jaunt that will bring him to the High Noon Saloon (Sunday, Nov. 13, 8 p.m.) should keep his juices flowing.

These are definitely happy days for the former Sugar and Husker Du singer/guitarist.

But although Mould appreciates all the good vibes that have been flowing his way since Body of Song's release, he emphasizes that he's hardly embarked on some feel-good nostalgia trip. "I think people are sometimes quick to say, "Oh, return to form!" he says. "But, you know, it was a return to my electric guitar, which I hadn't played for a year and a half, and applying that to all the things that I've been working on electronically, acoustically and whatever over the past few years. That's what made this record what it is."

While Mould now makes a point of layering songs from the Sugar and Husker Du eras into his sets, he's also keen on making connections with new audiences through material from Body of Song. At 44, with his punk- and alt-rock legacy secure, he could certainly rest on his laurels. But he's not interested in simply catering to the old-timers. Indeed, he's pleased that the album's expansive lead track, "Circles," was tapped to appear on the soundtrack of Fox's glitzy teen melodrama "The O.C."

"When I wrote 'Circles' in 2002, I did not envision it being played eight times on 'The O.C.,'" Mould muses. "But, you know, it happens. For all the planning and consideration, the best-laid plans have nothing to do with reality. And that exposure has taken me to a younger audience that may or may not take a second look."

More than anything, Mould's adamant about following his muse wherever it takes him. He continues to employ keyboards and computer technology in his work, and DJ-ing remains a regular part of his life. Asked why many of his peers in the early hardcore punk scene haven't displayed nearly as much interest in new musical techniques and genres, he says matter-of-factly:

"Not so many musicians of my era are computer-savvy. Not so many of them are open to change. Because we all grew up as purists, and when I got off the purist diet and added in other stuff, I caught a lot of flak for it. Not only from some peers but from some of the purist fan base. I knew it was comin'. But, listen, people instant-message all the time. It's a way to connect and communicate. It's transparent, and people don't think about it anymore. The fact is that there's technology that allows us to do all these things. Why would you, as an artist, not take advantage of it?"

Not that Mould always fills out his sound with electronics these days. He'll be packing an electric guitar at the High Noon, but he'll employ it in stripped-down versions of songs drawn from throughout his career. "It's just straight-up singing and playing," he explains. "No bells and whistles. Pretty much just as direct as it can be."