Dave Grohl, Ryan Adams, Britt Daniel - Bob Mould Tribute at Disney Hall - 11/21/11

Timothy Norris

​Britt Daniel, Craig Finn, No Age, Ryan Adams, Dave Grohl, and others
Bob Mould Tribute
Disney Hall
November 21, 2011

See also:
*Our slideshow of the concert
*Bob Mould -- Largo at the Coronet -- July 27, 2011

You know how these lovefest all-star tributes to our legend-looming creative artists can get a bit treacly? This one, entitled "See a Little Light: A Celebration of the Music and Legacy of Bob Mould," wasn't, though the prevailing down-to-earthness meant there was little in the way of high drama, either.

But that's maybe fitting, as ex-Hüsker Dü/Sugar mainman Mould represents the triumph of the hardworking regular joe with a few things on his mind.

Timothy Norris

​First up was Spoon's Britt Daniel, looking dapper in tight black suit and pointy shiny boots. He was the only performer on the bill who dressed up and not way, unfashionably down; he bashed out an apparently sincere and rather tuffbutt version of "The Act We Act" from Sugar's Copper Blue album and "JC Auto" from the Beaster record, aided guitarist/singer Jessica Dobson and Mould's touring rhythm section of Telekinesis' Jason Narducy on voice/bass and Superchunk fella John Wurster on drums.

MC/host Matt P kept up the between-song chitchat about the glory days of Bob, and how we oughtta pick up a copy of Mould's new autobiography, which he said was real good. (Bob himself declined to hype it, classy guy that he is.)

Punky-emo-rock-type singer Craig Finn did your twitchy regular-Midwestern-guy moves and sang his head off on Mould's "Real World" and "A Good Idea," and it was earnest and flat.

Comedian Margaret Cho told some funny stories about her enduring love for Mould's music and his humanity, then got to sing one of her faves, "Your Favorite Thing," accompanied by Grant-Lee Phillips on guitar. Things got kick-butted into high gear when Mould hisself joined No Age for "I Apologize" and "In a Free Land," wherein a hi-NRG unto roughhewn recklessness reared its gnarly head.