The Dark Stuff is an online music magazine and podcast that focuses primarily (though not exclusively) on independent artists that perform in Omaha, Nebraska and the Midwest.
This week, I am reviewing the brand new box set from Hüsker Dü called "1985: The Miracle Year." This has been one of my most anticipated releases of the year ever since the folks at Numero Group began teasing its release a few months ago.
The box is a 4 LP/2 CD set that features live recordings from Hüsker Dü from throughout 1985. The first album is a full concert, professionally recorded, from January 30, 1985. Initially, the band intended to release a live album that year, but it never happened...until now.
The second album features live recordings from throughout 1985 from venues around the world. The biggest highlight, for me, is the previously unreleased song, "Misty Modern Days." This track has circulated among tape traders for years, but it was an instrumental. This live version is not. It's a full song, with lyrics and everything!
The booklet is amazing. Tons of great photos and memorabilia. The detailed liner notes were written by Bob Mehr, who you may know from his Replacements biography, "Trouble Boys."
Today, the Numero Group answered all of my questions about their forthcoming Hüsker Dü project.
First off, it will be a 4LP box (CD version as well), plus a 36 page booklet with lots of photos. There is a t-shirt sold separately. The box will be called "1985: The Miracle Year" and is scheduled to be released in November. Numero is taking pre-orders as of NOW on their website. I learned shortly after completing my video, that Bob Mehr is the one writing the 36 page book that accompanies the set. He confirmed this with postings on his social media.
I go over the track listing, the vinyl variants and much more in the video. This is amazing news!!
Today, the Numero Group dropped five more live tracks from Hüsker Dü in 1985. However, these recordings are not from the same show as last time. These songs are from November 3, 1985 in Salt Lake City. This soundboard recording has never been heard before.
There is still very little information as to what will ultimately be the actual, physical release (and whether or not there will be one). So, we'll be getting information piecemeal. Numero is selling another limited edition, 1985 tour t-shirt on their website. As with the previous one, they are only taking orders for a week, and that is all.
HUGE news this morning, folks. Legendary punk band Hüsker Dü has new music in 2025. Let me explain...
Today, the Numero Group (https://numerogroup.com/) announced that they are releasing a recently unearthed live recording of Hüsker Dü from January 1985 at First Avenue in Minneapolis. This is NOT an audience recording, it is a full 24-track recording intended for a live album from the band back in '85. The album was shelved, the band moved on, and most assumed the tapes were lost.
The only real information Numero is divulging at this time is where and when the tracks were recorded. They have released a digital EP to the streamers with five songs. As for when the rest is coming or if this is just one of many unearthed live shows, we don't really know. There's no pre-order or anything at this time. They are selling a limited edition, 1985 tour t-shirt on their website. It's only being sold until July 8.
Of course, I listened to the five tracks. They're incredible. Can't wait for more.
Friends, this video was a joy to make. I was able to see two of my musical idols in one week! I saw Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü, Sugar) and Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE, The Stooges, Prono For Pyros).
I've been into the music of these two since I first heard them in the late 80s. I missed out on Hüsker Dü and Minutemen, but was absolutely there for Bob's solo career and for Sugar. With Watt, I saw fIREHOSE at least a dozen times, caught his first solo band with Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder back in 1995, saw him in Banyan, and probably ten other bands, as well. I've had the good fortune to chat with both of them a couple of times over the years.
With this video, I wanted to discuss the shared history of Mould and Watt. Their friendship dates back to 1981. I also wanted to discuss the newest albums featuring both men - Bob's 'Here We Go Crazy' and MSSV's 'On and On.'
I then review both shows: Bob Mould Band on April 14 and MSSV on April 21. Two legends, one week. I hope you dig this big crux!
Bob Mould returned to Omaha last night, April 14, in support of his newest solo album, Here We Go Crazy. I've been a fan of Mould's music (Hüsker Dü, Sugar, and solo) since the late 1980s, and even named my radio show - New Day Rising - after the Hüsker Dü song and album. Obviously, there was no way I was going to miss this show.
The show was incredible, and featured a number of songs from the new album. He also played at least six Hüsker Dü songs, by my count.
Bob's band: Jason Narducy on bass, and Jon Wurster on drums
In his 60s, Mould still has the same intensity he did 30 years ago
Another amazing concert from Bob Mould. To me, the song of the night was "Hate Paper Doll." It was so unexpected!
The Dark Stuff #101 is dedicated to the short-lived Bay Area rock band Overwhelming Colorfast. The band formed in 1990 in Antioch, CA and was frequently compared to Hüsker Dü and Buzzcocks. Six months after its first performance, the band was signed to an offshoot of Sony Records and in the studio with celebrated producer Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Against Me!). Colorfast toured the US numerous times and shared stages with artists like Ramones and Social Distortion, as well as headlining club tours. Despite a valiant effort, commercial success eluded the band.
For this podcast, I interviewed band leader Bob Reed (gtr/vox), who tells the story of the group from its inception to its premature demise.
PLEASE NOTE: This podcast was originally published in 2008. That version was removed a while back. This is a re-post of that show without the music. Since that 2008 interview, Overwhelming Colorfast's first two albums have been added to itunes, thus making them available for the first time since their initial release in the early 90s. As of this posting, a label called Texas Jesus Records is planning to release a single of previously unreleased Colorfast music. Listen to the show here or look for it on itunes (preferred).
Bob Mould performed on Late Night with David Letterman last night as part of his promotional tour in support of the 25th Anniversary re-release of Mould's solo debut, Workbook. He performed that record's first single, "See A Little Light." Enjoy.
I've been a fan of Bob Mould's music for more than 20 years as of the time of this writing. Hüsker Dü, Mould's seminal 1980s punk band, broke up during my sophomore year of high school (1987) just as I was losing interest in the heavy metal of my youth, and learning to love punk and "college" rock. The Hüskers, as they were affectionately known back then, were one of the first bands that really connected with me after I gave up on metal. The band had much of the same power and energy that I liked in traditional hard rock, but the lyrics dealt with more than getting fucked, getting fucked up, or driving around looking for girls. I have nothing against any of those things, but one can only take so many songs about the same topic.
Hüsker Dü's songs were sometimes political, yet they were not a political band. Most of the songs dealt with personal politics, or the way people treat one another, and the way we, as people, expect to be treated by others. Both Mould, and his song writing rival, drummer Grant Hart, were strong lyricists that wrote about similar things in different ways. Mould was always more direct and overtly (it seemed) autobiographical, whereas Hart's songs seemed more abstract lyrically. The difference served the band well, and is a big part of the reason Hüsker Dü's music is still as relevant today as it was in the 80s.
Beyond the lyrics, Bob Mould has always been an innovative and unique guitar player, as well. Hell, he shreds! The guy is a powerhouse on his instrument of choice. The band's sound - a mix of ferocious, guitar driven punk rock with Beatle-y melodic tinges - served as the basic blueprint for what we think of as "alternative rock" nowadays. There would be no Pixies, no Nirvana, no Green Day, or no Blink 182 (just to name a few) without Hüsker Dü. Just as The Velvet Underground and The Stooges paved the way for all the punk rock of the 70s and 80s, the Hüskers did the same for the late 80s and the 90s.
Once I discovered bands like Hüsker Dü, how could I ever go back to Dokken or Cinderella? I mean, seriously.
After the break up of Hüsker Dü, I continued to follow Mould's work. His debut solo album, Workbook, is among the finest albums of all time. As an album, it is easily his best ever. A truly unique piece of pop music, and one whose lyrics still resonate strongly with me decades later. After another solo album, Mould formed a new band called Sugar. Sugar mined much of the same musical terrain that Hüsker Dü had, except with stronger production values, and only one songwriter. Sugar became more commercially successful than Mould's solo work and that of Hüsker Dü. It was Bob's closest flirtation with mainstream success.
After only two albums, Sugar ended, and Mould again went solo. It was about that time - the mid 90s - that I stopped following Mould's work quite as intensely. I still picked up his new album whenever he released one, and still tried to see him perform whenever he could, but the intensity level of my fandom (is that a word?) had died down a bit. Good thing Bob just wrote a biography that can fill in the rest of his story since then, right?
Mould has written a new autobiography called See A Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody. I picked it up last week (oddly just after picking up Grant Hart from the airport and shuffling him to his hotel for a show later that night), and have been devouring its contents during every free minute.
As far as Mould's career goes, I have known the story (as evidenced by the above post) for a while, but I have never felt like I really knew much about Bob Mould, the person. Truth be told, I have met Bob a few times over the years, as a fan. We chit-chatted for a few minutes each time, nothing special. He was always very nice. I interviewed him in the late 90s for a website I blogged for, and he was a great interview, as well. This book, obviously, delves much deeper into Mould than any casual conversation or interview ever could.
The book is written in much the same way that Mould's songs are: direct, vivid, and easy to understand. There is no need to try and "touch up" the writing with any unnecessary fluff, the story is compelling on its own. For me, the best parts were his re-telling of the early days of Hüsker Dü. In telling the story, he was surprisingly complimentary toward his formal band rival, Grant Hart; and he was quite critical of bassist Greg Norton. This kinda makes sense in light of the fact that he and Hart were the songwriters in the band, and were the only ones to continue making music after the demise of the band. Still, the level of criticism toward Norton was unexpected. I'm not saying it wasn't warranted, just that I was surprised to see it.
The version of events in See A Little... regarding the end of Hüsker Dü was pretty much how I had heard it before. But Bob managed to add some details that I had not known regarding a final band meeting at Hart's parent's home in early 1988, and his calling Grant to notify him that he would be receiving formal notification of his departure in the mail.
Well, I won't go point by point throughout the book and tell you how it squares with what I had heard, since I wasn't there and Bob was. Grab the book and read it for yourself. After finishing the book, I threw on some Hüsker Dü records (and Bob'sWorkbook CD) and listened with slightly newer ears. Many of my opinions about the better or worse Hüsker Dü records were basically matched by Mould's, which I thought was interesting (i.e. Warehouse should not have been a double album).
I had known about Mould's homosexuality by the early 90s. It never mattered much to me to begin with, but I know understand what was feeding his reluctance to discuss it until he was "outed" in the media. Fortunately, by that time, there was pretty much no backlash to the news. I don't know of a single person who chucked their Bob Mould albums because they found out he was gay. Chances are, I wouldn't associate with people like that anyways, but that is beside the point. Bob does address the issue in the book at great length, and much of the "relationship Bob" stuff was completely new information to me.
Even if you aren't a fan of Mould's music, the book is an interesting read since he is such a pioneer in modern music. The indie network of clubs and promoters that many take for granted nowadays, was practically invented by Hüsker Dü in the early 80s. Bob has lived enough musical history for 10 men. For that reason alone, it should be a must read.
Below is a video of Hüsker Dü in 1987 performing "Could You Be The One?" on the short-lived Joan Rivers Show. Mould mentions this appearance in the book, too.
Rock legend Grant Hart (ex-Hüsker Dü and Nova Mob) will play what I believe to be his first ever show in Omaha on Thursday, June 30 at The Waiting Room. Hart, one of the two songwriters in legendary 80s band Hüsker Dü, has been recording sporadically since that band's demise in 1988.
Hart began as a solo artist releasing albums for SST Records. His solo debut, Intolerance, remains a high water mark in his lengthy career. By the early 90s, he had formed a new band called Nova Mob. Hart gave up the drums and picked up the guitar for that band. It released two full-length albums and a number of singles before breaking up in the mid 90s. Hart then returned as a solo artist with the album, Ecce Homo, released in 1996. This album was followed by Good News For the Modern Man and his most recent, Hot Wax, from 2009. Both Hart and Nova Mob have appeared on compilations and soundtracks, as well.
Though Grant Hart has not been in the spotlight as much as his former band mate, Bob Mould, his post Hüsker Dü material has always been met with critical acclaim. His music consistently challenges the listener, and continues to surprise and delight his many long-time fans.
Personally, I have not seen Grant Hart since Nova Mob broke up. On that final Nova tour, Grant went back to playing drums, and it was one the best shows I saw that year. On the tour that brings Hart to Omaha, he will performing "solo electric," and performing songs from his entire career - including Hüsker Dü.
Here is a video of a song called, "You're the Reflection of the Moon on the Water," from Hart's Hot Wax album.
Then, here is a video of Grant performing live at SXSW 2010:
Former Hüsker Dü and Nova Mob member Grant Hart was the recent victim of a house fire. Two rooms in his home burned, and Hart was sent to the hospital. He is fine now, according to friend. His two cats survived, which he is very happy about, but he did lose his favorite guitar and some other equipment. According to the Star Tribune, "Reps from First Avenue and the Turf Club said they were interested in holding benefits for Hart if needed."
