Bob Mould; Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Williamsburg Park

Bob Mould; Cymbals Eat Guitars
@ Williamsburg Park
Brooklyn, NY - September 7, 2012

Bob Mould pointed out during this concert that the neighborhood has vastly improved since he recorded on Richardson Street. The changes in this slice of Brooklyn, a statement usually accompanied by "for better or worse", definitely had a check in the "better" department tonight as this new concrete slab of a Roseland Ballroom-size outdoor venue played host to a free show by a legitimate legend. Playing all of Sugar's Copper Blue, followed by new work from Silver Age, and then a fast mix of stuff including some Husker Du classics, it was a smash gig as well as a fun lesson in the history of true rock n' roll as it has spanned the last 30 years.

But that wasn't good enough. Hearing some classic Hard Pop wizardry like "Changes", "Helpless", and "If I Can't Change Your Mind" wasn't sufficient. Neither was immortal, should-be-on-new-Voyager-missions-into-Outer-Space Husker songs "I Apologize", "In a Free Land", and "Makes No Sense at All". No - first off, Bob had to have your favorite pick-up drummer, Superchunk's Jon Wurster, on the skins. Then for the encore, he had to bring out a buddy who goes by the name of Craig Finn, he of the Hold Steady. And it was for "Something I Learned Today" from Zen Arcade. At long last, Craig Finn going bananas like the youth he sings about.

So right there on the stage at one time - three phases of blistering, fast, fast, fast rock music with a sense of melody - Husker Du, Superchunk, and the Hold Steady. Punk Manna from a Rock n' Roll Heaven. So obscenely perfect.

Cymbals Eat Guitars were not obscenely perfect. Mainstays of the last few years, kudos to them for not imploding like 95% of all bands in a hip wave. But that's all about I can say that is nice. I did like one song enough.