Belated reflections on London (Sunday)

13 views
Skip to first unread message

Mike Melville

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 9:36:49 AMJun 1
to sugarlist
Managed to get my write-up on last Sunday (with phone pics from the barrier) up before tomorrow's Glasgow show at the Barras:


Mike M

rap...@dds.nl

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 10:51:45 AMJun 1
to list_sugar
Nice write-up and photos, thanks for sharing. "[A] small but perfectly formed back catalogue" is rather similar to what Opu said during the Sugarlist meetup Saturday.

--Martin
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sugarlist" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to sugarlist+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sugarlist/CAOVi0kbByUorxtEjr9fkECpYMTiH6%2B8WiXtiFnsuaNPnFPzusg%40mail.gmail.com.

Cameron Metcalf

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 11:19:09 AMJun 1
to list_sugar
Echoing this.  Nice write-up Mike; I've shared it via FB. 

I just got home, myself and have many of the same sentiments that have been expressed; although, I think "House of Dead Memories" is the better of the new songs (recorded and live). It was great to catch up with the group of fellow listers and non-listers at the London gigs.

Fun to see Bob playing out and over parts where he did not have vocals. I got a chill when he joined in with David to sing the line "I can't find a ray" (both nights), during "Eyes of My Friends". 

"Fortune Teller" was very satisfying and even though I was listening for it, it caught me off guard. At first I thought it was "Now My Mind is an Island"... in the introductory notes.

Mould singing a bit of a vocal descant / counterpoint to the customary melody to the closing lines/chorus of "Favorite Thing" was new and notable for me.

Tilted/JC Auto combo felt like that encapsulated moment in space and time that John had been describing, during the NYC show. The Copper Blue songs were excellent, but hearing Beaster/Besides/FU:EL songs abruptly took me back in a positive emotional charge that still took me off guard.  

I really respect and enjoyed the effort to make it an outing as a band, by deliberately showcasing all(?) of Barbe's compositions on the Saturday night.

On Sunday, Bob mentioned something about the 33 1/3 Publishing series having started to release titles by "Genre" instead of by album title. He dropped a vague hint that he had picked up the latest on "Shoe-gazing" saying it had a story that was unbelieveable, or had to be read, to be conceived (that was the gist, his voice dropped out and he was shaking his head) - I couldn't tell if he was plugging it, or vaguely dismissing the work (but then why else would he mention it??). I still have to check it out to try and decode what he may have been referencing.

The band was a bit looser and goofier: Barbe stretched out his introduction to Bob, when introducing members of the band.."and now weighing in at 900 songs.." They were definitely having a good time on stage, feeding off of the hub-bub on the floor.

"Explode and Make Up" was stellar on Sunday. Saturday, I did enjoy "Panama City Motel" for the novel of having variance in the setlist. 

No "Needle Hits E", but got everything else I wanted, so no complaints at all.  

Cameron



To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sugarlist/CACpHt-syW1XY%2B66Zii8UZrbqrPB%3DLUY1E2gn9WPYiaS_1GJTzg%40mail.gmail.com.

Sue Trowbridge

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 2:37:45 PMJun 1
to list_sugar
On Mon, Jun 1, 2026 at 8:19 AM Cameron Metcalf <pod...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On Sunday, Bob mentioned something about the 33 1/3 Publishing series having started to release titles by "Genre" instead of by album title. He dropped a vague hint that he had picked up the latest on "Shoe-gazing" saying it had a story that was unbelieveable, or had to be read, to be conceived (that was the gist, his voice dropped out and he was shaking his head) - I couldn't tell if he was plugging it, or vaguely dismissing the work (but then why else would he mention it??). I still have to check it out to try and decode what he may have been referencing.

They're still doing the album books, but they have a new series on Genre. Here's Shoegaze:
Here's the page with all of the current Genre titles:

--Sue

D N Israel

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 5:25:44 PMJun 1
to Sue Trowbridge, list_sugar
According to Google, “ Bob Mould—and his foundational work with Hüsker Dü—is indeed recognized in Ryan Pinkard's book Shoegaze: Genre: A 33 1/3 Series. Mould's heavily distorted, layered, and melodic guitar sound served as a major transatlantic influence on the early British shoegaze scene”

On Jun 1, 2026, at 2:37 PM, Sue Trowbridge <tro...@gmail.com> wrote:


--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sugarlist" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to sugarlist+...@googlegroups.com.

iaine...@sky.com

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 5:58:35 PMJun 1
to list_sugar, list_sugar
Hi all
Seen a few of you at the current run of UK shows. I have done 5 on this run, both London, Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham which after checking through gig diaries takes me to 20
Sugar shows starting at the ULU gig when I was 22. 
These 5 shows have been my favourite gigs of all time and I go to a lot as many of us do. 
Nottingham last night was probably the favourite gig of my life. Was rounded off by David giving me his plectrum after liking my Knicks top. (Go Knicks- UK fan of 48 years and I finally got to the Garden this year 👍🏻). 
Can’t manage any of remaining UK shows due to family and work commitments but need another fix so looking at the Paris show on 13th June. Is anyone else going to be there or needs motivation to go ha? 
Met some wonderful people at these shows- probably friendliest I have ever known as well. 
Best wishes all. 
Iain 


Cameron Metcalf

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 6:14:27 PMJun 1
to list_sugar
Thanks Sue and David,

In retrospect, then, Bob was conveying a modest shrug through his body language. He made these brief remarks, and then they launched into "Frustration". I'd never thought of Sugar as shoegaze-y, but the combination of the comments and opening, chiming fuzz of the song had me listening to it differently in that context and elevated the experience of taking in Barbe's performance with Bob's accompanying drone.

Cameron

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sugarlist/74FAF6E1-B5C3-42F3-8CCE-6095C26D78B2%40d-n-i.com.

Mint Condish

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 6:26:34 PMJun 1
to list_sugar
>> Can’t manage any of remaining UK shows due to family and work commitments <<

See, that's why I never got married. Yeah, that's why...



Rob Schieron

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 6:28:24 PMJun 1
to Cameron Metcalf, list_sugar
Thanks all,

I agree!  Bob’s comments made me listen to Frustration in a different way too.  I really enjoyed all the David B songs in the set.

I hit up Rough Trade East the following day and thumbed through the book… in retrospect I should have bought it!

Cheers

Rob





IMG_9387.jpeg
IMG_9386.jpeg

John Loughney

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 6:30:06 PMJun 1
to Cameron Metcalf, list_sugar
No Bob, no shoegaze. Kevin Shields was definitely influenced by Bob, check out the New Record by MBV (1987). MBV’s drummer also has been on record as being influenced by Grant. Gift, specifically, fits on any Shoegaze Playlist ….

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 1, 2026, at 3:14 PM, Cameron Metcalf <pod...@gmail.com> wrote:



Opu Anwar

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 6:33:57 PMJun 1
to List_sugar
Good to speak to you again last night Iain.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sugarlist" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to sugarlist+...@googlegroups.com.

iaine...@sky.com

unread,
Jun 1, 2026, 7:02:37 PMJun 1
to List_sugar
Likewise Opu!
Hope you got home ok last night.
Iain

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages