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| SUGAR: From left, David Barbe, Bob Mould and Malcolm Travis. Photo by Ryan Bakerink |
By Andy
Well, it's happening... and we're ready for it.
“The long pause is over. I’m excited to hit the PLAY button. See you in 2026!” said SUGAR singer/guitarist Bob Mould in a press release today.
It's been 33 years since Mould, bassist David Barbe and drummer Malcolm Travis hammered us with their debut gem, "Copper Blue," which is as solid of a front-to-back album that you'll ever find. Truth!
"Copper Blue" -- with its deft, crushing and melody-laced offerings -- and SUGAR's subsequent releases "Beaster" and "File Under: Easy Listening" took us on a wild ride all across the alt-rock musical spectrum. It was necessary music for the times, and of course fits perfectly into any day and year. Those crucial tunes -- plus the new, blistering "House of Dead Memories" recorded in Oakland about four months ago -- hit the spot just as strongly today.
And in the live setting? Well, we've all got our stories of pummeled ear drums after attending SUGAR gigs. You simply cannot deny that the power trio brought it home a thousand-fold when it hit the stage. Cat and I along with our friends were treated to a sterling, sweat-soaked gig at the Warfield in San Francisco back in the day. Fucking brilliant!
SUGAR will once again melt faces in the concert realm in 2026: May 2 and 3 at Webster Hall in New York City and May 23 and 24 at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London. Be prepared and bring earplugs, my friends.
On the bonus front, BMG will release "Copper Blue" the singles collection on Record Store Day Black Friday on Nov. 28. On that glorious day, SUGAR fans can dig into a limited edition four LP box set that also includes B-sides and more.
“SUGAR was a meteorite,” says Mould in the press release. “I spent all of 1991 writing and performing new material at solo shows. David and Malcolm had never met but I was certain we three would work well together. SUGAR was a workhorse. After weeks of rehearsal in early 1992, we spent three months recording Copper Blue and Beaster. By summer 1992, the musical climate was perfect for what we created. SUGAR was a phenomena. No one could have predicted the results. We held onto the wheel and did our best to enjoy the wild ride. SUGAR was part of a pivotal era in popular music, and a special time in my life."
Added Travis in the press release: “The return of SUGAR is a moment that I’ve been dreaming about for a very long time. What we managed to accomplish in the short span of time we were in existence still boggles my mind. There was so much packed into that period....the travel, the shows, the recordings and getting to meet so many people who loved and supported us. To get back to working together again with Bob and David is such a gift and I’m looking forward to what the future has in store for us.”
“Since we last played in 1995, I have worked on hundreds of records and engaged with music people all over the world. When the subject of SUGAR comes up, it is like a misty legend that they either remember from a long time ago or have only heard about. I am excited for fans to experience it in the real," Barbe noted in the press release.
And, perhaps one of the best quotes ever:
“I am really looking forward to these shows. It will all get real when I feel Bob’s amp shaking my pants legs again," Barbe added.
** "House of Dead Memories"
