Sugar at TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht (NL).
First time ever seeing Sugar live, despite buying all their records back in the 90s. Somehow I always missed them, or maybe they simply didn’t tour that much when I had the chance.
What struck me most was that, by the end of the concert, I felt like I had finally seen Hüsker Dü live rather than Sugar.
On record, Sugar is often remembered for its melodies and power-pop hooks. Live, however, the speed, volume and sheer intensity push the music back towards Bob Mould’s hardcore roots. The songs felt less polished, less pop, and far more urgent than I expected.
A reminder that behind the beautiful melodies of Copper Blue lies one of the architects of American hardcore.
Less pop, more hardcore.
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