⚡ The Show
J. Robbins (Jawbox) opened the show with a solo acoustic guitar set about half an hour long and around seven songs. To be transparent, I am not familiar with his music, and while I have heard of Jawbox, I can’t say I would know a song if I heard it. As a performance, it was fine; his strumming and vocals were good, and the last song of his set received the most reaction. Solo acoustic can be tricky, as limited instrumentation can lead to an indifferent audience reaction; however, Robbins was a fine introduction for what was to come.
90s alternative rockers Sugar brought their Love You Even Still World Tour to the Hollywood Palladium, delivering a 90‑minute set that proved age has nothing on intensity. Frontman Bob Mould, now 65, tore through riffs and vocals with the energy of someone half his age, while David Barbe’s melodic bass lines added depth and drive. With Barbe and Mould trading lead vocals, Sugar felt like a true band again — not just a Mould solo project.
Drummer Malcolm Travis, now in his mid‑70s, kept the pulse steady, though some of the early set’s power felt slightly restrained compared to the band’s early‑career ferocity. On songs like Tilted from Beaster, you could imagine the extra punch drummer Jon Wurster brings to Mould’s solo shows. Still, Travis held his own, keeping the momentum tight and focused.
🎸 The Sound
Early in the set, the bass tone leaned a bit muffled and heavy in the mix. Barbe looked to be playing an Ampeg SVT-style head with an 8×10 cabinet. A brighter EQ — more treble, less mids — would’ve let the guitar breathe a little more. Once balanced, though, the band locked in beautifully, especially on Hoover Dam, Your Favorite Thing, and JC Auto. The guitar sound was vintage Mould, high gain distortion with no effects just pure overdriven riffing. Playing what looked to be a Blackstar Artisan 100 head and Artisan 412A cabinet, in addition to a Fender Twin Reverb.
Having been fortunate to see Sugar last time around in 1992 I came prepared with earplugs as that show was one of the loudest, I have experienced. This time around the volume was at a much more manageable level but without hindering the wall of distortion sound Mould has made a career of.
🧡 The Verdict
Sugar played songs from every release — Copper Blue, File Under Easy Listening, Beaster, Besides — plus two new tracks. It was a nostalgic yet fresh reminder of how powerful this trio remains. The choice to play songs from each release gave fans the opportunity to experience the full catalog. If this really is their final curtain call, it was a hell of a way to go out. No fluff, no encore — just pure, high‑energy rock from start to finish.
🎶 Setlist
- The Act We Act
- A Good Idea
- Changes
- Company Book
- After All the Roads Have Led to Nowhere
- Hoover Dam
- Where Diamonds Are Halos
- Running Out of Time
- Gift
- Your Favorite Thing
- Clownmaster (with Beatles “Birthday” snippet for David Barbe’s birthday)
- Frustration
- House of Dead Memories
- Long Live Love
- Explode and Make Up
- Come Around
- Tilted
- JC Auto
- Helpless
- Gee Angel
- If I Can’t Change Your Mind