Sugar – The National Stadium – Live Review
by Killian Laher

Date – Wed, 27 May 2026

The old-fashioned National Stadium felt like an appropriate venue for the visit of the reformed 90’s band Sugar, a band that put the power into power pop.  Support came from ex-Jawbox J. Robbins, who played a set of folky, acoustic songs.  Though his vocals were slightly overwrought, his guitar playing was impressive on the likes of Static and Abandoned Mansions.

Sugar, led by guitar powerhouse Bob Mould, tore into the opening trio from Copper Blue, with the frontman roaring out The Act We Act, Good Idea and Changes over the raging noise.  Bass player David Barbe gave the black-clad Mould a break by taking a turn on vocals on tracks like Company Man, though his voice was a little weedy in comparison.  Frustration was the most impressive of these, Bob Mould providing an imperious wall of guitar, while 73-year-old Malcolm Travis anchored the set with his teeth-rattling drumming.

The energy of the trio was extremely impressive, with the two sixty-somethings creating a fearsome noise on Gift, dominated by Mould’s gauzy guitar, while Hoover Dam saw an outbreak of euphoria in the crowd.  The band threw in a pair of new songs, House of Dead Memories and Long Live Love, before returning to the tried and trusted on the slow-burning Explode And Make Up and Come Around.  The slow, plodding tempo suited the band, allowing Bob Mould to unleash some towering guitar work.

Definitely on the victory lap, the frontman roared out “I’m your Jesus Christ, I know I know” on JC Auto with plenty of feedback. A very enjoyable rendition of Helpless followed, and their set concluded with a joyous version of If I Can’t Change Your Mind.  The set was an aural assault in the best possible way.  While there was nothing you wouldn’t expect, Mould and co ripped through the Sugar back catalogue without any undue reverence.  Fans, young and (mainly) old, went home happy!