When assessing a band’s longevity, I like to use what I call the Rolling Stones metric. By that measure, Mudhoney’s debut album is now 35 years old, placing the band in the grunge equivalent of the Stones' post-Bridges To Babylon era. Yet somehow, they delivered a blistering set that defies the odds, especially considering how few of their peers from the '90s are still around—let alone releasing albums as potent as last year’s Plastic Eternity.
Mark Arm, Steve Turner, Dan Peters, and Guy Maddison may appear like aging slackers, but don't be fooled: as a live band, they are tight, and their sound is thunderously heavy. Time hasn't dulled their edge. In fact, they play with the same punk energy you'd expect from musicians a third of their age. Their set ran an impressive hour and forty minutes—no sign of going through the motions here. The crowd was treated to highlights from their latest release as well as gems from their classic records, offering a comprehensive trip through Mudhoney's storied career.
From the first notes of “If I Think,” the audience was wild, with moshing, stage-diving, and a frenzy that peaked during anthems like “Touch Me I’m Sick” and “Suck You Dry.”
Mudhoney’s performance proved they are far from a nostalgia act. They are still pushing forward, blending the past with the present while staying true to the unrelenting force that made them legends in the first place.
