Sugar Gifts Denver All Their Favorite Things, And Then Some

By Bryan F. Ahearn

What a show in Denver Tuesday night.

Never mind that it had been over 30 years since the 90s power-pop trio known as Sugar had set out on a U.S. tour. Or even reformed to play their first show this past May.

On Tuesday night, August 11, 2026, time not only stood still, but moved backwards, forwards, and every which way possible. Time, in fact, was tilted, as Sugar mesmerized a packed Mission Ballroom in Denver.

Bob Mould, David Barbe, and Malcom Travis set foot to pedal from the opening notes of The Act We Act, and for 90 minutes, never let up.

They simply refused to, filling the evening with all our favorite things.

Bob, wailing into the mic like a man possessed by time travel. David, writhing with his bass as Bob charged around the stage during guitar solos. And Malcom, the perfect picture of confidence, set against the water colored neon stage backdrop.

The setlist was masterful—a true stroke of genius. For all the credit Bob gets musically, and someone mentioned this in the YouTube “Changes” documentary—Bob gets us.

The setlist truly “got” us, and was absolutely my favorite part of the evening.

Drawing from classics and b-sides far and wide, the song choices were impeccably good. Sugar was a tightly knit firestorm of rhythm and choas, tearing through a back catalog of hits that spanned all four of their albums.

No full spoilers here, but the setlist spanned songs from Copper, Fuel, Beaster, and my favorite album: Besides. Some details, since you read this far? Ok, in no particular order, we got Good Idea, Changes, Gee Angel, and also Roads Have Led to Nowhere, Diamonds, and holy wow…my favorite: Tilted.

I never, in 30 years, thought I’d ever get to here my favorite Sugar song live, but it happened, and I completely lost it. I still haven’t found myself the morning after. I don’t know if I ever will. I love this band so much, even still.

Inevitably, if there’s a time in life about  forgetting how good something was. How good something felt. How right something felt.  Tuesday was all about remembering. Everything.

My advice? Get to a show early. Talk about your favorite songs and memories with other fans. Drink it all in. Life is such a unique road, it’s nice to arrive at the same place every now and then. 

Denver, was that place last night.

So for those of missing the flannel. The fuzz. The pop, and the power. For those whose search of a good playlist these days always seems to comes up a little bitter, Sugar never sounded so sweet.

And they’re just getting started.