Most of Mudhoney’s fans may have let themselves go, but the guys in the veteran Seattle group have aged well. These four 40somethings executed their young man’s grunge-garage-punk-and-roll with vigor and a minimum of fuss. Mudhoney proved again that they are consummate no-bullshit artists; they may be somewhat frozen in time, but they own that time with an unimpeachable authority.

Singer/guitarist Mark Arm solemnly thanked the overflow crowd—the show was free, but attendees had to buy a beer for entry—for showing their generous support for the beleaguered people of New Belgium (the brewing company responsible for said beverage). Mudhoney then kicked viciously into “The Money Will Roll Right In” (punchline!) as if the last two decades hadn’t happened. Crowd-surfing soon ensued, with people inevitably rolling onto the stage and jostling mic stands and minorly distracting Arm in mid scream. In every instance, security efficiently hustled the errant fans off the proscenium with a minimum of punitive force.

Arm looked youthful and lithe as he flexed some old-school Iggy Pop contortions when not burdened with his guitars. His howl has lost little of its caustic power over the last 22 years of Mudhoneying. He is clearly doing something right. So is guitarist Steve Turner, drummer Dan Peters, and bassist Guy Maddison, all of whom still play with potency and tightness of dudes two decades their juniors.

The set stealthily roamed over newish and old material, with “You Got It” and “Suck You Dry” being a particularly behemotherfucker of a 1-2 punch; just mindblowing centrifugal force on display. “Judgment, Rage, Retribution and Thyme” also delivered molten slabs of heaviness. “Good Enough” offered a moment of rollicking joviality before “Touch Me I’m Sick” blasted us with nuclear radiation and “F.D.K.” pummeled us with punkish ramalama. Throughout the concert, one could notice older audience members’ faces reflecting on hell-raising youthful memories. Sweet young things ain’t sweet no more, but, goddamnit, they sure as hell were having a blast tonight.

My personal highlight was “When Tomorrow Hits,” whose slow-rolling menace recalled more strongly than ever the Stooges’ “Dirt.” Near song’s end, Arm intoned, “That’s the lowdown,” quoting the old Wire song, which cued Mudhoney to launch the night’s most intense instrumental freakout—which (b)led into a cataclysmic “In ’N’ Out of Grace.”

So, Mudhoney packed Neumos on a Monday night in 2010. Even if it was sort of a free gig, this is kind of a mindfuck to folks of a certain age, but we’ll gladly sleep in that figurative wet spot. These old lions still have plenty of roar left in ’em.

(Set list, as best as I can recall; please fill in any gaps/correct any errors you see):

01 The Money Will Roll Right In
02 I’m Now
03 The Lucky Ones
04 Next Time I Get Next to You
05 You Got It
06 Suck You Dry
07 Inside Job
08 Sweet Young Thing Ain’t Sweet No More
09 Let It Slide
10 Judgment, Rage, Retribution and Thyme
11 Good Enough
12 Touch Me I’m Sick
13 F.D.K.
14 Hard-On for War
15 When Tomorrow Hits
16 In ’N’ Out of Grace
17 The Open Mind
18-20 ???
21 Hate the Police
ENCORE
22 Into the Drink
23 Who You Drivin’ Now?
24 Here Comes Sickness