Bob Mould and Richard Morel are back this weekend just in time for International Mr. Leather with BLOWOFF, a gay dance party extravaganza. Bob and Richard will be spinning at the Metro this Saturday, May 23. The event has achieved quite a following since its conception in 2002 and will also take place in Washington D.C., New York, Provincetown, San Francisco and Atlanta. I was able to ask Bob and Richard some questions about BLOWOFF by email last week. As I can imagine, the guys are super busy hosting a dance than spans from April until September. This is what we talked about.

Cul de sac Magazine: For people who have no idea what BLOWOFF is, how would you describe it?

BM: A music-centric gay dance party, drawing mainly, but not exclusively, men in their 30s and 40s.

CM: What are you looking forward to the most about bringing BLOWOFF to Chicago?

RM: Every town has a different vibe. When I’ve been to Chicago in the past, the energy there has been great. I think that energy mixed with BLOWOFF will be a blast.

CM: You are coming to Chicago just in Time for International Mr. Leather weekend. How does BLOWOFF compare to IML in terms of culture?

BM: We have performed at Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco, and DJed many events in DC to coincide with Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend. Although BLOWOFF draws from a wide audience, both the leather and bear communities enjoy our events.

CM: How has BLOWOFF impacted or inspired your solo projects?

BM: DJing has made me a very active listener. The music I hear when preparing sets keeps my ear tuned to what is both good and not-so-good in the field.

RM: I play remixes and dance songs that I am working on at BLOWOFF. I get a good sense from the crowd’s response as to whether or not the mix is tight and working. If it is, great. If not, I keep working on it.

CM: Richard, how is DJing live different from remixing and producing and with your solo work?

RM: DJing is very interactive. The crowd goes with you and what you are playing. Producing is more insular and less of a party. Sometimes.

CM: Bob, are your Hüsker Dü fans freaked-out that you are DJing electronic dance music now?

BM: Not really. There is more overlap that one might think, and definitely more than I thought.

CM: Do you collaborate on the music you spin?

RM: We released an artist album “BLOWOFF” in 2006 and plan to do more songs together this year.

CM: If you couldn’t tag-team DJ with each other, with whom would you each like to DJ alongside? Who are you curious to hear DJ?

BM: it would be fun to be in the Daft Punk pyramid. I would enjoy seeing Treasure Fingers spin.

RM: Chris Lake. Love his remixes and his new record.

Tickets for Blowoff can be purchased at Metro’s website here.