Posted: by The Alt Editing Staff
In an effort to expand my music taste horizons, my stepmom and Dad would give me “homework” assignments. Anywhere from 5-10 CDs to listen to and report back on my thoughts. One weekend, as I was shuffling through my catalog of CDs, I came across Good News for People Who Love Bad News. Upon listening, I was met with a complex auditory experience. On this record, Modest Mouse jump from jazz-influenced horns, to indie-pop anthems, all the way through banjo-focused tracks like “Satin in a Coffin”. For a 6th LP, Modest Mouse pulled all the stops. They took risks that payed off, and made a lasting impression, even 20 years later.
To celebrate, the band ended their U.S. tour playing 3 nights at Brooklyn’s, Brooklyn Steel with support from The Black Heart Procession. The audience make-up was a piñata of long-time fans, new listeners, and “Float On” fans alike. As I was waiting for the band to go on, I chatted with a few audience members. For some, this was night 3 of 3 seeing the band, for others this was their first time seeing the band. As soon as the band set foot on stage, I knew we were in for a treat. The band played the album through from “Horns Intro” all the way through “The Good Times are Killing Me”. What felt oddly chilling, was how relevant the lyrical themes are, even 20 years later. Issac Brock’s vocals on “The World At Large” echoed through the sold-out crowd. Following was the iconic track “Float On”. A track that has personally carried me through a lot of times since I listened to it on that CD many years ago. The crowd singing along “And we’ll all float on okay” during the chorus and bopping throughout the bouncy and catchy riffs of the track. Seamlessly, the band transitioned into “Ocean Breathes Salty”, another groovy track that had the audience dancing around. It’s incredible how well the band understands and appreciates their audience. Their talent is unmatched, and they are completely dialed in the minute they set foot on stage. They know what they mean to their fans, and how much a night like this can mean to them. In the later half of their first set, Issac stopped the show entirely to make sure that an audience member was okay, and that they received the support they needed.
As I moved throughout the venue, just about every single person was singing along at some point to the band. Modest Mouse have certainly earned their status in the indie-rock canon and are not going anywhere anytime soon.
Sarah Knoll / @slick_filmphoto
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