Modest Mouse Closes Musicfest NW in Front of Restless Crowd

Posted on Sep 21st 2009 11:00AM by Garin Pirnia
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Washington natives Modest Mouse closed the final night of Musicfest NW in Portland, Ore. Sunday night, which was also the first night of a four-night stint at the Crystal Ballroom for the band. During a brief set intermission, lead singer Isaac Brock bantered with the audience in an odd fashion. "What do you have planned for the rest of the evening?" Brock asked the sold-out crowd. "I have nothing to say, but I feel I should say something."

The entire night was dedicated to the bands on Brock's own record label, Glacial Pace, which became the impetus for his humorous tirade about making money from his bands. "The more money I have, the more jet skis I can have," he said. "I own zero jet skis. I don't own jet ski number one." He went on to say he didn't even want to buy a jet ski, but being driven around in a chariot full of jet skis would be nice. Not everyone in the audience found him amusing -- an impatient and rude fan shouted, "Play some f---ing music," to which an annoyed Brock responded, "Are you afraid we're not going to play music for the rest of the show? It's all I have in store, you big dummy. Do you have something better to do? Shut up and enjoy this band."

Throughout their incendiary two-hour set, Modest Mouse whipped the venue into a complete frenzy replete with flashing lights, Brock's vicious vocals, two drummers, a violinist, a horn player and enough thunderous noise to deafen everyone in range. Caustic opener 'Dramamine' from the band's first record, 'This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About,' lit up the room and set the pace for the rest of the night. The set spanned all of the band's full-lengths including this year's 'No One's First and You're Next' EP and Mouse classics 'Doin' the Cockroach,' 'Paper Thin Walls,' 'We Are Everything,' 'Baby Blue Sedan' and their biggest hit, 'Float On.'

After ending with the majestic 'Whale Song,' Modest Mouse walked offstage and took their sweet time to come back for an encore -- over ten minutes to be exact. The crowd grew so restless they fiercely pounded on the floorboards and chanted, "jet skis" to no avail. Finally, the refreshed Brock and crew sauntered back onstage and played three more tunes. With intricate arrangements and excellent songs, Modest Mouse defined what a true rock concert should be.