Modest Mouse 2022
Words: Sean Moore / Photos: Kenneth Coles
Modest Mouse seems to enjoy playing in Portland, having been here 4 times since 2015. This time around they are touring in support of their latest album The Golden Casket. Having been a band since the early ‘90s and exploding within the college indie rock scene of the late ‘90s did not really come into mainstream focus until their 2004 hit “Float On” was played and played and overplayed on alternative rock radio stations. At one point, The Smiths’ former guitarist Johnny Marr even played with them for a solid six years and is included on the band’s peak album, in my humble opinion, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.
The band came out with frontman Isaac Brock and guitarist Simon O’Connor donning cardboard dinosaur and unicorn heads as the band blazed through the opening tune “Fuck Your Acid Trip”, the opening track on the new album. Followed by “Sugar Boats.” They began “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes” with an extended intro and outro, which led right into a raucous version of “Dashboard.” When they hit the first notes, the crowd became electrified.
The band made up for lost time covering nine albums in their catalog during their set, even throwing into the mix a one-off single “Ice Cream Party” in the middle. I appreciated the band’s decision to play their massively popular “Float On” mid-set, as well, instead of saving it for the encore knowing full well everyone in the crowd wanted to hear it. “King Rat” was clearly a highlight for the crowd based on everyone’s reaction. I saw grown men dancing with no regard for how ridiculous they may have looked.
The best moments of the night were when you could tell that Brock and company were fully immersed in the songs and giving it everything they had, despite having just played an hour long set at Boston Calling Music Festival the day before. “Bury Me in It” found Brock and company sing-screaming the chorus before the band played an all-time favorite of mine, “3rd Planet” with ease and precision, almost as if they’ve played it a thousand times before. The whole time I was thinking how this band has definitely appreciated Portland and the State Theatre, having returned year after year to play the venue, though I wonder if they would be more comfortable at the outdoor venue, Thompson’s Point. I know bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Spoon, The Shins, The National, etc. have all seen massive success at Thompson’s Point. My hope is that Modest Mouse returns to play the larger venue next time.
The band sounded really good and really loud from the first notes to the last notes, although I’m not sure if Isaac Brock was in the best mood or if he was not impressed with the amount of drunk people yelling within the crowd. He definitely made a point several times throughout the night to express his discontent with a few people’s behavior, which is unfortunate because it distracted from the stellar performance by the entire band. Part of me wonders if the band had come out closer to 9 o’clock the audience would have behaved differently? Despite his negative impression of the crowd, Brock and the rest of the band returned for an encore in which they played “Dramamine” before closing out the night with “Ocean Breathes Salty.”
