Modest Mouse

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Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse performing in August 2021
Modest Mouse performing in August 2021
Background information
OriginIssaquah, Washington, U.S.
GenresIndie rock
DiscographyModest Mouse discography
Years active1993–present
Labels
Spinoffs
Lisa Molinaro
John Wickhart
Johnny Marr
Websitewww.modestmouse.com

Modest Mouse is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, and currently based in Portland, Oregon. The founding members were lead singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green and bassist Eric Judy. They achieved critical acclaim for their albums The Lonesome Crowded West (1997) and The Moon & Antarctica (2000) and found mainstream success with the release of Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004) and its singles "Float On" and "Ocean Breathes Salty".

From their 1996 debut album

percussionist Joe Plummer (formerly of the Black Heart Procession) and multi-instrumentalist Tom Peloso, to work on the album We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007). Guitarist Jim Fairchild joined the band in 2009. The band's sixth album, Strangers to Ourselves, was released in 2015 and their seventh, The Golden Casket
, in 2021.

History

Formation and early years: 1992–1999

When Isaac Brock was a teenager, he was employed at a local family video store just outside Seattle, where he met bassist

Broke", recorded by Steve Wold (a.k.a. bluesman Seasick Steve) under Sub Pop records at Moon Studios in Olympia, Washington. During this time, Modest Mouse also recorded what would have been its first album, Sad Sappy Sucker, but constant delays caused the album to be shelved and forgotten. It was not until 2001 that it was officially released. Before the band made its way into the pop music world in 2004, many of Modest Mouse's tours included stops at DIY/punk venues such as Speak in Tongues in Cleveland, Ohio, where they continued to play even after becoming popular enough to fill larger venues.[2]

After moving to

Interstate 8. The 1997 album, The Lonesome Crowded West (also recorded at Moon Studios, by Scott Swayze) served as the band's breakthrough. The Lonesome Crowded West gained the band a cult following, and is now popularly considered to be one of the defining albums of mid-1990s indie rock.[4] During this time, Nick Kraft became involved with the task of refining the band's sound. Prior to its release, the band had recorded the EP The Fruit That Ate Itself. In 2000, Up Records released a singles and rarities collection entitled Building Nothing Out of Something
that included the entirety of Interstate 8 except for the songs "Edit the Sad Parts" and "Buttons to Push the Buttons".

The Moon & Antarctica: 2000–2002

In 2000, Modest Mouse released

Pitchfork Media, despite concerns about releasing material on a major label.[7] The album would later receive further acclaim.[8]

The band licensed "Gravity Rides Everything" for a Nissan Quest minivan advertisement, a move that Brock has publicly acknowledged as blatantly commercial but necessary to achieve financial stability. Regarding the commercial, Brock stated, "People who don't have to make their living playing music can bitch about my principles while they spend their parents' money or wash dishes for some asshole."[9]

In 2001, Modest Mouse released the EP

Unlimited Sunshine Tour.[10]

Good News for People Who Love Bad News and We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank: 2003–2009

Shows members of Modest Mouse performing in concert
Modest Mouse performing live in 2007

In March 2003,

certified Platinum,[1] having two hits with "Float On" and "Ocean Breathes Salty" (both of which they performed on Saturday Night Live on November 13, 2004).[13] The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album that year, and "Float On" was nominated for Best Rock Song. Green rejoined the band in May 2004,[11] while Weikel returned to drumming exclusively for the Helio Sequence. The public radio program Marketplace used "Float On" as bumper music, which helped propel the group to a broader audience.[citation needed
]

In 2006,

the Masses, immediately began working on it once he had the band's approval.[15] Upon Ledger's death in January 2008, the video went unfinished.[16]

We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank was the first Modest Mouse album to reach No. 1 on the US

Autumn Beds" and "Perpetual Motion Machine" in limited edition—a total of 4,000 copies each—vinyl 7 inches, featuring artwork by art director and illustrator Joshua Marc Levy, J. Alex Stamos, and Natasha Wheat
.

The band began a North American tour in June 2008. They returned to Florida, with three shows in Miami, Orlando and St. Augustine, for the first time since they were cut off stage early during the November 2006 Bang Music Festival show.[17] Modest Mouse finished its tour supporting We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank after two years of promoting the record.

Marr left Modest Mouse to join

No One's First and You're Next, which was released on August 4, 2009,[18] composed of unreleased tracks from the recording sessions of Good News for People Who Love Bad News and We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.[19]

Touring, lineup changes, and re-releases: 2010–2014

In 2010, The Moon & Antarctica was re-released on vinyl as part of Record Store Day.[20]

On July 4, 2010 the band headlined the second day of the 80/35 Music Festival in Des Moines, Iowa,[21] and the first day of the End of the Road Festival in Dorset, England, on September 10, 2010.[22] At the end of August 2010, Modest Mouse played on the main stage at the Leeds and Reading festivals.

On May 29, Modest Mouse played two new songs during their headline of the Sasquatch festival. The songs were called "Poison the Well" and "Lampshades on Fire".[23] They then contributed a cover of the

The Warfield in San Francisco
on January 25, 2012.

In 2012, Modest Mouse underwent a significant lineup change, which included the departure of founding bassist Eric Judy and percussionist Joe Plummer, replaced by Russell Higbee (formerly of Man Man) and Davey Brozowski, respectively. The lineup also included the additions of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Lisa Molinaro, and percussionist Ben Massarella, the latter of whom previously played percussion on The Moon & Antarctica.

In June of that same year,

Pitchfork.tv released a 45-minute documentary on The Lonesome Crowded West, which included archival footage taken during live performances and original recording/mix sessions.[25]

Modest Mouse played a Saturday afternoon set at the inaugural

Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California. They also performed at the 2014 Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, in May 2014. They later performed as a headliner at Shaky Knees music festival in Atlanta, Georgia on May 10, 2014, and also headlined Sunday May 25 at Boston Calling in Massachusetts. Modest Mouse then performed at Hudson Valley Music Project in Saugerties, NY in July, 2014. The band's final performance of 2014 took place in Inglewood, California during the annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas
.

In the fall of 2014 Modest Mouse re-released their first two albums, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About and The Lonesome Crowded West, on CD and vinyl through Isaac Brock's Glacial Pace record label.

Strangers to Ourselves, The Golden Casket and Jeremiah Green's death: 2015–2022

Eight years after the release of We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, Modest Mouse released

Glacial Pace
website and on the iTunes store.

In 2015, Brock described the follow-up album to Strangers to Ourselves as being like a part two to the latter album that they would try to release as soon as legally possible.[27] The follow-up album has also been said to feature at least one song with Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic.[28]

Throughout 2019, the band released three standalone singles; "Poison the Well" on March 29, "I'm Still Here" on April 18, and "Ice Cream Party" on November 15.

Modest Mouse released their seventh studio album,

Wall Street Journal, music critic Mark Richardson gave a mixed review of the album.[30] Richardson described the tracks on the first half of the album as "sound[ing] like busy arrangements in search of a song", and noted that "Mr. Brock's ear for hooks just barely rescues the tracks from the seriously overstuffed production."[30] Richardson noted that the back half of the album contained the biggest highlights, which he described as "quite good". Richardson was particularly fond of the album's stripped-down finale, "Back to the Middle", which he noted "hints at what should be [the band's] next change-up: Keep it simple. If the songs are strong and the performances are there, guitar, bass and drums will be more than enough.[30]

In an interview in 2022, celebrating 15 years of We Were Dead before The Ship Even Sank, Isaac Brock and Johnny Marr revealed that they were writing songs together again, the first of which is called "Rivers of Rivers". The writing took place in a "pen pal" kind of way, with Brock saying that there were more songs to be developed in 2022 together "once the world tilts back on its axis".[31]

In July 2022 the band was mixing a nine-song companion EP to The Golden Casket, with Marr confirmed to appear on one of the tracks.[32]

In the midst of a tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Lonesome Crowded West, drummer and founding member Jeremiah Green took an unannounced leave of absence. Days after his Stage IV cancer diagnosis was revealed to the public, Green died on December 31, 2022.[33][34]

Good News–era reunion and future: 2023–present

The band is co-headlining a North American tour with the Pixies in the Summer of 2024.[35]

In April 2024, Brock announced that he was planning on reuniting the band's 2004 line-up which recorded Good News for People Who Love Bad News for a tour in celebration of the record.

Members

Current members

Main instruments listed only

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Modest Mouse Highwater Festival 2022 (52032239098).jpg
 Isaac Brock 1993–present
  • lead vocals
  • rhythm and lead guitar
  • banjo
 all releases
Modest_mouse_(526085945)_(cropped).jpg
 Tom Peloso 2003–present
  • keyboards (2005–present)
  • upright bass
  • backing vocals
  • bass guitar
  • horns
  • fiddle (2003–2005, 2021–present)
 all releases from Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004)
Modest Mouse Highwater Festival 2022 (52032239948).jpg
 Russell Higbee 2012–present
  • bass guitar
  • rhythm guitar
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
 all releases from Strangers to Ourselves (2015)
Ben Massarella 2014–present
  • percussion
  • effects
  • drums
Modest Mouse Highwater Festival 2022 (52032238753).jpg
 Simon O'Connor 2021–present
  • lead guitar
  • backing vocals
 none to date
Damon Cox 2023–present
  • drums
  • percussion

Former members

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Jeremiah_Green_at_Frost_Revival_(7235815918).jpg
 Jeremiah Green
  • 1993–2003
  • 2004–2022 (until his death)
  • drums
  • percussion
 all releases to date, except Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004)
Flickr_-_moses_namkung_-_Modest_Mouse_3.jpg
 Eric Judy
  • 1993–1994
  • 1995–2012
  • bass guitar
  • acoustic guitar
  • backing vocals
  • rhythm guitar and keyboards (2003–2012)
 all releases from Blue Cadet-3, Do You Connect? (1994) to No One's First, and You're Next (2009)
Dann Gallucci
  • 1994–1995
  • 1997–1998
  • 2002–2005
  • lead guitar
  • organ
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
John Wickhart 1994–1995 bass guitar none
Benjamin Weikel 2003–2004
  • drums
  • percussion
 Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004)
Modest_Mouse_Joe1f_(495723398).jpg
 Joe Plummer 2004–2012
  • percussion
  • drums
JimFairchild(by_Scott_Dudelson).jpg
 Jim Fairchild
  • 2005–2006
  • 2009–2021
  • lead guitar
  • backing vocals
  • Strangers to Ourselves (2015)
  • The Golden Casket (2021)
Modest_Mouse_121407_a_5_(2190603766).jpg
 Johnny Marr 2006–2008
  • We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007)
  • No One's First and You're Next (2009)
Talkdemonic05.jpg
Lisa Molinaro
 2011–2021
  • viola
  • bass guitar
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
  • Strangers to Ourselves (2015)
  • The Golden Casket (2021)
Daveybrozowskidrummerpercussionist.JPG
 Davey Brozowski 2012–2021
  • percussion
  • drums
 none

Touring musicians

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Tyler Reilly 1997–2000 violin
Robin Peringer 2000–2002
  • lead guitar
  • keyboards
  • effects
 none
Brandon Angle 2007
  • bass guitar
  • acoustic guitar
  • pump organ
Andy MacLeod
Russell Higbee 2010–2012 horns
Dave Collis 2013 lead guitar
Darrin Wiener 2012–2016
  • effects
  • keyboards
 Strangers to Ourselves (2015)
Modest Mouse Highwater Festival 2022 (52032718485).jpg
 Keith Karman 2022–present
  • keyboards
  • acoustic guitar
  • bass guitar
  • backing vocals
 none to date

Timeline

Discography

Main article: Modest Mouse discography

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ a b Carpenter, Susan. "THE ARTS; POP MUSIC; from Modest Beginnings ...; nearly 15 Years from its Seattle Grunge Origins, Modest Mouse's Career has Taken a Mighty Turn". Los Angeles TimesMar 18 2004. ProQuest. Web. 20 July 2015.
  2. ISBN 9781648410642
    . Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Modest Mouse" [bio]. Epitonic. epitonic.com. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  4. OCLC 1065713061
    .
  5. ^ Bridda, Edoardo (2015-03-01). "Modest Mouse biography" (in Italian). sentireascoltare.com.
  6. ^ "Modest Mouse: The Moon & Antarctica (2000): Reviews". Metacritic.com. 2009-12-15. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  7. ^ DiCrescenzo, Brent (2000-06-13). "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Modest Mouse: The Moon & Antarctica". Pitchforkmedia.com. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  8. ^ "Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of 2000–2004". Listology. Archived from the original on 2014-12-01. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  9. ^ Modell, Josh (April 7, 2004). "Modest Mouse". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on December 10, 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  10. ^ Mirkin, Steven (13 August 2002). "Unlimited Sunshine Tour". Variety.com. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  11. ^ a b Pappademas, Alex (August 2004). "The Long Way Home". Spin. Vol. 20, no. 8. pp. 76–79. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  12. ^ Carpenter, Susan (2004-03-18). "From Modest beginnings ..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  13. ^ "SNL Archives | Episodes". Snl.jt.org. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  14. ^ Music – Modest Mouse Archived 2007-03-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  15. ^ Lisi, Brian (2016-04-04). "Heath Ledger's sister says it took blessing from Michelle Williams to get new documentary made". New York Daily News.
  16. ^ Ganz, Caryn. "Rock & Roll: Music Video: Inside Heath Ledger's Modest Mouse Video". Rolling Stone Sep 3 2009: 22. ProQuest. Web. 21 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Modest Mouse announce US headlining tour". NME. May 5, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  18. idiomag. 2009-07-23. Archived from the original
    on 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  19. Pitchfork Media
    . Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  20. ^ "The Moon & Antarctica To Be Reissued on Vinyl For 10th Anniversary | Modest Mouse". Modestmousemusic.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-12. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  21. ^ "Modest Mouse Headlining 80/35 Festival". Glide Magazine. 2010-05-03. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  22. ^ "Modest Mouse announced as Friday headliner + 5 more bands". Endoftheroadfestival.com. Archived from the original on 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  23. ^ "Modest Mouse Debut Tunes At Sasquatch!". Stereogum. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
  24. ^ Baroni, Nastassia (14 February 2015). "Several Acts Ruled Out For Splendour In The Grass 2015". MusicFeeds. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  25. ^ "Pitchfork.tv Presents Documentary on Modest Mouse's The Lonesome Crowded West". Pitchforkmedia. 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  26. ^ "Good Vibes Festival". Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  27. ^ Gordon, Jeremy (10 March 2015). "Modest Mouse to Follow Strangers to Ourselves With New Album "As Quickly As It's Legally Allowed"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  28. ^ Kaye, Ben (24 March 2015). "Modest Mouse's next album, due out in 2016, features Nirvana's Krist Novoselic". Consequence.net. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  29. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (5 May 2021). "Modest Mouse Announce New Album 'The Golden Casket,' Drop 'We Are Between'". Rolling Stone.
  30. ^ a b c Richardson, Mark (21 June 2021). "'The Golden Casket' by Modest Mouse Review: Float On Past the Noise". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  31. ^ Clarke, Patrick (22 March 2022). "Johnny Marr and Modest Mouse have been writing new music together". NME. BandLab Technologies. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  32. Consequence of Sound
    . Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  33. ^ Moreau, Jordan (December 31, 2022). "Jeremiah Green, Modest Mouse Co-Founder and Drummer, Dies at 45". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  34. ^ Legaspi, Althea (January 1, 2023). "Jeremiah Green, Founding Member of Modest Mouse, Dead at 45". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  35. ^ Madarang, Charisma (2023-03-29). "Modest Mouse, Pixies, and Cat Power to Embark on North American Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-03-07.

Further reading

External links

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