Marrdest Mouse @ Webster Hall, NYC 11/14/06
After a round of shows in Cali, Modest Mouse packed up their gear and Johnny Marr and descended upon NYC for a string of five gigs. After opening the run at Nokia Theater, the band settled in for two at Webster Hall and then another two at Bowery, capping it off with a demonstration that they were fans of viral video.
We weren't gonna let 'em get through the city without paying our respects, so we made it over to the first night at Webster last Tuesday. We came with some high expectations, and while the band held it together and were undoubtedly tight, they're still working on a dynamic approximating a true, organically-grown indie rock outfit, as opposed to a sextet featuring a hired gun. Honestly though, the night was amazing if only 'cause we were this close to Johnny Marr.
Handsome devil. Anyway, the new stuff sounds promising, though not quite the marriage of Marr to Mouse for which we were hoping. We imagine a good number of you guys managed to catch the band during their bi-coastal run, too. What did you think? It's early in the game, but did the new stuff play as well as you'd hoped? And does the lineup change suit your tastes?
If anything, the show has us even more curious about We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank.
Posted at 2:06 PM in Concert
Tags: Modest Mouse
It was my first Modest Mouse show and as such of course it was great, but the new material didn't work that much for me... I just really enjoyed the classics. About the new songs, what is this thing going on right now with everyone making loooooooong tracks? (YLT, Joanna Newsom, Decemberists and now Modest Mouse?)
Btw, it caught me by surprise to see Johnny Marr on stage (sorry, not a dedicated Modest Mouse fan)... and what a surprise man. The Smiths should get together again man.
Score = 0
MM were great but that was pretty much the worst setlist from them that I could have possibly imagined. I went to Tuesday's show also, something tells me they played the same set all 5 nights like the last time they came around. They are basically my favorite band but the last 3 times I've seen them the setlists were just such a bummer. What would be so bad about playing more songs from the older records? 6 new songs and 7 songs from Good News, 2 from MoonAntartica and one from each Lonesome and Building, is just not my idea of a great setlist. Dont' get me wrong, I had a fucking blast, but I left really wishing for more is all. They could easily create some of the best setlists ever played live but they just don't seem to anymore. The new songs seemed ok, some seemed fucking terrible actually, but MM have never been a band that a songs first listen will leave you loving it. Either way, I'm thinking we're going to hear an continuingly evermore polished Mouse on this record. Probably will have lots of hits but will sound more like Duran Duran than the band I have grown attached to all these years. I'm all for Isaac paying his bills but its just kind of one perpetual let down. I guess its neat to have Johnny Marr in the band, but if you didn't know who he was you wouldn't have really noticed his live presence, I don't completely get it.
Sigh.
Score = 0
I caught Wed at Webster and Fri at Bowery and was impressed by both shows. They definitely tore through the older material. I'm not the world's biggest Smith's fan, but Johnny Marr knocked me on my ass consistantly. New songs seem to be coming along, lots of great sections but nothing great as a whole.
I will note that at both shows I was surrounded by some of the most drunk, obnoxious people I've ever witnessed at a show. From the loser who ruthlessly taunting/heckling the openers at Webster to the jackass who was moshing on Friday night at the Bowery. Not sure if that's the norm at the Modest Mouse gigs or not...
Score = 0
is it modest mouse featuring johnny marr?
they should change their name if they're going to carry on with mr. marr....
in my humble opinion...
Score = 0
I went to Webster on Tuesday night. It was a great show; I stood about 15 feet from Isaac.
Invisible In Your Car and Dashboard had tons of energy and intensity. Missed The Boat had kind of a Smiths feel to it, but still had the Modest Mouse sound that we know and love. I especially loved the danciness of "We've Got Everything." The Good News songs, like Black Cadillacs, Bukowski, The View, etc. were all done outstandingly.
I'm not worried about them abandoning their old work or anything. In the Los Angeles shows and the first New York show, the pre-Good News songs consisted of Paper Thin Walls, Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes, Doin' the Cockroach, and Dramamine. On Tuesday night they brought back Breakthrough into their set, and on one of the weekend shows they added in Trailer Trash. Johnny Marr doesn't know how to play every single Modest Mouse song yet. Although the classics will no longer dominate the set lists, I'm sure we'll see some of our old favorites popping up fairly often.
Score = 0
I've seen Modest Mouse more times than I'd like to admit and although I agree with the above that the setlist was weak (no interstate 8! or diner! or doin the cockroach!), that was about the only thing that was weak about the show. As usual, they made me dance, smile and truly appreciate good live rock n roll. And then to add Johnny Marr to the mix made me feel like I felt like I was 16 again. I think his influence in the band is an interesting one and brought a poppier side out to a sometimes brash rock band. And I have to say, he looks quite good for his age.
I'm looking forward to letting the new album play on repeat for days once it comes out...
Score = 0
I've seen Modest Mouse more times than I'd like to admit and although I agree with the above that the setlist was weak (no interstate 8! or diner! or doin the cockroach!), that was about the only thing that was weak about the show. As usual, they made me dance, smile and truly appreciate good live rock n roll. And then to add Johnny Marr to the mix made me feel like I felt like I was 16 again. I think his influence in the band is an interesting one and brought a poppier side out to a sometimes brash rock band. And I have to say, he looks quite good for his age.
I'm looking forward to letting the new album play on repeat for days once it comes out...
Score = 0
There's a little preview description of the new Mouse disc here. Sorry, no sound samples, but an honest description is good for something, yes? http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article?article_id=3571
Score = 0
There's a little preview description of the new Mouse disc here. Sorry, no sound samples, but an honest description is good for something, yes? http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article?article_id=3571
Score = 0
Some of you are writing fucking novels in the comments for fucks sake, I'm a bit surprised that so many of you Americans care so much about johnny marr twenty years after the break up of the smiths. I mean who are we going to put on an indiekid revival pedestal next andy summers?
Score = 0
Monty --
To be fair, I don't think MM have played Doin' the Cockroach in years. I sure haven't seen it in any setlists, either of bootlegs or at any of the three shows I've seen. And All-Nite Diner? Really? Yikes.
I'm not too worried about old material working its way back in once Marr gets acclimated. The last time I saw them, only a little over a year ago, the setlist was excellent.
I have a boot with some new material. I am a little iffy on it. Some good, some kinda bland.
Score = 0
I first saw Modest Mouse many many years ago and thought they were kinda sloppy (forgetting lyrics, messing up songs), but had great energy. I went to the Friday show at Bowery and although they definitely sound much tighter and cleaner, the show did not have as much effect on me as the earlier ones I had been too. It's not just the setlist, they did play Doin' the Coackroach and Trailer Trash, they kinda seem like a different band. I know it's good for bands to evolve, but the new music sounded so different and bland to me compared even to Good News, that I didn't feel like I was watching the Modest Mouse I thought I was going to see. It was still a decent show regardless, don't know if anyone else left with that feeling though...
Score = 0
I love these guys to death (Lonesome Crowded West is one of my favorite albums by anyone), but I've never been impressed with their live show. Too sloppy - and not in the fun, spontaneous, sense of the word.
Score = 0