Modest Mouse Fills The House At Palace
Time for some Thursday night fun in Saint Paul! Feeling a bit low energy, was hoping a bit of indie rock and roll would jolt me back into a fun headspace. Got downtown a bit early to snag my token beer from somewhere. Remembered that Alary’s is only about a 7 min walk from The Palace Theater AND offers parking in the parking garage if you make a purchase. Done deal. Popped in for a pint of Foggy Geezer and couldn’t resist getting some crispy shrimp tacos (bomb, btw.) Made the jaunt over in the humid summer evening air with a few folks that I spied with Modest Mouse merch on, chatted a bit about how excited they were to see them again.
Only two bands on the bill tonight, so made sure I was there with ample time before Califone took the stage. An experimental band from Chicago, wasn’t sure what I would be in for. All heard before they began was “they don’t suck.” Well, that’s good I guess. Starting right on the dot at 8pm, frontman Tim Rutili was armed with his guitar and soulful pipes to serenade us into a relaxed state. Only other soul on stage? None other than percussionist and drummer Ben Massarella tapping away. He would be pulling double-duty for Thursday night’s show, as he also is a member in Modest Mouse. Califone’s style is a swirl of a lot of elements colliding, morphing into an alluring rock sound that’s not only easy to listen to but matched so well with the mood of the night. The crowd was already packing in for the opening act, so they had a bunch of folks to perform for. Not only did they not suck, they were great. A soothing salve on my muddy mood, their half hour set was a satiating cool comforter for a cozy night.
The Palace was getting quite packed, so popped outside for a few to enjoy some fresh air. Greeted by a medical emergency occurring on the sidewalk right outside the venue, quickly EMS from Palace were making sure the person had water. Eventually emergency services came and scooped him up. Escaped back inside away from the dramatic scene into a sticky swarm of fans. Merch line winding throughout the floor and back to the main bar, tons of neat stuff on offer. Tour shirts were 40 bucks. Not good, not bad. Seems to be more and more the norm these days.
Battling through the sold-out crowd to photo pit, the audience was ready for a rock show. Drinks flowing freely for a Thursday, thinking many people needed a mood boost like myself that night. A few past 9pm, fog machines were going strong so the lights had a lot to play with once songs started. A fellow crab like myself (shout-out Cancers!) lead singer and ONLY constant member of Modest Mouse, Isaac Brock came to play. And sing. Having one of the most recognizable cadences and voices currently in rock music, he is a treat to see perform. Emotive at the microphone, he cranes his neck making his signature sound as he strums a guitar impeccably and effortlessly. Taking a quick beat to comment on the horrible wildfire smoke, then launching right back into the jams. Many of Modest Mouse’s tunes are short and sweet, so felt like they blended in a blur occasionally throughout the set. Not to worry, they played not just a dozen, but 21 songs. 21. Now that’s what I call your money’s worth. Since they consistently keep producing great music after 30 years, thinking they may have 30 more coming. Having a die-hard fanbase and a signature flair that I think is impossible to replicate, Modest Mouse is, was, and will be a darling favorite amongst the genre.
