Modest Mouse Lights Up The Astro!

2 hours ago

3 min read

Story and Photos: Spencer Fleming

Fall is here and what better way to celebrate with a Friday night at the Astro! On 9.25.26 Indie-rock legends Modest Mouse made their way to Omaha on the An Eraser And A Maze tour bringing along newcomers Robber Robber. There was a solid turnout with fans of all ages. If I had to judge, I'd say this was within a stone's throw of a sellout.

I've casually followed Modest Mouse since their breakout 2004 album Good News For People Who Love Bad News, but my brother Scott is a Modest Mouse aficionado, so I was excited to have him as my guest for the night. Since the release of Eraser And A Maze back in June of this year I've had a chance to listen several times through and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I was excited to hear some of the new songs live. Let's get into it!

The night started with the openers Robber Robber from Burlington Vermont. Their jangly guitars and soulful vocals got the crowd hyped. As I listened I felt some notes of Sonic Youth, Oasis, and Blur. I really liked the fast paced drums and distorted wall of sound that washed over the crowd. It was a fun set and I'd definitely consider catching them again if they played the Reverb or Waiting Room.

As the clock struck 9:00 the smell of incense wafted over the crowd like we had just entered a college dorm room. The stage was filled with multiple drum sets, a stand-up bass, and synthesizers. I was ready for a trip through fields of flowers and dragon's fire.

The man, the myth, the legend Isaac Brock stepped out looking fresh with a clean shaven face. Isaac's slacks and suit jacket paired with hiking boots was the perfect juxtoposition, much like his music. Modest Mouse has always leaned into the strange. Their dark lyrics paired with upbeat danceable melodies has put them in a category all their own.

The band started the set with "Parting of the Sensory" from their 2007 album We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. Standing close the monitors while shooting photos I could hear the strong clarity from Issac and was stoked to know the set was going to be a good one.

The band kept things moving with "Picking Dragons Pockets", a big single from the new album. This got a pop of energy from the crowd with lots of fans singing along.

For over 90 minutes Modest Mouse delighted the Omaha crowd with cuts from all across their discography. As expected they hit a lot of songs from their new album An Eraser And A Maze, but they couldn't leave without playing their breakout smash hit "Float On". It's crazy how one hit can change everything. I know Modest Mouse has had what many would consider a successful career over eight studio albums but "Float On" can be heard at sports games! That's how you know a band will be etched into history.

Even though Isaac is the only remaining memeber of Modest Mouse, the band he's assembled sounds amazing! I hope they can continue touring for years to come. I'm super grateful I was able to catch this tour. If you've ever wondered if Modest Mouse is worth seeing live, the answer is emphatically yes.

Thanks so much to Modest Mouse management and Mammoth Live for photo access. Thanks for reading and we'll see you at the next one!

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