Coachella 2013: Modest Mouse, we hardly knew ye
Kevin Bronson on
13
Note: Edited version of the post to show that the set was shortened because the band was over its time allotment.
Who: Modest Mouse on the main stage
In 3 or Fewer Words: Lonesome Crowded Mess
Memorable Because: Modest Mouse broke my heart. We can only speculate on the state of Isaac Brock’s mind Friday night, but if one of the true poets of your generation publicly sang from “The Lion King” and asked everyone else to hum for his dumb-giggling amusement, you might draw some conclusions that logically end in 12 steps. Modest Mouse played a truly awful set, both career-spanning and career-razing. Sloppy. Awkward. Embarrassing. This wasn’t the amusing kind of a trainwreck, so much as the type that makes one say “This person has a family, and they are probably worried about him right now.” With the band running over its time allotment, Coachella organizers cut-off Modest Mouse right in the middle of “Float On,” cut-off like a drunk at the bar. It was a mercy killing. What a disappointment.
What I’d Tell My Friend Who Was At Sparks: You kept to the axiom I foolishly ignored: When in doubt, go with the rarest opportunity.
– Ben “Mouse” McShane (Photo by Scott Dudelson) *
* The author’s nickname has nothing to do with the band. We think.
The reviewer who wrote this rushed embarrassing attempt of a concert review above is really uninformed about how festivals work.
The song was but off because the band ran a few minutes over schedule.This is standard practice when a band runs over time at a festival. To imply this had something to do with the quality of the performance show the writers own agenda and cluelessness to the music and concert industry.
Secondly, Isaac wasn’t drunk at all as implied.
He generally talks BS to the audience at live shows. It works in concert halls, and just seems to waste time in a festival environment.
The set was fine. Not the best, not the worst, but fine.
Super catty un-educated poor mans Pitchfork writing above.
You are correct about the reason the band was cut off, and the post has been corrected. Even in his festival haste, the editor should have caught that. Apologies.
Modest Mouse – too bad to work so hard to get there and then blow it.
I agree wholeheartedly with the review. I was really looking forward to see them play and it was awkward and disappointing. There has been plenty to rave about during Coachella 2013 but their performance certainly wasn’t one of them. It was selfish and self-centered to babble on like an incoherent drunk so if he wasn’t, then I feel even worse for him.
he was on drugs. i should have gone to see jelo instead. It was foolish of me to do otherwise. SO… week 2 dont make the same mistake.
sh*t… you would be better off being in a rave tent. Im a long time modest mouse fan. He just hates festivals and likes to amuse himself. It is kind of funny but just blows i could have enjoyed another great musician, JELLO!, that i respect more. Maybe thats why im kicking my self for wanting to see him play with Johnny. Just see Modest Mouses own concerts. there depth is too much for coachella anyway. unless you just want a taste. if so… then thats what you got. So i guess i am laughing about it too. And… he was definitely on something besides beer and pot but so was I. Good one Issac.
Birds Hummin: you are an idiot if you think Issac wasn’t drunk, he was belligerent. I saw the show myself and he couldn’t even remember the words to his own songs. He was a complete mess and embarassment. They may have cut him off because he went over schedule but let me tell you, if they were killin it out there and they went over their time, they wouldn’t have been cut off. Cutting him off really did everyone a favor. This show was beyond dissapointing.
i went to see them and they ownd coachella!!! why do you think you’re still commenting about it,. and yea it makes a lot of sense …an iconic ROCKSTAR might or might not have done drugs and He talked about sex and had a beer or two before a performing at a festival,…OH NO’S!!!!! for all of you idiots talking shit, rather than enjoyin life and the show,..hopefully for you next time it can be psy or beiber so you wont be disappointed, Better topic…talk about how you weren’t worthy of your coachella addmission
“he couldnt remember his own words” bwahaha no hope for you rick
How could you not think he was under the influence? He barely made any sense…while singing or rambling. I enjoyed watching ONLY because he was such a hot mess. Sad to say, I was looking forward to his performance however I’d say he was probably the biggest shit show out of anyone at Coachella this weekend.
i dont care if you dont post my comments,i dont exercise freedom of speech much anyway, and no one gives a shit about opinions either, especially from dull people jessica
japandroids = “biggest shit show” sad disappointment and bad sound
This review pretty much summed up the review I gave when I sadly walked back to my friends, head hung that I had given up other shows, to go see MM alone, and early so I could be close. I couldn’t even stay until the end. Broke my heart. The sound was terrible where I was (the one piece that can’t be blamed on Isaac), but add on to that just like the other commenters have shared – he basically just gave a giant fuck you to the audience. Clearly didn’t want to be there, clearly was off his rocker belligerent, clearly thought he was just playing for a bunch of festival-goers instead of all the pretty legit fans I was surrounded by. The most disappointing show of Coachella, and one of the ones I looked forward to the most.
I thought their show was amazing & things he said were amuzing. That festival is full of drugs & some of the best mucisians do occassional drugs. What’s up w/ all “he snobs on here being “offended” by some of the things he said? None of u know why he did/said what he said. Isn’t being unpredictable a little more entertaining than being on perfect behavior? I’m sure he knows that. Maybe those of you complaining would be more comfortable at a Taylor Swift show. People are so judgemental & opiniated these days.