Preview: Modest Mouse at The Anthem on Oct. 18

In 1993, in the suburban working-class wastelands of the state of Washington, Isaac Brock, Eric Judy, and Jeremiah Green formed the indie rock band Modest Mouse. Isaac Brock is the only original member left still on stage these days, with bassist Eric Judy leaving the group in 2011 and Jeremiah Green sadly dying of cancer in 2022. I was introduced to Modest Mouse by way of a pizza parlor, when the reflective strumming and atmospheric vocals of “The World At Large” on the speakers caught the attention of my 14-year-old self. I have been a fan ever since, and they were the sponsors of my very first mosh pit at 16. Most are familiar with Modest Mouse from the song that follows “The World At Large” on their 2004 album Good News for People Who Love Bad News: “Float On.” Despite gaining mass popularity, the pop-y single is an outlier in the band’s discography. Their combination of sensitive, introspective lyrics and often chaotic instrumentals produce a thoroughly unique blend of melancholy and abrasive drunkenness. Brock is known for his raw vocals, ranging from raspy to screeching, which I once heard described as “like someone is chasing him with a garden hose.”

Don’t miss them at the Anthem this Friday, Oct. 18.