Modest Mouse played Prospect Park w/ Gene Ween and 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' (pics, video, setlist)

photos by David Andrako

After opening their sold-out show at Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell
last night with the rallying call of “Fire It Up,” Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock announced that he had some minor concerns about playing the show. As it turns out, he
had just sprained his index finger. “How’d I do that?” he mused aloud. “Carelessness.” Brock’s candor was fitting, considering the tone of sarcasm and detachment that permeates many of the group’s lyrics, from their first album in 1996 to their latest release, Strangers to Ourselves. Modest Mouse’s performance of songs like “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes,” “Bury Me with It,” “Out of Gas” and “King Rat” nicely conveyed this attitude.

Of course, it’s not all aloofness and irony with Modest Mouse–their catalog includes many moments that skew toward sincere. Last night’s rendition of “Dramamine,” from the band’s first official release, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About, was clearly an emotional touchstone for the crowd, as was the sweet and simple new song “Coyotes,” and “3rd Planet,” from 2000’s The Moon & Antarctica. But Modest Mouse didn’t shy away from playing one of their most upbeat songs, “Float On,” the sonic equivalent of a pep talk. [The House List]

It’s a big week for Celebrate Brooklyn. Interpol played their big ticketed show in Prospect Park one night earlier, and this weekend are two great free shows: Jason Isbell/Dawn Landes is Friday, and Sylvan Esso/Porches happens Saturday.

Last night (7/22) was Modest Mouse, who were playing their third NYC show in support of this year’s Strangers to Ourselves. It was a good double bill too, with another eccentric indie rock veteran, Gene Ween. Pictures are in this post.

While Modest Mouse were in town, they also appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers to play “Pups to Dust” off their new album. Video of that, with more pictures from Prospect Park and MM’s setlist, below…

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Gene Ween

Modest Mouse

Modest Mouse setlist:
Fire It Up
Lampshades on Fire
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
Pups to Dust
Bury Me With It
Dashboard
Of Course We Know
King Rat
This Devil’s Workday
Shit in Your Cut
Dramamine
Grey Ice Water
Float On
Out of Gas
The Ground Walks, With Time in a Box

encore:
3rd Planet
Fly Trapped in a Jar
Coyotes
Paper Thin Walls
Sugar Boats
The Good Times Are Killing Me