Modest Mouse Touring; Album Due in 2004
Modest Mouse begin a short tour today (November 11) at Nita's
Hideaway in Tempe, Ariz. The group's upcoming album, Good News
for People Who Love Bad News — at one point set for a fall
2003 release — will reach record stores in spring 2004. The
album is the group's second for Sony Music's Epic label; prior to
moving to a major in 2000, the group recorded albums, EPs and singles
for the indie labels Up, K and Suicide.
The new album was produced by Dennis Herring (Throwing Muses, Camper
Van Beethoven, Cracker, Buddy Guy, Counting Crows). Jumping back and
forth between recording studios in Oxford, Miss. and Memphis, Tenn.,
Modest Mouse called in the Dirty Dozen Brass Band to guest on the
album, and enlisted Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips to mix a track or
two.
Founding member/drummer Jeremiah Green, after 10 years of musical
collaboration, recently left Modest Mouse to focus on his other band,
The Vells, which features members of Red Stars Theory, Stagger Lee
and the Blessed Light. The Vells' 2003 EP was released on Luckyhorse
Industries, Built to Spill bassist James Bertram and photographer
Amanda Graham's record label. Replacing Green on drums for the time
being is Benjamin Wiekel of Helios Sequence.
Formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Wash., the group is the enigmatic love
child of guitarist/vocalist Isaac Brock, bassist Eric Judy and Green.
Though influenced by bands such as Pavement, The Pixies and Sonic
Youth, Modest Mouse have created a distinctive sound all their own.
The group first began working out the Modest Mouse sound in a
practice space called "The Shed," built by Brock on the land next to
his mother's trailer.
Modest Mouse got the attention of Calvin Johnson, owner of K records,
and K released the group's self-titled debut single in 1994. They
recorded an album and an EP in 1996 for Up: This Is a Long Drive
for Someone With Nothing to Think About and Interstate 8.
K released The Fruit That Ate Itself and The Lonesome
Crowded West in 1997. Modest Mouse then moved to Epic, which
released The Moon & Antarctica in early 2000. — Rebekah
J. Zietz [Tuesday, November 11, 2003]
Modest Mouse Tour Dates
Nov. 11; Tempe, AZ; Nita's Hideaway
Nov. 15; Colorado Springs, CO; 32 Bleu
Nov. 17; Boulder, CO; The Fox Theater
Nov. 19; Salt Lake City, UT; Liquid Joe's
Nov. 20; Salt Lake City, UT; Brick's
Nov. 21, 22; Boise, ID; Neurolux
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