Modest Mouse enflames Axis with live gig

Modest Mouse's energetically raucous bar band flare and cohesive confidence, fired up a sold-out crowd at Axis Friday night. \nHailing from Issaquah, Wash., guitarist and vocalist Isaac Brock, bassist Eric Judy and drummer Jeremiah Green have been at it since 1993. \nBasing their melodies with melancholy on top of quick-witted drumming, Modest Mouse served a mix of songs from their new album, Good News For People Who Love Bad News, along with hits from Interstate 8 and The Moon & Antarctica.\nMany loyal fans may sigh over the MTV recognition of Modest Mouse, but the band doesn't seem homogenized or tuned down. Songs like "Doin' the Cockroach" and "3rd Planet" filled the space between newer tracks. \nThe new material is a pure joy to hear live, and even the older material seems new, as Modest Mouse performed as a five-piece. The addition of standup bass during several songs showcased an example of the strange experimentation Modest Mouse has enjoyed since its first recordings on Brock's home answering machine.\nOpening for Modest Mouse was Brooklyn's Breaker! Breaker!, an erratic and clanging dance-punk group whose three-member band, consisting of keyboard, guitar and drums, played in unison to simple, yet catchy beats. Following Breaker! Breaker!, The Walkmen flung themselves around the stage as the crowd began to feel the heat of the Axis performance pit. The Walkmen certainly fired up the crowd for Modest Mouse, leaving as the audience began dripping with sweat.\nThe end of the show seemed to be a joy for many as throngs filed out the doors, sweating and seeking relief. As many enjoyed their newfound freedom in search of an oasis, others milled around discussing the cohesive and enthralling performance. Andrew Maxson, long-time Modest Mouse fan of six years, commented, "Never have I seen those guys so clear-eyed, confident and together"