Win Tickets ($90): Modest Mouse @ Pioneer Courthouse Square | Rock, w/ Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (Saturday)
We are giving away a pair of tickets to each night of Modest Mouse @ Pioneer Courthouse Square on August 19-20. To win, comment below on this post why you’d like to attend. Winner will be drawn and emailed August 15.
———————————————
From our sponsors:
Modest Mouse
w/ Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (Saturday Only)
August 19-20, 2022
Doors 5PM, Show 6PM | $45 | All Ages
More info: pdx-live.com
Pioneer Courthouse Square
701 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Over the past quarter century, Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock has served as indie rock’s resident backwoods philosopher, pondering his infinitesimal place in the world at large and seeking balance in a universe governed by polar opposites. On Modest Mouse’s earliest records, he was surveying the changes in the world’s physical landscape from the windows of the tour van, lamenting the displacement of natural beauty with big-box blights. The Golden Casket, the band’s seventh-studio album, is exploring the degradation of America’s psychic landscape through the glass of the smartphone screen. Throughout the record, you’ll pick up on all sorts of references to cellular devices, hashtags,computers, texting, and online dating culture. But this is no typical Luddite’s manifesto decrying iPhone addiction, disinformation overload, or how social media is destroying political discourse.
The album is, however, very interested in the invisible technology that’s allowed all of that to happen: the cellular signals, radio frequencies, and WiFi waves that are likely beaming through your body as you read this.“Everything is giving off a frequency,” Isaac observes.“Everything is vibrating whether you know it or not. We’re swimming in some crazy shit rightnow—it isn’t visible, but it’s real. I think everyone’s minds are getting a little scrambled right now. And I feel it every fucking day.”That sensation finds its most vivid, visceral manifestation
The Golden Casket’s stunning centerpiece track, “Transmitting Receiving,” where Isaac rifles through a never-ending list of consumer products, animals, and geographic phenomena like an auctioneer being broadcast through a de-tuned radio, before a competing vocal track cuts through with a beaming chorus line—”nothing in this world’s going to petrify me”—that finds the serenity in cacophony. Many of these songs can likewise be seen as attempts to coax peace from paranoia.
You can hear it in the moment the apocalyptic blues of “Wooden Soldiers”dissolves into a blissfully existential coda mantra (”just being here now is enough for me”) that was inspired by the ceremonial burning of hallucinogenic African tree bark, or in the off-kilter yet heart-swelling lullaby “Lace Your Shoes,” a.k.a. Isaac’s inaugural entry into the dad-core canon. “When we started putting this record together, I didn’t know how to really sing about anything except my kids,” he admits. “And so I was like, ‘I should just write a fucking song about the thing that is most important to me.’ It’s a weird thing to do, because cheap sentimentality isn’t really something I’m overly comfortable with, you know?”
However, in his hands, “Lace Your Shoes” is no mere lovey-dovey ode to his little ones, but a protective embrace from the cruel world they’ll inevitably inherit. Even at its most urgent and aggressive,The Golden Casketis always looking for the light, as Isaac couches the spiteful sentiments for the playful“Never Fuck a Spider on the Fly” while steering the seething post-punk propulsion of “Japanese Tree” into a blissfully escapist chorus.“That song was written over the course of a long time,”Isaac says, “so whoever I’m lashing out at in that song has been multiple different organizations,people, and situations. That’s the way a lot of the songs are: one way, it’s like this; and then you change the perspective, it’s still the same song, but with a different winner.”
Categories
Tags
95 Comments
Leave a Comment
Keep in Touch!
Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates
I would love to see Modest Mouse and have Aug. 20th free. I rarely get to see concerts because of my schedule at Randall Children’s Hospital but that day is scheduled off. Would love to hear “Float On” which is my favorite by them. Thanks for giving me the chance to go.
🐭🫶🏼👋🏻
I’ve loved Modest Mouse since I was 16 years old. They’ve only gotten better with the years. Got me through some tough times! 💙
I had tickets to see Modest Mouse at MusicFestNW in 2015 but was called away to fight wildfires. Winning these tickets would definitely make up for missing that show.
Yessssss Modest Mouse!! And love RBCF ♥️♥️
Anyone willing to go to this venue deserves free tickets… and I’m just the person to risk my life to see Modest Mouse!
I would love tickets to see Modest Mouse! Tickets prices these days makes it difficult to anymore.
Love live music and have wanted to see Blitzen Trapper and Modest Mouse.
I remember first learning about Modest Mouse in high school. This would be a nostalgic evening of good tunes and time together for my partner and me.
Never seen them live but a longtime fan!
Ahh, would love to see MM live!
Pick me for either night!
A chance to see Modest Mouse… LIVE “This is Good News for People Who Love bad”
Love MM
Would love to see them! It’s been years!
Been a fan of Modest Mouse forever and have yet to see them live!
Pioneer square is such a great venue!
My 14-year-old daughter would love to see Modest Mouse.
I like good music and dancing. I would really like to attend this concert!
I had tickets to the Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever show at Rev Hall but it got cancelled so they could open for MM. What an incredible opportunity to see one of my new favorite bands open for one of my all time favorites! I would LOVE to see this show
Haven’t seen MM in years! Really wanted to go to Edgefield last year but I was worried about Covid. Now that my three year old is protected I feel safer going out. Pick me! Pick me!
Modest Mouse!!! I’ve been a huge fan since I was just a young buck driving a piece of crap car at 16, hoping my “ Good News For People Who Love Bad News” cd wouldn’t skip too much on the way to pick up my girlfriend with braces. Now I’m all grown up and STILL love Modest Mouse and can see them in PDX!?!?! Yesssssir….
They were my fav in high school, would be amazing to see in concert.
Would love these. Don’t want to be a Sad sappy sucker.
Been a fan since college radio days but haven’t seen them in years! Tix prices don’t fit into our fixed budget these days so might just hang out on nearby streets if we don’t win. 😉
REALLY want to see the Blackouts!! I hear the other band is good, too!
All 3 bands are a real pioneer, would love to blaze the trail to this show!!
I had tickets to see them the last time they played Moda Center but fell ill and missed the show. I would love the chance to see them again and free tickets gives me some extra cash for food and drink at the concert
Mental Health Revival 👾
Fun times!
Well all float on all right!
Pick me
My husband and I saw MM years ago. It would be great to revisit the band!
Modest Mouse is a band I have never seen basically because I work too much but I just happen to have this weekend off and would love to attend this concert
I love Modest Mouse, and I’d love a chance to see them live. Please pick me!
One of my favorite bands! I’m pregnant and need joy in my life. Would love to go!
I love modest mouse, this show would be so much fun!
My boyfriends birthday is that weekend and I would love to surprise him with tickets to Modest Mouse. Getting in for free would leave me some cash for food and merch. for us as well.
I have been wanting to check out the new stage, and go to a concert post Covid. Would looove to go see Modest Mouse!
MODEST MOUSE!!
I love Modest Mouse and would love the opportunity to see them live for the very first time!
Pick me! I’d love to see Modest Mouse.
I’m 50..and life starts now! I’d love a night of music and people..
My husband I love Modest Mouse and could use a night out enjoying the music.
I need this to make my life complete
I got so drunk last time I passed out and missed the show.
We’ll all float on invisible technology-
Two nights of Modest Mouse at Pioneer Square on a nice summer evening. Sounds great to me. My sister will be in town from Medford that weekend and I would love to win and take her.
I’m having a rough year and haven’t gotten out much. It would be lovely to set some things aside and just sink into some rad Modest Mouse music. 😊
Oh man, Modest Mouse at Pioneer Square sounds fun! Maybe you’ll pick me? 🙂
I would love to see Modest Mouse play on their hometurf at Portland’s newest venue!
I’m not going to be Modest or Mousy and just beg for free tickets.
I love concerts and have never seen a show at Pioneer Square. Money is tight right now but free tickets would be awesome and I would take my friend from high school who loves Modest Mouse.
Crossing my paws to see them- long time fan
This looks like a lot of fun!
I love how portland is playing music outside near my Hilton Hotel . Good to see people enjoying life and the music is really good thank you
We’d love to get to finally see them. Times are tough financially. What a great thing you are doing for people by giving tickets away. So freaking awesome!!!!!
Pick me.
Yes please 🫶🏻
I would love to go, it would make a super special date night for my musician husband on our tight budget
who wouldn’t want to see Modest Mouse downtown Portland?!
I love, love, love, love, love, love, love, L-O-V-E MODEST MOUSE!!!!! Fingers crossed a thousand plus one times and I hope I get to see them at the Square!!!!
seeing modest mouse would be a dream come true for me and my sweetie
These would be an awesome lil throwback
I only have Saturdays off from work so I would love a pair for Aug. 20th. Modest Mouse live on a nice summers night at Pioneer Square would be something special for my coworker and I.
MM is suuuuchhh a jam and I’ve never seen them live!
I’d love to take my daughter to this show!
I would love to see Modest Mouse and am a huge fan of the opener, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. Hope I am the lucky one!
I’d like to see Modest Mouse live.
I would love to attend this event!!!
Eek
omg i loveddd modest mouse growing up
i would love to see modest mouse live. please pick me!
Would love to see them!
Modest Mouse!! Yes please!
I’d love to go!
I’d love to go and bring my best friend, our first concert together was Modest Mouse at Edgefield in 2011! Thanks for considering. 🙂
My bf loves modest mouse!
MOUSE RULES!!
Sounds hella fun. Don’t drink and drive.
🐭 me
I would love, love, love to be at Portland’s living room with Modest Mouse. I have a long time covid friend that needs to get out and enjoy an evening. She hasn’t been to an event in over two years. Please pick me!
My husband’s favorite band. Would love to treat him to a special night!
Okay, I’m in!
My honey will be home for a two day rest from fighting wildfires and would be stoked to catch this show.
I promise to give Issac a ride home in the morning after the party this time…
MOdest MOuse 🐭 in PDX livinG rOOM!!
Modest Mouse is a band I have never seen and would love to take my friend from work. We both are off on August 20th and would so love a pair of tickets. We would make sure to be up front dancing away.
Please pick me!
My husband and I have been huge fans since our college days, in the early 2000s. Modest Mouse is our all time favorite band and now our kids love them too!
I have so many nostalgic memories of listening to Modest Mouse but I’ve never gotten a chance to see them live. I’d really like to share this opportunity with my two children!
Modest has been my favorite band since middle school I can’t afford a ticket right now but even if I don’t win I’ll be watching from outside the gate!!!
Really would love to see them from the inside though 😁😁😁
I promised my buddy we’d go see them last year, but then my car broke down. Such a classic excuse it should be bronzed by now. Seeing them on Friday would be my chance to make amends!
Me please and thank you!
I’d love to attend! A concert on the Square sounds like a blast!!
Hi pick me! Would be a great birthday present for my bf. Love to see the fun (and the people!) returning to downtown!