Review: Modest Mouse at The Ritz in Manchester

Image: Modest Mouse at The Ritz 

A sense of apprehension, excitement and maybe even relief emanates from the vicinity of The Ritz tonight. Modest Mouse, after cancelling a previous gig in 2013 due to ongoing album work, are in town; it's undoubtedly a sell out and arrives as one of those occasions to tick off the bucket list. 

The Ritz is markedly buzzing, after all the Washington ensemble's breakthrough Good News For People Who Love Bad News and the subsequent We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank are unshakeable albums still evidently etched in playlists a plenty. Whether the later albums are as equally gratifying is up for debate, although Manchester would have gladly put 2013's studio work on hold for a slice of Isaac Brock and the band that night. 

Only Brock and drummer Jeremiah Green remain from the band's original line up, although their current legion of multi-instrumentalists lend themselves to an absorbing live show. Eight members line the stage, Brock raking in rapturous applause before the band seamlessly wade in with 'Of Course We Know' - a joy ridden saunter of intricate key play to ease proceedings, though not the blistering marquee number many are expecting. 

Isaac Brock opens up to the crowd for the first time, garnering a huge roar, the crowd have got their man. The frenetic energy transmitted from the stalls ultimately transmits to Lampshades On Fire, a boppy cut from Strangers to Ourselves. Summoning an animated performance on the double bass, not an instrument frequently mastered with such vigour, the song accentuates Brock's strangely satisfying twang greatly while the audience reverberate the song's partitioned breakdown.      

It takes a quarter of the way through for 'Dashboard' surface; a prompt reshuffle sees Lisa Molinaro pick up a violin - remarkably her third instrument of the night after synth and bass guitar. 'Dashboard's dazzling riffs and infectious hook provides the highlight of the night; a surreal moment in a sense, witnessing it played out in a live setting. 

Still though, Strangers To Ourselves seems to lack the fire-power of its predecessors, 'The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box' transmits in similar vein to 'Dashboard' with jagged guitar play and meandering vocal hooks inspiring an energetic five plus minutes. But the remainder of the album largely contributes to a calmer captivating experience venturing post-rock with older material acting as occasional pick-me-ups. 

'Ocean Breathes Salty' is a further nostalgic trip that breathes the appeal of Modest Mouse in its infancy, but as with every band, it's essential to evolve and their latest album is a nod to that notion. An eventual encore reaffirms that the Modest Mouse of old will always remain integral and in our hearts with an amazing rendition of 'Float On', and their current live set matched by the present, devoted following confirms the candle still burns bright for Modest Mouse. 

Like this? Read 'Review: Chance The Rapper at The Ritz'