MODEST MOUSE – Music Amongst Mausoleums at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

This is not Coachella. This is Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

I think it finally hit me on Friday evening on the way to see Modest Mouse at the infamous Hollywood Forever Cemetery, that after 5 years living in California, I truly felt most like a Los Angelean saying so casually to family and friends back east, “Oh yeah, we’re just gonna go check out Modest Mouse in a cemetery tonight”.  Clearly forgetting the cool yet absurdity of such a statement. 

Shrine to the late, great Johnny Ramone

It’s always a treat to see one of Cinespia’s movies in the cemetery like “Raising Arizona” or a classic like, “Some Like It Hot,” but this was my first time seeing a band I’ve been looking forward to seeing in such a unique setting. From the moment you park and finally arrive at the (not so pearly gates) of the cemetery, you are greeted by quite a display of elaborate tombstones and mausoleums. For me, it is an interesting mix of feelings from uneasiness (how did this or that person die?) to deep feelings about death, life, nature, love, beauty and music. All the myriad of subjects one sings about in song. The human condition in all it’s ups, downs and in betweens. 

Modest Mouse guitarist, Jim Fairchild

The Issaquah, Washington natives (now residing in Portland, Oregon) band, Modest Mouse treated a sold-out crowd to a 19-song, 90 minute set that flowed on…see what I did there? covering at least a song or two from every album in their music catalogue. It was their 2004 hit song, “Float On” that eventually put the band on the mainstream map, receiving their Grammy nomination and their first platinum-selling album for Good News for People Who Love Bad News.

The setlist ebbed and flowed with a melodic mix from 2007’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank and this year’s Strangers to Ourselves. Frontman, Isaac Brock and the rest of the eight members of the band started the night off right with a mini laser show and opened with “The Good Times Are Killing Me” which the singer cheekily added how “its nice to be at this location under good circumstances.” 

That beam of light would be Modest Mouse killin’ it on stage in the distance .

Highlights under the moon and stars included the banjo-driven, “Satin in a Coffin,” totally not fitting at all, right? The evening also included favorites such as “Wicked Campaign,” “Night on the Sun,” “Grey Ice Water” and closing encore “Styrofoam Boots/It’s All Nice on Ice, Alright.”