A week before the show happened, it was being referred to as "Seattle's Worst-Kept Secret." But by Thursday, May 30, the local music scene was positively shivering with anticipation of that night's "surprise" Modest Mouse set at Chop Suey. Billed as "U.C. featuring Isaac Brock and Dann Gallucci," most folks assumed that since the long-awaited Ugly Casanova full-length was due to come out on Sub Pop May 28, billing it as U.C. was just a super-secret way of saying that band was playing a gig small-club style on the kinda-sly. (Oh Jesus God, just know that every time I'm forced to use the word "gig"--because I already used "show" and need to save up the other descriptors for later in the column--my guts curl up inside like a potato bug.) Then the support bands were announced, which included the Vells (more on them later), and of course the Vells (this isn't the more part) feature members of Modest Mouse and the Blessed Light. THEN the Crocodile announced that Ugly Casanova will play at that venue on June 15, and everyone's brains started squeaking and turning and it didn't take a fucking genius to realize that what we had on our hands was a wee li'l Modest Mouse event.
So everybody and their dog (I wish! Mamie loved to howl along to "Dramamine" when she was a pup) headed down to Chop Suey at the appropriate time, and the lucky few hundred witnessed a very special performance indeed. No, it wasn't stripped down or acoustic. And no, it wasn't punctuated by new material. Just like in the Olde Dayse, Eric Judy, Jeremiah Green, Gallucci, and a very proud-looking Isaac Brock kicked out a perfect set offering the very best songs off of each Modest Mouse album. The Moon and Antarctica's "Third Planet" was followed by The Lonesome Crowded West's "Bankrupt on Selling," and I blearily noticed I wasn't the only fan in the audience shedding a tear over that one. (The next day Brock told me it was only the second time he'd ever played that song live.) There was a gorgeous version of "Trailer Trash" but when he trotted out "Broke," I went into full crybaby mode and shoved my way to the front, crowd anxiety be damned! Mostly everybody up there was the picture of celebration splendor, glittering with sweat and the dew of passionate admiration, especially during "Paper Thin Walls." But at one point Brock stopped the show and hollered at some hooligans in the front, threatening that rather than get down there and kick ass himself, he'd get a bouncer to rough 'em up if they didn't cool it. Classy. The show was for his friends and his most devoted fans, and he took care of them. I'm gushing, but goddamnit I am nothing if not an adoring Modest Mouse fan. And now that Gallucci is officially in the band, all is right in the world again. Check the history books, kids, and you'll see what I mean.
Now, as promised, back to the Vells. I think I love them. And why wouldn't I? Jeremiah Green plays drums, and singer Tristian has a pop voice so sweet--the kind I haven't heard since I left Portland and the Maroons behind (see preview on page 39).
