Modest Mouse at MGM Fenway: A Jubilant Retrospective for All Ages

Fans spanning multiple generations filled the venue, eager to revisit the music that defined a turning point in the band’s career and alternative rock as a whole.

Opening with the contemplative “The World at Large,” Modest Mouse set a reflective tone, immediately immersing the audience in the introspective and often whimsical world of Good News. Frontman Isaac Brock’s signature vocal rasp brought urgency and poignancy to the songs, a reminder of why this album still resonates two decades later.

The room exploded with energy as the unmistakable opening notes of “Float On” rang out. A song synonymous with resilience and optimism, its universal appeal brought the crowd together, with everyone singing along to its buoyant refrain. The tempo shifted seamlessly into “Ocean Breathes Salty,” another fan favorite that bridged the philosophical and melodic.

The band performed the album in near entirety, offering dynamic renditions of tracks like the sinister “Satin in a Coffin,” the chaotic energy of “Dance Hall,” and the off-kilter charm of “Bukowski.” Brock’s banjo took center stage on the twisted jazz-infused “This Devil’s Workday,” an unexpected highlight that showcased Modest Mouse’s experimental edge.

“This album represents both light and shadow,” Brock noted between songs. That duality was palpable in the somber beauty of “Blame It on the Tetons” and the rollicking catharsis of “Bury Me With It.” The set culminated in the melancholic, yet strangely hopeful, “The Good Times Are Killing Me,” closing the Good News portion of the night with a communal exhale.

But Modest Mouse wasn’t finished. Returning for an encore, they delivered a mix of post-Good News material and earlier classics. “Satellite Skin” and “The Whale Song” demonstrated the band’s ability to push boundaries, while “King Rat” carried its acerbic wit and jagged rhythms to full effect. They ended the night with “Cowboy Dan,” a throwback to their rawer early years, sending longtime fans home on a nostalgic high.

This anniversary tour is a reminder of Modest Mouse’s enduring influence and the timeless nature of their music. For one night, fans of all ages gathered to revel in the soundscapes of an album that captured—and continues to capture—the messy, beautiful contradictions of life.