Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse 

Just saw him/them play in Forest Hills. It's my wife's favorite band and my second (after the Pixies who they tour with). But we love them so much, and she loves them so much, that her nickname is "Mouse" because she's a little girl with big brown eyes who loves Modest Mouse. We lived in Colorado, and Montana and even Washington for a bit, despite being born in Connecticut, and so even that makes us feel connected. We get the difference between Washington and Seattle, and have actually been to Helena MT. My wife and I met in high school. We're 36 now, and being at that concert, made us feel this amazing unity with the crowd. Truly, I've been to so many concerts--including Red Hot Chili Peppers in Boise, first row with Frusciante and Flea--and Isaac and MM are just the best. The most genuine, the most fun, the most heartfelt, the most do-their-thing. It was just the greatest vibe. And they're the rare band that puts out actual albums--which is increasingly rare. But TLCW and Good News for People Who Love Bad News and The Moon and Antarctica--just are amazing from start to finish. I guess what I'm trying to say is--in a world full of cynicism and fear--when so many bands are tepid and corporate, Isaac, MM, are just so genuine and heartfelt, that goodness radiates into the entire crowd like I've never seen before.

Modest Mouse has made some of the most meaningful music that i hold at the forefront of pieces i cherish in my heart. They are something we all can look back on and forever appreciate their beauty and depth!

So glad I found this video! Such a candid and casual coversation, I truly enjoyed this! Modest Mouse has been my favorite band since high school (15 years ago now!) and I finally went to a concert this past Tuesday. It was such an amazing experience Isaac and the band put on a fantastic show and I had so much fun enjoying the live performances around so many people who were also huge fans! Sad that I didn't get to see them before Jeremiah's passing, but so thankful that I have now had the chance to see them. The show was so nice, Isaac talked about his kids on stage, too. 🥰 I am so thankful he still shares himself with his fans by touring even though he misses his family so much. 💕

This was a great interview. As a longtime Isaac fan I always want more from his mind. Made me really really happy to see him happy and open up and loose. He's a treat and you had great authentic human to human questions. Isaac did a skit interviewing himself if I recall correctly, making fun of the typical band interview. So it's saying something to have him do an enjoyable interview!

Modest mouse has been the foundation of my life for the last 25 years…been to 10 shows within the last 7 years…don’t know what I’ll do with myself when they stop touring again. This interview and everything about Isaac’s Brock’s mannerisms gives me life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My head. My soul. From the depth of the deepest ocean. Thank you.

Hey good job with the interview! Been a fan of Modest Mouse for 15 years. The first time I heard "teeth like god's shoeshine". I knew something was up. Thank you for your interview of Isaac Brock

Always enjoyed the few Modest Mouse singles that came out when I was younger. But had no clue how many amazing songs they've put out over the years. Just letting pandora run automatically while renovating my first house a couple years totally exposed me. Wow, how I wish I would have really found them sooner. Now I will attend any time they come to town. The beauty of them to me is that I may not always have liked a song at first but those end up being my favorites. With the exception of the golden casket. Loved every song from the first time I heard them.

Nice to see isaac in a good place and his creativity is flourishing.

Their live shows have been absolutely fantastic for this tour. Just saw them at the Stone Pony Summer Stage in Jersey and I literally could not be happier.

What a cool interview. Asked Isaac a question and sat back and listened.

Isaac, my son and I love you and your bands so much!!! If you remember :) In Colorado, During the VIP @ The Mission Ballroom, he asked you, "what it takes to be able to write the lyrics you write", and that you are a "Lyrical genius", and I totally agree! You simply said "read books, live your life, and watch the news,... oh wait ... DON'T watch too much news! :) I have been to over 121 live shows, and that show came in 1st place EASILY!...

"Lewiston Montana? No Lewiston New York." As I sit here in Lewiston Idaho... I had tickets to see them back in 2003, give or take a year, at edgefield mcmenamins, in troutdale Oregon. Unfortunately they had to cancel, and I've not been in another place in my life to see them. It's heartbreaking, TBH. Such a great band, whose lyrics always hit me in such a real way. I'm from Portland, Oregon, and have seen him around a time or two.

Isaac i have got to say you are a true gentlemen! Great interviewer. Wise and patient man.

Something I have alwayss really loved about Isaac and everyone from MM (rest in peace jeremiah) is how they treat their fans. My sister did the whole VIP meet and greet thing and she loved it. And sure the band wants you to do that but they will still talk to their fans even if they dont pay the extra money. There is a MM facebook group and during every tour there are dozens of photos where people went near the tour buses behind the venue and Isaac has always came over and talked to them and taken photos with them. I think Isaac realizes these people are the die hard but broke fans. I used to do this with all my favorite bands until I accidentally interrupted some ones family time (which is super precious while on tour) and now I just enjoy the show and leave. But if I ever see MM again I might do this if its possible and the vibe is right. I am bored so I am gonna type out my story about interrupting someone family time. This wasn't a concert but a performance of sorts. Back in 2017 Michael Stevens and Adam Savage were doing this touring show called Brain Candy Live where they just put on a display of science stuff, more intended for kids but as a big fan of both of these guys I wanted to go see it with my dad even as an adult in their late 20s. The day of the event I went to get tickets, kinda loitered at the corner maybe 200 feet from the buses for a few minutes. I saw michael with a group I assumed was the VIP ticket holders. A girl noticed me and asked if I wanted to talk with Michael. He legit made me feel like the most important person in the scenario and then told me the group was his family. I realized what I did and tried to get out of there but michael is a saint and didn't seem bothered at all. He was asking me about my hobbies and if I was there to see the show and a bunch of other stuff. We talked about other youtube channels we liked it was far more than a brief photo. He gave me a stuffed animal thing of his companies mascot and signed it. I tried to take a selfie with him but I was too shaky. His sister (I think) offered to take the photo and michael even retweeted the photo which was amazing. This story could be much much longer. I skipped a lot of smaller details. Anyways while this experience was absolutely incredible I realize I got very lucky and that Michael is truly an amazing person. It made me realize that doing this is kinda selfish and you never know what you might be interrupting so I stopped doing stuff like this. But with that being said I might just break that rule for MM.

18:33 The day this album came out, it was obvious this was the " I have kids now " song and it was way less ridiculous then I thought it would be. It doesn't "interrupt" the album at all. In fact, It's one of my favs. Kinda crazy how attetion to detail can actually work. Take fucking note.

I went to a MM show in Council Bluffs,IA that was delayed like 2 hours. They then came out and gave one of the most inspired live performances Ive seem of them. After the show there we as a gap in a fence I went to see if I could get a glimpse of the band. I saw Isaac...I shouted "Isaac could I get a hand shake" ... He literally ran over while saying " ill shake the shit out of your hand".... I stood there strung out and flabbergasted. If I was half as engaging as he was I could have probably went and had a beer with him. They were super impressed that all of us hayseeds stuck around to watch. Will never forget.

Great content. Thank you for posting this

Great interview! Modest mouse was one of the biggest influences I had in my childhood. Remember getting ‘Good news for people who love bad news in 4th grade(I’m 29 now) and playing it over and over, then diving in to the older albums and looking up the meaning to songs online. Thank you Mr. Brock and the rest of the modest mouse band. You guys have provided literally thousands of hours of entertainment and gave a young kid from Oklahoma with a super religious family a different perspective. One of the most influential aspect of my younger years all the way into high school. Forever grateful. Will be at your concert in Napa.

Had to say thanks for this awesome video. I totally enjoyed that you two sounded like long lost childhood friends who were catching up on life. I've been listening to Modest Mouse since 98 and their songs have been a life soundtrack. I must admit that I hadn't really given Lace Your Shoes a good listen. As a middle-aged Dad with 4 & 6 years old boys, that song hit the heartstrings hard! I'm crying at work! 😭🤣 So thanks for bringing up that song in your interview!

Nice interview. Wish he would've said more about Ugly Casanova though.

So loved seeing Modest in the late 90s in the greater Seattle area

This band made me the modest, friendly, music lover I am today. Sooooo many hours spent listening to my burned mm cds lol and still I love them. Have a mm craving today.

How does this only have 7k views! Awesome interview! Love how candid it is, and like seeing him being open and honest. I've been listening to them since Moon and Antarctica came out from my brother when I was really little. Loved them since, I will watch more interviews from you keep it up.

I saw modest mouse in philly in 2007 and Issac was drunk AF but he killed it as best he could LOL

Love MM love Issac and everything he’s done for music

It’s honestly really nice of him to not explain songs. Thanks for supporting our experiences.

This was very cool. The more conversation type interviews/discussions seem to always be better. Very cool.

I love the Tree People too! Isaac is the first person I've ever heard mention them other than the punk rock radio show that first turned me on to them in 1992. I never got to see them play live, but I've seen Built to Spill a couple of times and they are just as amazing live as they are on the albums. You dida a great job on the interview. hope to see him back on your show again sometime!

Man, you scored a good interview! I've loved modest mouse for decades. Favorite band always. Keep it up Isaac! The new album is so as lit as the last! Worth the wait everytime!

Asks questions about Isaacs role as a father: Isaac * cracks open a Guinness and lights a cigarette* 😂 very real tbh. I love Isaac. He always seems so closed off though. He clearly appreciates his privacy

Awesome interview, I love Isaac and MM, one of the greats

So difficult to find a good interviewer, but Thom Jennings nailed it! Very respectful, intelligent questions, very sensitive to sensitive subjects (knows how to stop or change the subject...) Keep the good work, man! Congrats!

He’s been kicking ass for thirty years great shows

That was a fun one bud! Heard some stuff and stories I've never heard great conversation thanks!

I saw MM last night at the Toyota Music Factory and they were AMAZING!!!

I love that he tries not to explain his songs

Very cool!

He mentioned Built to Spill🥺

Oh, what I would give to have a conversation with Isaac.

I never knew he had a lisp 😅 it’s charming

Great interview, man! Subbed!

Just saw them in the sunshine at Lollapalooza in Stockholm and they absolutely smashed it. I’ll be at the show in London at the Shepherds Bush Empire on the 18th which is all set to be a cracker!

hmm we've got the land but they have the view??? maybe he was talking about the falls in the song the view.

modest mouse is my second favorite band ever behind the chili peppers!!!! so many countless anthems and they just make me feel a certain way. evokes emotions that no other band, besides perhaps, the national, pull out from the deepest part of my soul. there is this nostalgic, longing for home, drifting along, heart wrenching, mourning, multiple other adjectives

Seen em at artpark over the summer in Artpark, in Lewiston... it had been awhile

"Why are you judging people so damn hard/your taking your point of views a bit to far" Modest Mouse.

Isaac Brock is a good dude. I wish him continued success.

It's Lewiston, ID he's thinking about (panhandle near WA). There is no Lewiston, MT.

I love modest mouse

Listener since 2000, the lyrics that sticks with me is: if God takes life he's an Indian giver: reminds me when they where discussing religion

Brock’s got the glue to keep it going

Ah I love u Issac Brock

I can't believe I missed out on MM for so long. Damn you, fundamentalist xtianity!

Well!

wow this was a nice surprise to stumble upon as someone who has loved this band since i was a small child lmao

I ❤ isaac

i would without hesitation ride into battle with Isaac any day.

i love isaac's handle lol

“We’ve got the land but they’ve got the view”

"He asked to lift 10 times his weight and natural body armor, on the day his mother gave he came out as an insect"

Album coming out June 1st : "I don't like your friends"

Really enjoyed the innocence with which Mr. Tom Jennings here asked the Niagara Falls question lol it’s funny he didn’t know, as this was one of the major “headlines” of Isaac’s 00’s career. This was because what Isaac referred to here as “they threw the book at me” was (by Oregon law, not that Isaac literally did this!) “attempted murder”, because anyone in Oregon gets or got that upon getting a DUI. “I think it’s public record” lmao he had to fend up questions about this in every interview until the mid 2010’s I believe.

Just took my kids on November 21 it was amazing! By the way, Lewiston is in Idaho Brock😉😆

I hope he understands that it's okay to not want to tour.

Isaac is right behind Dylan for greatest lyrics of all time...

RIP Jeremiah

That 8 years was killer 🤣🤣

I saw this guy Isaac in person complaining about homeless people in the park

I gotta hear more about Issac locked up for twenty days because of how he pronounced the word fudge. What a scoop.

After hearing King Rat i was assuming he'd sound like how he sings LOL

Them missing KC doesn't phase me. It would have made a great deal for me in my year, but I gotta say. If it was better for them (which it was) good for them.

He use to hate and avoid interviews, I wonder what changed

Still wanna know king rat tho

“I don’t like your friend” 😂

LEWISTOWN …not Lewiston. 😪

His interviews & intellect don’t do justice to the music.

Love MM love Issac so much but hes not a great speaker lolol!

carbon

Nice that he addressed pre show substance use. Too bad he smokes taylor mades.

He backed his car into a cop car the other day

I really like how isaac thought "pandemic" was a bit much and reffered to it as a lock down instead lol

That is really Isaac? Jesus

he’s way too old to be on drugs taking speed and doing whatever the hell he does