Volume Warning: I scream at the end - I couldn't trim the video more precisely on my phone so.... sorry about that.
TLDR: I requested this song during vip for my dad. Mom passed away on 6/20/23, meaning 1 year without her was coming up the following week.
When I requested it, Isaac said that they did this for Jerimiah when his dad passed. I was crying the whole damn time they played this.
So, thank you, Isaac, for listening to my request, and thank you MM as a whole for the music you make and perform.
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If you want something to read, here's some of my lore:
Modest Mouse has been my favorite band for over 15 years as of uploading this video - half my life or more. I remember listening to Pandora and hearing The World at Large for the first time and crying. From then on, I was hooked. No other band has come close since. I have other favorite bands, but MM are in a league of their own.
I saw them perform in Philly in 2022 for the LCW tour - it was my first time seeing them since 2018. My dad drove me to the venue. It was raining and we were sat in the truck and I said, "you should come in, I'll buy you a ticket."
I convinced him to come in and stand in the crowd. I was at the barrier and he was wherever. He never heard MM before this - he was blown away by them. Trailer Trash became his favorite song. It was the first time seeing my dad truly enjoy something in a long time. He hasn't stopped talking about MM since.
In early 2023, mom was rediagnosed with lung cancer after being in remission for 7 years. She said it felt different this time - and it was. No amount of chemo or radiation was slowing it down. It was an incredibly tough thing to see as I saw her every day, since I still live at home.
As mom's condition worsened, my dad retired from his job to take care of her. He started exploring more MM besides LCW; Ocean Breathes Salty became his new favorite song. He has "Ocean Breathes Salty" scrawled into the door of the shed. Not only did that song speak to him because he's been a clammer his whole life for fun, but more importantly, it reminded him of mom and her untimely end.
Mom held on and fought death's grip for as long as she could, but the last week of her life was spent in agony as she lost her mind and ability to breathe. There was nothing we could do. She was on hospice, but it all happened so fast. I wouldn't wish for anyone to go through or see something like this. I cannot begin to fathom how she must have felt.
In January of this year, my dad asked me what I wanted for my birthday, since I turned 30.
I said, "I want to see Modest Mouse at least twice on one of their tours this year - I think I need that right now". They announced touring again with the Pixies a few days later. I got vip with my dad for Philly and vip for MD (with dad in GA). It was the best birthday present I could ask for, not even knowing how phenomenal both performances would be!
In Maryland, I decided to ask a question even though I'm incredibly shy and don't like attention. I don't ask for anything in life, but I wouldn't have gone to that concert if it wasn't for my dad, and this would mean a lot to both of us.
The worst that could happen is Isaac says no, and well, at least I could say I tried.
When Isaac opened for questions and picked me, I explained that mom's "death anniversary" was coming up, to which he playfully said, "woo", which was honestly so funny, so small playful banter ensued, but I said I wanted to repay my dad (for paying for and taking me to this concert) and I'd like him to hear Ocean Breathes Salty.
Isaac said something along the lines of, "You know what we did when Jerimiah's dad passed away? We played Ocean Breathes Salty."
And damn if that didn't tug on the heart strings.
Several people came up to me and thanked me for requesting the song. A lot of people gave small stories about how they lost their loved one and that song reminded them of that person. I didn't expect that. I expected people to be upset that I requested a song because idk, why should I be special? So that really calmed my anxiety about it.
I didn't tell my dad I did this - he had no idea. They played Ocean Breathes Salty and Trailer Trash in this set. After the concert, my dad said, "I can't believe they played Ocean Breathes Salty... it had me crying the whole time"
I said, "I requested that for you and for mom"
He laughed like I was joking and I said, "I'm being serious right now"
And he teared up and got quiet. I could tell it meant a lot to him.
So, me screaming thank you at the end was for this reason. Doubt he heard me, but this meant so much to me and to others. It may have been on the set already, or maybe I really did get it added, but either way I'm so grateful for this. Thank you MM!!!
RIP mom (1/8/59-6/20/23), I miss you every day. And RIP Jeremiah Green, I'm sure this one isn't an easy song for the band to play.
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Live from the Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD. 6/14/24
15 июн 2024
