Possible roadtrip songs

Here we go ...

Marty Robbins, El Paso
99 Problems, Danger Mouse
At least that's what you said, Wilco
My Maria, Brooks n' Dunn
Hair down, Cold War Kids
Donde esta la playa, Walkmen
Wigwam, Bob Dylan
The Rat, Walkmen
I Get Around, Tupac
Benny and the Jets, Elton John
Life of Arctic Sounds, Modest Mouse
Lil Wayne, Lollipop
Some Broken Hearts Never Mend, Don Williams
Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash
Song of the South, Alabama
Tiny Dancer, Elton John

Neil Young and the restless

Last night's Neil Young concert at the Xcel Energy Center was effing amazing. While I waited years for this show (it was on my concert bucket list), I never expected the performance turned in by Canada's finest export.
Young, 62, hit the stage just after 9 p.m. in a paint-splattered jacket, a t-shirt, jeans and New Balance. The set featured numerous hits "Hey Hey My My (both blue and black)" "Old Man" and "Cortez the Killer" stood out. He also played my favorite "Needle and the Damage Done."
Two hours later I had seen what was probably the greatest concert of my life.
Setlist, video are here.

Johnny Marr gone ... well, almost

So it's been some 50 days since I last posted on the ol' blog. I've been busy: band, life, dog, work, breathe. I've always felt a bit slighted since the last MM show I saw at the Xcel Center. In a nutshell: I thought Johnny Marr basically sucked and the band phoned in its performance.
Which brings me to this news. Johnny Marr is joining the Cribs "full time." That doesn't necessarily mean he won't be working with Modest Mouse, but you have to assume it's likely. Marr said in an interview a while back he believes every band he's been in has been the best band in the world at that time. So good luck, and good riddance Prince Marr.
Does this mean we can expect the Mouse will return to true form (no concept albums, no guest guitarists, no six-piece lineups) and just play good rock music again sometime soon?
Gosh I hope so. That would be swell.
Update: The Cribs say Marr is still in MM
This from "Spinner":
Marr will hit the road with the Cribs when the album is complete, but those worried about Marr's contributions to Modest Mouse should fear not.
"He is still in Modest Mouse," Gary noted. "I'm very, very aware of this situation because I'm friends with the Modest Mouse guys. I love the band and I wouldn't ever wanna do that. They're between records now and we're working really fast with Johnny. He's like, 'It's all fine. Don't worry about that.' So if he's confident it won't be a problem, then I'm quite happy to go along with that."

Sounds from MM EP?

Apparently rumours of a Mouse EP have been SWIRLINNNNGGG since February. This is evidenced by a recent performance of "Satellite Skin," a working song that sounds a bit like Adam Sandler's break-up tune from The Wedding Singer and an Indian (dots not feathers) influenced rhythm part by Sir Marr.
I've also seen the title "The Whale Song" on a few set lists (well, at least one). Here's a (very poorly shot, but nonetheless existent) performance from my birthday in Atlanta. Isaac's again making use of the Floyd Rose, it seems, to recreate the echolocation of a whale (entomology unkown). Good to hear Ol' Floyd again. Although the lyrical refrain sounds a bit like that of "Dashboard." It seems like The National have rubbed off on them a bit ...
Update: Another song, "Autumn Bends" has been announced in the blogoshphere, but as of yet I'm unable to track it down. EP is due out on Epic by the end of the year. I've "heard" it's going to include a number of reworked (read: not as good, crappy, but profitable) versions of songs of the last two albums.
Update No. 2: Apparently, The Mouse, Built To Spill and Isaac's pet project Love As Laughter (signed last year to his Glacial Pace "imprint" whatever that means) floated the idea of performing and recording eachothers' songs. Doesn't look like it's happening though. However, Flaming Lips are recording a record and a finishing a movie "Christmas on Mars" (featuring Isaac Brock in a cameo debut) due out on DVD before the end of 2008.

Gear

It's so important. And it has changed over the years.

Isaac uses:
A custom guitar:
Brian Wicks

Pedals:
• boss BD-2 blues driver for slight drive,
• Z Vex super duper 2-in-1 "for the really loud stuff";
• boss PS-5 super shifter;
• 3 boss digital delays,
• Morley A/B/Y selector into:

Isaac's custom-made Soursound amp.

So he is giving interviews

Yes I'm a dork. I have a Modest Mouse RSS feed. Considering MMs publicist said he wasn't doing any interviews last tour cycle (half with REM, half without) he is now apparently doing so (now that they're again out on their own). At least there's some evidence (finally) to suggest that is the case. I'm still kicking myself because I think I had an opportunity to corner him at a pop machine after the show and I didn't do it. Didn't think he could have got that far away in that short of amount of time. He's small, modest even, but very quick. Elusive. Whatever.

A book written on speculation

So, I'm really racking by brain wondering how to get around the very large road block of getting the band, their friends and family to let down their guard and talk to me. Here's quite a bit of insight into that roadblock from Isaac Brock himself during a March '07 RS interview.
Just thought I'd throw this out there.