By Nicholas Misita

Photo from Fayetteville Flyer

Modest Mouse performed at Crouse Hinds Theatre Tuesday night, to a crowd of more than 1,500 fans. The members of the chart-topping indie rock band, known for hits like “Float On,” “Lampshades on Fire,” and “Dashboard” took the stage calmly and quietly.

As fans screamed out for requests, the band played songs from its’ diverse catalog of indie, punk-fueled rockabilly, and alternative pop. At any given moment, eight or more band members were on stage to captivate the crowd. Modest Mouse hosts three percussionists amongst its crew of multi-fluent instrumentalists. Although proclaimed an indie rock show, the fans clearly embraced a wide selection of music. Modest Mouse is by far, one of the more successful indie rock acts of the new millennium. With such a long-lasting career, it came as no surprise to see such diverse music fans paying homage, sporting Phish hoodies to Dinosaur Jr. long sleeves. The crowd was clearly engaged in the lyrics, yet audience members watched the band’s performance with awe and wonder. Fans were overheard stating how gleeful and surprised they were for a band as big as Modest Mouse for deciding to stop through Central New York’s Syracuse on their Fall 2018 tour.

Even with such a large theater not being sold out, the event’s curator in DSP Shows, created an experience that the fans that made it out to the show will remember for years to come. And to those who made it into the venue in time for Australian post-punk alt-rockers, TFS, were in for quite the treat. TFS brought layered song structures, smooth transitions, and complexed harmonies in their opening slot ahead of Modest Mouse’s own performance. The band featured several women with a punk rock demeanor, David Bowie personifications and antics. An amazingly talented live act, which may very well be a big reason to arrive on time for other opening acts for future shows to come.