The Mouse, The "Bogart's Sound" and A Call For The End of Blinding Concert Spotlights

When my colleague Jason asked me the other day if I was going to see the sold-out Modest Mouse concert at Bogart's on July 2, I scoffed. Not because I don't like MM — I do, quite a bit — but, to me, the combination of the words "sold out show" and "Bogart's" is about as appealing as "battery acid" and "face wash."

I don't have a love/hate relationship with Bogart's. I'm not mad at it — just disappointed (think my junk psychology tactic will work?). I won't rehash my disappointment with the venue too much — I said all I need to say right here. Basically, it is an historic contemporary venue in Cincinnati. But it feels like there have been no upgrades since 1983 (correction: There's a flat-screen TV behind the back bar now!). And, worst of all, it ALWAYS sounds like you're listening to music underwater when you go to a show there.

For a replica of the "Bogart's Sound," here's what you can do. Go see Grand Funk Railroad tonight at Mason's Corwin M. Nixon Park. Head to a Port-O-Potty far from the stage at the back of the park. Put cotton in your ears. Then stick your head in the toilet. Voila!

Music is like cocaine to me, so, on Monday, when one of my bosses waved a couple of Modest Mouse tickets in my face, I could not resist. It was like saying to Andy Dick, "I know you don't do drugs anymore, but I just laid down two lines in the back if you want them."

I took the tickets (thanks,Dan!) and — surprising no one more than myself — I'm glad I did. I won't say it sounded pristine and perfect, but damn if it wasn't the best show I've heard at Bogart's in a very long time. I'm talking maybe 20 years (the last great sounding show I can remember was Public Image Limited — with The Lime Spiders! — back in the late ’80s).

It's proof that Bogart's can sound good — or, at the very least, better. And it certainly isn't because Bogart's got a new sound system. Like many bands seemingly too big to play Bogart's, Modest Mouse brought in their own soundboard set up, sectioned off in front of the shitty house board.

I'm not alone in my lack of faith that Bogart's can provide a good concert experience. Blogs and message boards are full of complaints — often of the, "I love such-and-such-band, but they're playing Bogart's, so there's no way in hell I'm going." I missed TV on the Radio because of this.

But there was something almost pleasant about the MM show last night. The hard-ass door people weren't so hard-ass. The beer lines moved fairly quickly. The bouncers were pretty chill (except when some dude jumped on stage … though it seemed like Isaac Brock was ready to take care of that problem with the ass-end of his guitar).

And, I repeat, it SOUNDED GOOD. Wow, who would have thought that something so trivial would enhance a concert experience?

I missed the opening band, but within 10 minutes of getting inside the venue, I had two complete strangers tell me I was lucky. Strangely, both of them said they could make better music themselves.

MM took the stage at 9:15 p.m. and put on an impressive, energetic show, surprising considering they've been on the road for what seems like forever (I saw them on the same tour last August in Chicago) and they just got off tour with R.E.M. The six-member crew opened with "Satin in a Coffin" and didn't let up. Johnny Marr sounded especially fantastic, his chiming leads caressing and biting like long fingernails on satin sheets. It was a little distracting, though — all I could think for a while was, "That's the guy who wrote 'Hand in Glove!'" Oddly, Marr looked like the youngest guy on stage.

Modest Mouse's last two albums sound like The Cure's Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me record performed by stoned epileptics — I mean that in the best way possible — and the show reflected that vibe. Clean and smooth parts interrupted by bursts of spastic glee. Unlike on the R.E.M. tour, MM was playing to their fans. And their fans, for the most part, are not only fans of the band's breakthrough albums. This was evident when the band played songs from older albums, like the sizzling, dirty "Doin' the Cockroach" from the Lonesome Crowded West album, for which the crowd went ape-shit.

But the set was heavier on the newer albums (no "Float On," though) and, while Marr was incredibly adaptable to the older tunes, it was on the more recent songs that the Marr/Brock tandem became most transcendent. That instantly recognizable "Dashboard" riff, the slithering "Fly Trapped in a Jar" and the uplifting "Fire It Up" all soared like a mouse with wings (a bat?).

I am a curmudgeon at heart, so I must voice this one complaint about the show. A message to every band/solo performer/performance artist/biochemistry lecturer/Etc. — giant, blinding spotlights pointed at the audience are cool. ONCE. It really loses its effect when you set them off every five seconds. I spent about a fourth of the MM show shielding my eyes or looking away from the stage. Performers — you would not like it if an audience member spent an entire show shining a laser-pointer into your eyes. Guess what? We, the fans, don't really enjoy having 500,000 watts of spotlight in our eyes constantly. Just stop it!

Otherwise — great show, great band and (gasp) a great concert experience at a venue known for giving fans a shitty concert experience.

Here's the set list from last night (courtesy of the fan site, Innerstate 8).

— Mike Breen

Comments

[cuddles]

yeah. I had sworn off the place myself .YEARS ago. I few months ago I won some tickets to peter bjorn and john and i really wanted to see the opener Besnard Lakes [who i had seen before in toronto].
I was so very pleasantly surprised to enjoy myself , the bands and the bartenders. but the door guy did ask me to remove my white snowball fur hat ? guess he thought I had a weapon hiding under there ? gimme a break.

[Breen]

White snowball fur hat or terrorist head gear/bomb hider? You can never be too sure these days!

I think they still take pens away (if they see 'em — the 'pat down' process has gotten a little less Gestapo-ish). That one still cracks me up. And lighters.

[Hailey]

I had never been to Bogarts before, but overall I would have to say it was a positive experience.

They did take away all the pens- which became a problem after the show when the band needed things to sign with...

The guy that jumped onto stage was part monkey. I'm convinced. He was fast.

[Theresa Nemeth]

Hi Mike! I'm so happy you posted a great review. I was about to bitch you out for saying the sound was bad until I read further down and you said that this show turned out great.. this is my 11th MM show in the last year *since Aug'07* and this was the best show yet with Monday's Rostraver Ice Garden show close behind.

I'm new to Cincy (August too) and this is my 2nd Bogarts show..the door security is shit for taking sharpies ..hello you cant hurt people with them! just cause its in the name dont mean they are sharp.. I had a door woman tell me this last night ..real smart!

For more MM info/ the new song Satellite Skin and etc check out www.modmouse.com sorry I-8 but we have it going on. :) and I really wish I got to see Isaac kick the shit out of the idiot who jumped on Johnny!

Cheers

[Derrick]

I was at the MM show on the 2nd and I had a great time... drove from Detroit just to see them. I didnt have any problems with the venue other than making me run back to my car just to keep my cigarettes >_<

Seeing them play talking shit and doin the cockroach was unexpected and amazing. Isaac is crazy!

[Cate]

That's funny that you mention how young Johnny Marr looked. That's exactly what I thought at the show. From way back where I was standing, I had to seriously study the stage to find him among the other guys. I thought it was a great show.

One security guard must have thought he hit the jackpot when he asked this skinny kid, "Hey, you hiding something in your back pocket?!" after he saw a slight bulge. Turns out it was a pair of earplugs. One point to the skinny emo kid, zero to the ballbuster.