Float On, Fret On: Modest Mouse and Built to Spill Light Up The Paramount

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Rockstar Culture in Concert Reviews // 0 Comments

▣The Paramount | Huntington, NY ▣Monday, October 20th 2025
▣Photographer/Journalist: Jessica Hansen

On Monday, October 20th, Modest Mouse took the stage with Built to Spill starting the night. A night filled with guitar-heavy reflection, lyrical oddities, and delightfully awkward stage banter was one for the books.

On this night, I witnessed something incredible – almost NO ONE having their phones out to record these sets. This was amazing to witness, even though that should be the norm. It was warming to see the crowd fully engaged and straight up vibing.

The night kicked off with Built to Spill anchored by frontman/guitarist/vocalist Doug Martsch, bassist Melanie Radford, and drummer Teresa Esguerra. The trio made the stage feel like a jam session. It was awesome to hear their sound fill the room. Every guitar solo felt like a meditation session that accidentally plugged into a Marshall stack. By the end of the set, the crowd was chilled. They were wired at the same time. This is the Built to Spill brand.

After a brief stage reset, Modest Mouse took over the stage. Isaac Brock, the frontman, stepped up first. The crowd instantly made comments about his outfit. They loved the suit & trucker hat combo. Joining him on stage was guitarist Simon O’Connor, bassist Russell Higbee, percussionist Ben Massarella and drummer Damon Cox. I want to give Damon Cox a special shout out. He took over as Modest Mouse’s drummer in 2022. This change happened after the passing of Jeremiah Green. Damon was Jeremiah’s drum tech prior, and continues to fill his shoes with pride today.

Modest Mouse kept the crowd engaged with a 15 song setlist. They followed it with a 4 song encore. The encore included their top tune, “Float On”. As a former Guitar Hero player, I was most excited to hear this. They don’t include it in all of their shows.

Brock interacted with the audience in his signature unpredictable way, alternating between bursts of gratitude and unfiltered stand-up comedy. At one point, he was concerned about someone in the crowd. He wanted to make sure they were OK. It turns out they were just straight up having a good old time.

Overall, Built to Spill gave the night its heart. Modest Mouse gave it its teeth. Together, they reminded everyone why indie rock still thrives when it’s messy, honest, and a little weird.

Check out our contributor photographer, Jessica Hansen photos now!