Modest Mouse and Built to Spill Ignite Canadian Thanksgiving Weekender
- jaybroderick
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
By: Jay Broderick
Toronto, Canada - History Toronto was the perfect setting to wrap up a long weekend of indulgences, in the relation to both food, and live music. My counterpart here Michael Drukarsh headed to Orillia on the Friday for Nazareth, and I attended the thrash metal blowout with Sacrifice on Saturday. To close off the long weekend celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving, Monday night brought a sold-out celebration of alternative rock, headlined by Washington's Modest Mouse and supported by indie legends Built to Spill. The weekend couldn’t have ended on a more exhilarating note.
Built to Spill
Built to Spill, the seasoned trio from Idaho, opened the night with a set that felt like a warm, melodic embrace. Their psychedelic indie rock sound was immersive and hypnotic, with drummer Teresa Esguerra positioned front and centre, facing her bandmates... a subtle but intimate staging choice that mirrored the band's musical chemistry.
Doug Martsch, the band’s iconic frontman, was visibly engrossed in the music, often closing his eyes and swaying with each chord. After the band's second song "reasons", Martsch casually skipped the planned 3rd track with a “let’s skip this one,” showcasing the band’s fluidity and comfort on stage.
Half an hour in, Martsch greeted the crowd warmly, expressing joy at sharing the stage with Modest Mouse before diving into a cover of Heartless Bastards' "The Mountain". The crowd responded with enthusiastic cheers and applause as they had for the previous songs in the band's set.
Their performance was a testament to the power of authenticity. Three musicians deeply connected to their craft, playing not for spectacle but for the sheer love of music.
Modest Mouse
As Modest Mouse took the stage, the energy in History surged. The venue, already packed for tonight's opening act, somehow felt even fuller. The band’s six-member lineup included dual percussionists and a versatile keyboardist who occasionally switched to guitar, adding layers to their textured sound.
From the first note of the band's opening track "3rd Planet", the crowd was hooked, smiling, dancing, and nodding in sync with the band’s groove-heavy tracks. By the third song "Dark Centre of the Universe", bassist Russell Higbee's hair was down and frontman Isaac Brock had shed his baseball cap, signaling a shift into full performance mode.
As the band progressed through their set, with an atmosphere created by twirling white spotlights, and a pattern of thunderous applause (including distinctly audible "WOOOOOO"s) at each song's beginning and end, I noticed that each track seemed to have its own unique lighting theme. As a photographer, great lighting is paramount. As a fan, the light show always give an air of awe.
Brock was a man of few words, only occasionally offering “I’m in a very thankful mood,” or heartfully dedicating songs to Canadian punks No Means No which brought only a smattering of applause. "Oh, I'm so sad" Brock exclaimed. "If you clapped, good on you!"
Set List
3rd Planet
Gravity Rides Everything
Dark Center of the Universe
Perfect Disguise
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
A Different City
The Cold Part
Alone Down There
The Stars Are Projectors
Wild Packs of Family Dogs
Paper Thin Walls
I Came as a Rat
Lives
Life Like Weeds
What People Are Made Of
Encore:
Dogbed/Sheetrock
Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset
Little Motel
Doin' the Cockroach
Despite a killer 19 song set-list, which the band switches up for every show, I can't help but be disappointed by the missing "Float On"... yeah, yeah, yeah.... been there, done that. As being one of the band's most popular songs, they have expressed that they find performances of the song to be forced. At the end of the day though, I give a ton of respect for a band who stick firm to their art. So if you missed it as I did:
Modest Mouse lived up to every bit of their live reputation. Their set was tight, dynamic, and emotionally resonant. The contrast to Saturday’s Sacrifice show was stark, yet equally electrifying. This wasn’t just a concert... it was a celebration of rock’s enduring spirit. From the chill vibes of Built to Spill to the danceable grit of Modest Mouse, the night proved that alternative rock is not only alive but thriving.
Who says rock and roll is dead?
Concert Photo Gallery (all photos by: Jay Broderick)
Modest Mouse Online
show date: October 13, 2025