New Tour For Issaquah's Greatest Band-Modest Mouse

Modest Mouse are launching a new tour to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their album, The Lonesome Crowded West. The release garnered the band a lot of attention, interviews, and acclaim for the Issaquah band back in 1997.

This new level of respect for the young band would pay big dividends on their next release, The Moon & Antarctica, which would make them alt-rock darlings. The former album sold a mere 60,000 albums - clearly to the right people - whereas Moon sold 492,000 copies to a growing fan-base.

Their next album, Good News for People Who Love Bad News, would sell 1,500,000; going platinum. But none of that would've happened without The Lonesome Crowded West.

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Critics have revisited the recording over the years, singing its praises. And it obviously still has a place in the hearts of Modest Mouse, thus an anniversary tour, hot on the heels of supporting their latest album, The Golden Casket.

We'll learn a little bit more about the critically acclaimed, but modest (sorry) selling LP The Lonesome Crowded West in a moment - so keep scrolling. But first, the all-important tour info.

Northwest Dates for Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded West Tour

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Spokane, 11/19 @ The Knitting Factory
Seattle, 11/21 & 11/22 @ The Showbox
Portland, 11/25 @ McMenamins Crystal Ball Room
Vancouver, B.C, 11/27 @ The Commodore Ballroom

Pre-sale Date for Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded West Tour

Venue pre-sales start Wednesday 9/7 at 10am.

Tickets On-Sale Date for Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded West Tour

Tickets go on sale to general public Friday 9/9 at 10 am.

What is The Lonesome Crowded West?

The Lonesome Crowded West is the 2nd album from Modest Mouse, released in 1997 on the now defunct Seattle indie-label Up Records.

Where was The Lonesome Crowded West Recorded?

The Issaquah band's 2nd album was recorded at Moon Music in Olympia, a recording studio which shuttered in 2001. But for fans who want to walk on "hallowed ground," the address was 403 Columbia St SW.

**How Long Did it Take to Record The Lonesome Crowded West?**

For Modest Mouse's follow-up to their debut album This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About, the band recorded 17 tracks in 17 days. The final CD has only 15 tracks, while a double album vinyl release features an additional song.

Engineer Scott Swayze has said that those were long days, with mics cracked at 11 am (early for musicians) and wrapping up at 11pm.

What is Pictured on the Cover of The Lonesome Crowded West?

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The two towers of the Westin Seattle hotel are featured on the cover of the Modest Mouse album The Lonesome Crowded West.

**Is The Lonesome Crowded West a Concept album?**

It is certainly a snapshot of a moment in time. "Issaquah, that I grew up in, started out as a cute little town and I got too see it very quickly just get mall-fucked... Not just the town, the whole area in general. It happened so quick, and it just kinda pissed me off," Modest Mouse guitarist and singer Isaac Brock told Pitchfork.

"Seattle was expanding and Issaquah, Washington, where the band is originally from, was being absorbed into the blob. It’s all there in the music," echoes engineer/producer Scott Swayze in an article he wrote for VMP (Vinyl Me, Please).

**What are the Themes of The Lonesome Crowded West?**

Industrialization
Urban Sprawl
Drug Use
Alcoholism
Religion
Capitalism
Shamelessness
Love
Self Doubt

**Take a Listen to The Lonesome Crowded West from Modest Mouse**

**Complete List of Modest Mouse: Lonesome Crowded West Tour Dates**

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