Ogden Twilight • Modest Mouse • Doug Martsch • June 28, 2025 • Ogden Amphitheater
Reviewed and Photographed by Marlo Matamoros
Modest Mouse sold out the Ogden Amphitheater on the 28th of June. Lead singer of Built to Spill Doug Martsch would join them and open the show. This has been one of the more anticipated shows of the Ogden Twilight Concert Series. I was glad the date had finally arrived.
Modest Mouse was formed in the 90s and has since had decades of success. In 2000, they released their album The Moon & Antarctica, which was a breakthrough album and acclaimed for its sound and lyrics. In 2004, they released an album titled Good News for People Who Love Bad News, which included the song “Float On” that went on to earn a Grammy nomination for the best rock song. Their latest albums, The Golden Casket and The Good News For People Who Love Bad News: 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition, were released in the last 5 years.
Their music catalog is extensive, and their band has been around for a while, so I was excited to share the amphitheater with long-time dedicated fans. When I arrived, the temperature was in the 90s, so I knew it was going to be a warm show. The amphitheater was packed and alive 30 minutes before Doug Martsch would even hit the stage. When I arrived at the designated pit area, I noticed that there were fans with pizza and drinks in hand, ready for the show to start. If you are planning on attending any of the shows coming up at the Ogden Amphitheater, just know that you will have plenty of food and drink options to keep you full and hydrated.
Doug Martsch
It was time for the show to start and time for Doug Martsch to hit the stage. The amphitheater was ready with their Folding Fans in hand to help with the heat. It was exciting to see the amphitheater already packed and ready for the opener. Doug started his first band, Treepeople, in the late ’80s. It wasn’t until the ‘90s that he would start Build to Spill, the band that has had great success. Their albums There’s Nothing Wrong with Love, Perfect from Now On, and Keep It Like a Secret have all charted. Their success continues as there are over 450,000 monthly listeners via Spotify alone.
Doug Martsch performed a 30-minute set including the songs Dream, Offer, and The Weather. The lyrics “No one’s home and the weather’s fine / Rather wait for you / Where no one’s home and the weather’s fine / Rather wait for you / could be heard coming out of the speakers. Doug Martsch and his band will be performing in Salt Lake City towards the end of July, and I would encourage everyone to go if you have the time. Doug ended his set by waving to the crowd and telling everyone to have a good night. He would later join the VIP area when Modest Mouse hit the stage.
A 90-degree intermission followed Doug’s performance as we prepared for Modest Mouse. Staff at the Amphitheater took care of the crowd with water bottles and water spray. I enjoy getting a feel of the crowd in between sets at the Ogden Amphitheater because there is always so much going on and so many things to do. The bathrooms, food trucks, and the merch table were full of lines. One of my favorite items that I saw at the merch table was the Rotten Fruit air freshener made in collaboration with a company called Make Scents. They are sold out online but are available via their tour, so be on the lookout for those.
Modest Mouse
It was time to set up in the pit and get my gear ready. Modest Mouse would hit the stage, and one of the first things I had noticed was the ¿Por Qué No? rainbow hat that lead vocalist, Isaac Brock, was wearing. He also wore a standout suit in the Utah heat. You could hear and feel the excitement that filled the amphitheater while the vibrant lighting hit the stage. Their set would include deep cuts and crowd pleasers, including something for everyone. The songs from their set included The View, Dashboard, 3rd planet, Lampshades on Fire, and Fire It Up.
The sun would eventually go down during their set around 8:30. Their encore would include the song “Float On”. The song “Float On” has about half a billion streams on Spotify alone, with the band consistently hitting over 4 million monthly listeners on that one platform alone. The Ogden Amphitheater had the perfect stage to showcase their raw energy under the open sky. This was my first time seeing Modest Mouse live, and it did not disappoint. I was excited to be able to capture the deep and extensive run that this band is on. I always enjoy the opportunity to share a space with dedicated fans.
With this concert specifically, it was amazing to see the age variety who were deeply engaged and mouthing every lyric. Be on the lookout for their American Tour Summer 2025 that starts in August.
