Nov. 16: Eric Judy of Modest Mouse is 39-years-old today.

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Modest Mouse is a Portland, Oregon-based Indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington by bassist Eric Judy, guitarist Isaac Brock and drummer Jeremiah Green.

(Press links below to view YouTube videos:)

-- "Float On"

-- "The World at Large"

-- "KingRat"

 

After meeting, Judy, Brock and Green began jamming in a "provisional" home next to Brock's mother's trailer. Judy moved away, and the three were unable to continue making music. However, Brock and Judy sent phone messages to each other with song ideas and guitar riffs. The three were reunited when Judy moved back, and went on to form Modest Mouse.

Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About, their lineup has centered around Judy, Brock and Green.  Guitarist Johnny Marr (formerly of The Smiths) joined the band in May 2006, along with percussionist Joe Plummer (formerly of the Black Heart Procession) and multi-instrumentalist Tom Peloso, to work on the album We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. Guitarist Jim Fairchild joined the band in February 2009.

In April 2004, Modest Mouse released their fourth album, the platinum-selling Good News for People Who Love Bad News, which scored two hits with "Float On" and "Ocean Breathes Salty" (both of which they performed on Saturday Night Live. The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Alternative Rock Album that year.

Onstage, Judy plays Fender and Rickenbacker bass guitars, as well as the double bass. He also plays the pump organ and the acoustic guitar on Good News for People Who Love Bad News. Judy plays guitar on "The World at Large," "Bukowski," and "Satin in a Coffin," with Tom Peloso playing upright bass on the last two of these songs. He also plays accoridan and does some background vocals on songs like "Ocean Breathes Salty."

Judy now has a five year old son, named Milo, who supplied the cooing on track twelve of Good News For People Who Love Bad News, aptly titled "Interlude (Milo)."

 

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Judy usually plays the middle to high ranges on his bass. He also uses a pick. In an interview with Bass Player online, Judy described his playing style: "I don't do anything that weird, but I don't think my playing is conventional. I pick the strings pretty hard, using a lot of upstrokes.

"I know that as a bass player I'm supposed to hold stuff down no matter what, but melody is very important to me—I tend to play high up on the neck."

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