I’m back. (Please, save the applause)

I think that, in the history of the known world, there is nothing more excruciating, more unpleasant and horrible, than returning to work after a long weekend. I think that’s very similar to what Hell must be like – just when you get relaxed enough, you’ve got to go back to the “daily grind,” as if the very thought of putting the office clothes back on and tromping into work was enough to make the hearts of the weak contract in fear.

Perhaps, though, I’m being a little overdramatic.

The show on Sunday was great – without a hint of hyperbole, it was the best show I’ve seen in years. Regardless of what motivated Jon Bream (who, by the sounds of it, hasn’t ventured past the newest album) to write his review, they played with an energy that was missing from the last time I’d seen them perform, (at the Unlimited Sunshine tour with De La Soul and the Flaming Lips,) and that energy was transferred to the crowd, a good percentage of whom were in their younger college years. This was light years ahead of most shows I’ve been to, where a lot of the fans are too worried about their image to bother with the whole “having fun” part of a concert. Such is the life for most old school Modest Mouse fans.

Mason Jennings ripped the place apart, which was a huge surprise to Kerrie and me. I expected him to be good, but I guess I wasn’t familiar enough with him to understand that he could rock out and impress the legions of paying customers who, for the most part, had no interest in seeing some pasty white guy with an acoustic guitar. Jennings has a certain Frank Black vibe to his voice, which I really liked, and he certainly captures the spirit of Minnesota while still being a dreamy indie rock guitarist.

So, in summary, it was a great show, and I spent time with great friends before and after, and I got to eat some great food, and I went to a great bookstore. All in all, I had a great weekend.