By Taylor Long

Many bands struggle to find a balance between the old and new-how does a band keep the old fans coming back, but keep the new fans intrigued? So many groups get caught in a war between their old material and their new, between the seeds they sow as a small band and the riches they reap as a successful one. If there’s one thing that is admirable about Modest Mouse (and there’s more than one, to say the least), it’s that they have managed to attract many a discerning ear of the pretentious music snob, but also received enough attention to sell a substantial amount of albums and play countless sold out shows in medium to large venues across the country. If there has recently been any concrete proof of this, it was their show at Radio City Music Hall on Nov. 9.

Just months prior to the show at Radio City Music Hall, Modest Mouse packed what must have been a record amount of people into Webster Hall for a secret show with Wolf Parade in September. Though Modest Mouse didn’t seem to have sold out the epic Radio City Music Hall, it was still far from empty. Fans sat patiently through the opener, The Buff Medways, who had the whole British garage punk gimmick full on-accents and everything. The group is headed by Billy Childish of Thee Headcoats, and Thee Milkshakes, two prolific English groups from the ’80s. For an opener, they were surprisingly good, sounding like a B version of the Buzzcocks at their highest points. Also surprisingly good was their cover of “Let Me Stand Next To Your Fire,” which was a fitting choice. The crowd seemed to think so, as well, and absolutely ate them up.

After a quick gear change, Modest Mouse took the stage and got right on down to business, hardly saying a word and opening things right up with “Float On,” the biggest hit off of their recent release, Good News For People Who Love Bad News. Frontman Isaac Brock took no time getting into crazy, crowd-pleasing guitar moves and dishing out witty comments; “this place seems a little fancy for us,” he quipped. A known fan of alcoholic beverages and performing under the influence of them, Brock seemed to have himself under more than a sufficient amount of control to put on a jaw-dropping performance.

Modest Mouse tore through the set, playing 14 songs and a three-song encore in about an hour and a half. The largest selection of songs were from the new album, including “Black Cadillacs,” “Ocean Breathes Salty,” “Bukowski” and “The Good Times Are Killing Me.” Fan favorites were also dished out, like “Paper Thin Walls,” “Third Planet,” “Doin’ The Cockroach,” and an encore that included “Cowboy Dan.”

The quick pace was evidence of the energy the band put into the concert. At no point did they seem bored, tired or as though they didn’t want to be there. The fans loved every minute, and it was apparent that the band members did, too.

The crowd was a diverse group of people, ranging from young middle school kids to adults who could be their parents. Old time fans were out in abundance, as were fans who probably only knew the band through “Float On,” and Good News For People Who Love Bad News. Every audience member seemed to be just as into it as the next.

Modest Mouse has proven that no matter the venue, whether it’s tacky dance club Webster Hall or the “fancy” Radio City Music Hall, they can make themselves at home without so much as a squeak.

Modest Mouse played a sold out secret show at Webster Hall just months before playing a concert at Manhattan´s prestigous Radio City Music Hall on Nov. 9. (Taylor Long / The Chronicle)