We are between

The newest track from Modest Mouse, new spring gear & craft beer

If you’re of a certain age (I.E. My age!), there’s a very good chance longtime Pacific Northwest rockers Modest Mouse were one of your first introductions to indie rock, and later, to rock music put out on a major label that still sounds like, well, indie rock. For me, some of those introductory tracks are still in my Spotify rotation (like “Dramamine” and “Polar Opposites”) and now, as the headline indicates, we’ve got some new Modest Mouse (that’s the rather trippy single cover up above) to kick off your weekend in the latest edition of my music-menswear-craft beer newsletter, The Style Guide In Brief. Welcome! Or rather, welcome back.

Now, let’s hop over to Modest Mouse. The erstwhile band, led by singer Isaac Brock, returns with its first new album in six years, led by new single “We Are Between” — we’ll get to it in a moment, but I’ll come right out and say that it’s an enjoyable song that’s got me looking ahead to the new album and perhaps, to another tour (I was able to catch them back in October 2018 at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn!).

This new Modest Mouse track isn’t the only fun and fresh oddity we’ve got headed your way in today’s newsletter (as a reminder, you can also look for these dispatches in your inbox every Tuesday). I’m also offering a special promo if you scroll further down, in partnership with my friends at RadCraft. RadCraft works with some seriously cool breweries and they sell some neat beer merch, to boot — use the code BEAUFRIENDS to get $5 off your own RadCraft tee! More on that in a moment, but it’s too good to pass up, I think. Alright, to business: Here’s what to listen, read and sip this weekend.

What To Listen To This Weekend: “We Are Between” By Modest Mouse

If you find it hard to carve out time in your day to play new music, then how does Saturday work for catching up on the week’s new releases? Pretty great, in my estimation, especially if the new track is a solid return to form from a long-standing indie band. Modest Mouse have been in the game at this point nearly three decades, complete with a major-label breakthrough and some smash hits — it’s a pretty incredible run when you think about it. The band’s 2015 album, “Strangers To Ourselves,” received some mixed reviews, but I was pleased by it (and by lead single “Lampshades on Fire”), and again, it led to a surprisingly stellar, sort of greatest hits-type show at the elegant Kings Theatre in Brooklyn back in the fall of 2018 (check out the setlist from that show here). All of this is to say, I’m really enjoying this single so far, and more importantly, I’m hoping it leads to a tour, some strong shows and a long-awaited return to indie rock excellence.

What To Shop This Week: RadCraft Craft Beer Tees — $5 Off with the Code BEAUFRIENDS

Folks, if you, like me, can’t get enough of delicious craft beer (be it at your favorite brewery or delivered by Drizly, let’s say), then you should certainly keep tabs on the work being done by RadCraft. They work with plenty of standout local and regional breweries across the country to spread the good word about craft beer, and better still is the fact that you can both subscribe to the RadCraft newsletter and pick up a RadCraft tee to show how tapped in you are to the industry. You can select from a super-soft RadCraft logo tee in Royal Blue, Green or Purple — all of which you can wear with your favorite tan chino shorts or light wash jeans this summer (show them how you style it with the tag #radcrafttee). And although I’ve said it before, I’m about to say it again: The code BEAUFRIENDS gets you $5 off your purchase. Throw in a tote bag to haul your favorite brews for good measure. Cheers! Speaking of…

What To Sip This Weekend: Karl Strauss Boat Shoes Hazy IPA

Now that you’ve got your RadCraft logo tee in hand, what better beverage to imbibe than some fresh, Northwest beer, yes? In fact, Karl Strauss just so happens to be a partner of RadCraft, so you can support both a great, small brewery and a company committed to spreading the gospel that is craft beer (at least, it’s gospel to me!). The Karl Strauss Boat Shoes Hazy IPA is a well-balanced hazy IPA that fits right in with the warm, breezy climes of summer. It packs a punch at 7.2 percent ABV, so consider taking it easy (boat shoes kicked off, on the beach), but make sure you’ve got some in hand alongside your new RadCraft tee (remember, that $5 off code is BEAUFRIENDS!). Again, cheers!

The Final Pick: Master & Dynamic MA770 Bluetooth Speaker

Between fresh new tunes and a fresh IPA, you’re going to need one final piece of the puzzle to bring it all together. You’re going to need one of the best Bluetooth speakers on hand this summer (if not necessarily right away this weekend), so it’s forward-thinking to outfit your space now — your home office, your back deck, your cabin den — accordingly with Master & Dynamic’s MA770 Bluetooth Speaker. You’ve likely read about Master & Dynamic here in this newsletter, as well as on my style blog, but this stylish Bluetooth speaker is a fine addition to any home. It doesn’t hurt that it’s got exceptional sound quality to back it up, to say the least. Last but not least, you can get free shipping and free returns from M&D, too.

Talk about one heck of a start to the weekend, in my humble opinion. For starters, I’d hope you’re adding the Master & Dynamic’s MA770 Bluetooth Speaker to your wish list, or else that you’re powering yours up as we speak to listen to “We Are Between” by our indie rock guys at Modest Mouse. Complete your weekend look with a RadCraft logo tee for a discount (you’ve got the code handy for $5 off - BEAUFRIENDS). It’s also finished off and toasted nicely with a Karl Strauss Boat Shoes Hazy IPA. That’s the kind of beer I’ll be on the lookout for this weekend, at least. And for one final reminder: My regular style blog, The Style Guide, publishes on the daily, and another edition of this very newsletter hits your inbox on Tuesday. Finally, once more: Cheers!