Modest Mouse's records are earthy, loosely bound affairs. As their guitar-based indie-rock pieces ramble forward they sound from moment to moment as if they're on the brink of falling apart, and those chaotic moments are the most thrilling.

        In concert, Modest Mouse comes by thrills with more direct means. The Washington-state trio become a full-on rock machine, tightening up the tunes and favoring their louder riffs.

        No band had ever before played back-to-back nights at the Southgate House, let alone sell out both nights. Modest Mouse accomplished both feats Friday and Saturday, and the Friday-night show revealed why they're so huge with the college-age emo-core crowd.

        The group — singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, bassist Eric Judy and drummer Jeremiah Green — put on an energized hour-and-40 minute show sampling from five years of recordings and highlighting their two releases Epic Records, last year's full-length The Moon & Antarctica and the month-old EP Everywhere and His Nasty Parlour Tricks.

        With guests Robin Peringer doubling Mr. Brock's guitar parts and adding some slide and Chad States sprinkling in keyboard sundries, the band could recreate the more expansive textures of those records.

        What's more, those albums, with Mr. Brock's bluesy white-guy vocal stylings leading the way, sound ripe to cross over and devolve into the realm of the jam band. But unlike their Northwest alt-rock compadres Built to Spill, who in concert will turn tight four-minute guitar-juiced recordings into 10-minute jam monstrosities, Modest Mouse went the other way.

        Tunes were two minutes, one after the other. No down time, no stage chatter. No solos. A little scrap of a guitar intro, and the whole room knew the song.

        It wasn't Mr. Brock's most dynamic performance — no singing through the pick-ups of his guitar, for instance — but he did favor screaming and shouting to singing.

        He has lyrics worth shouting, if anyone could have made them out Friday.

        But studying lyrics is reason to listen to records. At a show, it's about the sensation and power of the music, and Modest Mouse understands.

Reality auditions - only the strong survive
Meet the 16 contestants
Jones keeps up with world through dance company
DAUGHERTY: Everyday
Dress for Success and more
Egg donor thrilled procedure worked
Hello Kitty collection tickles owner pink
Film festival salutes Doris Day
DEMALINE: 'Fishman' catches producer's eye
NYC's Bargemusic still afloat after attacks
'O Brother' big bluegrass winner
'Say It Loud': From Joplin to Coolio
It will be hail to the chief at Emmy Awards
Critic picks Emmy winners
KENDRICK: Alive and well
Modest Mouse sells out Southgate House
Convenience foods step way over the lazy line
No special treatment for critic in restaurants
Spanish reds good and very affordable
Sweet on sharing
Get to it