Pitchfork

"Does anybody know a way that/ A body could get away/ Does anybody know a way?!"

Isaac Brock attempted to answer his own "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes" query in drastic fashion at a recent Modest Mouse show in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, according to several eyewitness reports. While performing the Moon and Antarctica standout at Ramkota Exhibit Hall on March 18, Brock allegedly began hitting himself in the face with his microphone, then proceeded to draw a knife and cut his own chest.

According to reader Joshua Cole, after deliberately bonking his head, Brock "then walked back to his amp, grabbed a pocket knife, and cut a 12 inch cut across his chest. His assistant had to grab the knife and stop him. He was bleeding the rest of the concert, and later fell off the stage into the barrier before singing in the crowd."

"The show carried on despite Isaac's bleeding and various people's concerns," said Cole.

A separate report on Sioux Falls blog Link described the incident further: "It appeared [Brock] had some sort of object in his hand that he used to make two swift cuts on his torso. Immediately after the frantic moves, the band's bearded stage hand/sound guy/roadie seated to Brock's left jumped on stage and grappled with Brock, making sure the singer's arms couldn't reach his body for further harm. Brock then cooled down a bit, embraced the stage hand and they talked in each other's ears for a second before each released the other and Brock returned to the mic. It all happened in about 10 to 15 seconds.

"After the incident, Brock's white T-shirt had two clear slices on its front with blood stains building around the cuts...Yet, he didn't miss a song and played through several more of the band's tunes before breaking for an encore."

A super sloppy YouTube clip of "Tiny Cities" in Sioux Falls shows Brock muttering indecipherables, presumably just before he put the knife to his own chest. Another clip depicts Brock subsequently performing "Float On", looking a bit dazed, perhaps, but not seriously hurt despite a blood-like substance clearly visible on his shirt. 'Twas only a flesh wound?

Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank hits shops today, March 20. According to the band's publicist, they have no statement and will continue their North American tour in Seattle tomorrow night.

For something truly gruesome, check out the new Ford advert featuring "American Idol" contestants kidz-bopping to "Float On".

Modest Mouse:

03-21 Seattle, WA - South Lake Union Naval Reserve
04-15 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
04-16 Vancouver, British Columbia - Pacific Coliseum
04-20 Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
04-21 Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
04-22 Chicago, IL - Auditorium Theatre
04-26 Rochester, NY - Main Street Armory *
04-27 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
04-29 New York, NY - The United Palace
04-30 New York, NY - The United Palace
05-02 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
05-03 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
05-04 Greensboro, NC - Special Events Center
05-05 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade Music Park
05-06 Birmingham, AL - BJCC Arena Concert Hall
05-08 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
05-09 Austin, TX - The Backyard
05-10 Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Live
05-12 Mesa, AZ - Mesa Amphitheater
05-13 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
05-14 San Diego, CA - Cox Arena at San Diego State University
05-16 San Jose, CA - San Jose State University
05-20 Somerset, England - Butlins Minehead (ATP vs. the Fans)
05-23 London, England - Royal Albert Hall
06-01 Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound

* with Love as Laughter