Ugly Casanova

Legend holds that "Ugly Casanova" served as the alias of Edgar Graham, an unhinged devotee of Modest Mouse who forced entry to one of the group's concerts in Denver during 1998. Captivated by the lyrical promise scattered through Graham's notebooks, frontman Issac Brock recruited an assortment of Pacific Northwestern collaborators in 2000 to shape portions of that material into actual compositions. The effort yielded the album Sharpen Your Teeth, issued by Sub Pop in May 2002. In this configuration Ugly Casanova comprised Brock, Brian Deck, Tim Rutili of Califone and Red Red Meat, Paul Jenkins of the Black Heart Procession, and John Orth of Holopaw. Extending the agitated alt-country approach heard on Modest Mouse's The Moon & Antarctica, the record presents understated melodies carried by Brock's characteristic gritty delivery of those discovered lines. The ensemble played shows throughout June and July 2002 in the company of Kingsbury Manx and Iron & Wine.