Festivals are great because you get to just walk around the corner and see a new band that you've heard but not had the chance to check out.

If people can finally recognize you on radio without being told who it is, thats what you aim for.

I had a feeling about what I wanted to say, and I wasn't really qualified to discuss real things out of America because I didn't grow up there.

I seem to attract and be attracted to very willful, fascinating people.

I'm not interested in trying to have people who might like other kinds of music follow me. I don't want to please them.

Growing up in public is a test, and not many people know how to do it.

Guitars have been the obsession of my life. I first picked one up at the age of four and Ive been a guitar junkie ever since.

Coming from a working-class background, where my father did manual labor, was a good grounding; I was obsessed with getting a job or getting out of the house at 15.

Joining Modest Mouse was just consistent with what I used to do as a teenager: I followed where I thought I would make some interesting music.

I never took fans for granted. I always assumed subconsciously that people who followed what I did were just people who were kind of like me.

The biggest musical influence on me was my mum. We were both enraptured by music.

Fear nothing

When you have a good heart, kindness becomes a responsibility you take up.

Better a long life of toil than a short one of ease.

Nobody is more truthful when he's acting than De Niro.

I'm a recovering lawyer. The practice of law has changed. Every agreement is a fight.

Our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for attacking his Enemy than for letting it alone.

The customs and practices of life in society sweep us along.

The greatest artists like Dylan, Picasso and Newton risked failure. And if we want to be great, we've got to risk it, too.

Then, Sir, we will give them the bayonet!

I aimlessly travel, meaning I have no agenda other than to get small in the world, be quiet and observe people.