Song Spotlight: ModPods' Detox (a night at The Smell)

I happened to notice that the ModPods were playing a show at The Smell. Interesting note is that Danbert Nobacon (former singer for Chumbawamba) was also on the night's bill. According to my band catalog list that I keep, I've only seen the band perform live once and that would have likely been only for a song or two as my records indicate that I saw them in 2018 at Echo Park Rising (I was shooting for Buzzbands so I would have been jumping from one band to the next). 

ModPods at The Smell

For some reason, I feel like my band list is missing prior encounters, because the band is so rooted in my memory. Or it is possible that my memory of the band is more related to drummer Mindee Jorgensen? Throughout the years, I've crossed paths with Jorgensen via bands such as Peach Kelli Pop and Dirty Cakes. Back in 2024, I covered The Dale Crover Band for US Rocker Music (you can see that article here) and she was the tour drummer. That is, I consider the ModPods as one of a long list of bands that I associate with her. Whatever the reason for my memory of the band, I decided I was heading off to The Smell for one my unfortunately infrequent visits to this venue. 

The three piece band also includes vocalist and founder Myriad Slits as well as Daniel Guzman. Their Spotify bio says the following, "The band harnesses chaotic electronic beats, driving bass, effected guitar, and hard-hitting drums . . . They are part of a community of LA punk bands that centers women, queer, and BIPOC artists." 

ModPods at The Smell

Moment of the set: just before the band was about to start off their set, the sound and lights team asked what color of lights the band wanted on stage. After giving it a moment of thought, Myriad Slits responded by asking them to be creative. If I heard that, I probably would have spent the set switching up the color scheme. For those controlling the lights, it meant going with green for the full set.  

After giving a short history of my encounters with Jorgensen on drums, she started out the set on the electric guitar while Guzman played drums. Myriad Slits kept her lead vocal role throughout, but Guzman and Jorgensen showed off their multi-instrumental talents as they rotated between guitar, bass, and drums throughout the set (though I do think Jorgensen spent half the set behind the drum kit).

ModPods at The Smell

Myriad Slits sang staccato style that fit with their post-punk sound and her unfiltered / unrestrained stage style. Jorgensen worked her charm by getting the crowd to clap to the beats of a song by clicking her drumsticks together.    

For the song spotlight, I'll go with "Detox." The song can be found on their 2022 album Ma'am. Their bandcamp dedicates the album to "those breaking the toxic patterns that are handed to us at birth & who fight to create their own true language for love." "Detox" fits that description with the final line of the song being:

Break the pattern!      

Partial Setlist: Apocalypse, Mr Johnston Please, Unoriginal, Regrets, S2OP, Detox, Preggerz, Ma'am, Elephant Stampede.