James Mercer’s Embarrassing Garden State Scene
Twenty-two years after a moment that shifted musical history, The Shins frontman James Mercer is still reflecting on a scene that caused him a unique mix of pride and sheer embarrassment.
The memory stems from the 2004 film Garden State, a movie that featured Natalie Portman and Zach Braff. During the film, Portman delivers a line that rings through the annals of indie history, referencing the band and their seminal track, New Slang.
For Mercer, the scene itself was a moment of profound public attention. He recalled that while the scene was prophetic, changing his life in the long run, he felt quite conspicuous when the film referenced The Shins. He admitted that seeing the scene, where Natalie Portman explicitly mentioned the band and their song, made him feel a little embarrassed.
“I just felt so conspicuous when they refer to the Shins. It was too much. It made me feel a little embarrassed,” Mercer reflected on the experience.
Despite the momentary discomfort, Mercer acknowledged that the scene carried immense weight. He noted that even though he didn’t enjoy the moment as much as Portman’s character did, the cinematic moment served as a powerful reminder of the music’s trajectory.
Ultimately, the scene proved to be more than just a fleeting cinematic moment; it was a prophecy that charted the course for The Shins and influenced the landscape of indie music that followed. It remains a touchstone, a reminder that even the most private moments can resonate across decades.
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