King Diamond was the name on everyone’s lips Saturday night. Many moseyed around the fest sporting painted faces in tribute to the Danish metal god, but an army of Modest Mouse devotees swarmed the Orange stage early for the Washington Staters. Frontman Isaac Brock, clad in a beanie and cactus print shirt, walked on to open the dreamy “The World at Large.”
“Greetings, people,” welcomed the guitarist as sound wafted from concurrent headliners. “I’ve missed seeing King Diamond many times, and I’ve regretted it so much!”
Revisiting 1996 gem This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About on “Custom Concern” and 2000’s The Moon & Antarctica with “Dark Center of the Universe,” it was, predictably, hit single “Float On” which most excited the crowd. “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes” closed the set, recalling the 2005 Modest Mouse covers album of the same name released by Sun Kil Moon, who played the same stage Friday.
Nearing call time, the group quickly returned for a loudly requested encore.
“In the spirit of rock & roll, we’ll play one more song before curfew,” beamed a jovial Brock, then launched Good News for People Who Love Bad News’ ironic upper “The Good Times Are Killing Me.” Despite no new release since 2009, Modest Mouse clearly hasn’t lost its fans’ interest.
“Thank you all,” the singer waved, walking offstage as band members tossed guitar picks to a crowd desperate for commemorative tokens.
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This article appears in November 7 • 2014.