If there was any kind of sanity in this world, the notion of Modest Mouse opening its tour at Red Rocks would be an instant sellout.

As it was, Red Rocks on Wednesday night was maybe two-thirds full. And, unfortunately, it felt like an opening- night show, with technical difficulties, delays, feedback and a set that was sturdy but never quite took off the way the songs deserved. While some individual performances soared - Good News for People Who Love Bad News, and, predictably, the hit Float On - the set meandered and at times got derailed by frontman Isaac Brock's whims, including trying to get the crowd to yell at one of the rocks en masse to let him hear the echo. Let's just say that many were unclear on the concept.

The crowd also was left to wait in the cold, wet night for the better part of an hour before Modest Mouse took the stage, to the point where stage announcements were getting booed.

That said, the band gamely worked through a selection of songs from its album with a heavy dose of material from the latest, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. The first single, Dashboard, got a particularly warm welcome, and fans were familiar with songs that haven't necessarily gotten a lot of exposure. Brock's strident attitude and jagged vocal delivery translates perfectly to the stage, his voice yelping at times, roaring at others.

In the live setting it becomes much more obvious just what legendary Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, the newest member of the band, adds to the mix. Besides being a foil for Brock to work with, his signature guitar work meshes perfectly with Brock's, be it on newer material they recorded together or finding subtle new ways of transforming older Modest Mouse material.

After a shaky start, the show picked up steam and continuity, with the crowd warming to the material and opening-night shakes letting up a bit.

The great group Band of Horses got one of the opening slots on this tour and made the most of it, despite technical difficulties and a monitor hum that was annoying throughout the set. Sounding like a mix of a traditional rock/hard country band - fronted by Ben Bridwell with a voice not unlike Bono's - the band worked through songs from its debut album and also previewed tracks from its next album, Cease to Begin, due in October. Despite the glitches, the band shone and took the crowd from initial indifference to hearty roars of approval through sheer force of will and great musical talent. A Modest Mouse-style breakthrough isn't far off for these guys.

Modest Mouse

• When, where: Wednesday night, Red Rocks

• Grade: B-