Donnie B’s Roadtrip #4: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

This edition of Roadtrip revolves around a place that I first heard about in high school and only because my best friend was a die hard Dave Matthews Band (DMB) fan. Their live album was all I knew at first, and I didn’t even know anything about it except seeing cool pictures of a canon like setting in black and white photos. Regardless, I eventually found out more about it just from my own curiosity (an the U2 live album ‘Under a Blood Red Sky’) and the spread of information on the internet. Number 4 on my list (and remember this is no particular order) is Red Rock Amphitheater in Denver, Colorado.

Since 1947, Red Rocks has been a yearly pilgrimage for concert go-er’s in the greater Denver, Colorado area for nights filled with soft-rock, top 40, classical performers and rock and roll concerts. Everyone from grand opera singers to The Beatles to Jethro Tull to Incubus has performed here. But the majesty of the venue is not just the actual musical experience or do to any thing constructed by man.

With the seating and how the rows are positioned, it does lend to some good acoustics with the wall formations on either side. But the view for the most part is somewhat obstructed. A glorified ‘General Admission” seating can provide some people with a view as far back as the picture above, but that is simply not what going to see/hear a concert at Red Rocks is about.

For one, the entire venue is outdoors, no overhead (except for the stage) so that alone adds to the atmosphere of the concert. In the ‘desert’ atmosphere, the lights and the stars in the sky can add to a concert purely by sight. During the day time and during dusk, the background of rolling hills and mountains can be with seen with a breath taking view from the higher seats. The other is simply the notion that there is no other place in the United States with such a unique setting to see a concert in person. Sure, classic theaters have their place with the architecture crafted centuries before hand. But Red Rock is something that was crafted thousands of years in time and a natural setting (for the most part) to enjoy an experience with another 10,000 people. Almost making an amphitheater seem intimate a ‘group’ experience.

Essentially, If I ever move to the West Coast (something I would love to do), I would put this on the top of my list of things to do. Denver itself is an amazing American city (the most microbreweries per capita then any other city) and being able to catch any good band there would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Personally my wishlist would be: Radiohead, Sigur Ros, The Mars Volta, Coldplay, or Muse. I think any of those band would feed off the atmosphere and enhance the concert just that much more.

Here’s a little clip of Incubus playing at Red Rocks for what would later be released on DVD in 2007.