Photos by Kelly Hueseman
The Scene: Shows on Monday nights are usually referred to as “tough,” “inconvenient,” and even of the “take it or leave it” variety. My perception of Monday night shows was flipped upside down after seeing alt-J and TV on the Radio last Monday at Red Rocks. A group of friends and I got there right on time, but General Admission seating was already packed, and we opted to sit among the trees lining the stairs rather than up in the highest bleachers. A crowd of friends with summer memories lingering on their minds settled into the sold-out venue, and enjoyed the warm winds as we waited for the show to begin.
Opener: TV on the Radio. While I’ve heard TV on the Radio tends to put on a stronger show indoors, I thought they crushed this performance. What started with an slow-rising, awe-inspiring performance of “Young Liars,” TV on the Radio’s set lasted an hour and a half and bounced from heavy-hitting Rock jams to slower pieces that set the stage perfectly for alt-J.
alt-J. If this was the only show you planned on attending at Red Rocks this summer, good call on your part. The buzz I mostly heard as we walked out of the venue was about this being Red Rocks’ best show so far this summer. Huge compliment when you consider the incredible headliners we’ve had show up on the Red Rocks stage recently.
alt-J’s latest studio release, This is All Yours, has an album title that resonated Monday night as it felt the band was putting on the best show of their careers specially for us. Mother Earth abided by showing her most beautiful sides – a starry night, warm summer breeze, low humidity, no bugs…it was a “night on the Rocks” to remember!
Lastly, I should admit that before this show I didn’t know much about alt-J or TV on the Radio for that matter. But, seeing them for the first time, I was delighted by the band’s unique sound – a transcendent wave of the multi-faceted vocal styling of Joe Newman, inspiring grooves from keyboardist Gus Unger-Hamilton, and powerful beats that inspire dance and glee from drummer Thom Green. As Newman sang the lyrics to songs including “Matilda” and “Fitzpleasure,” it seemed like almost everyone in the audience was singing along. The funny thing was, I had no idea what they were saying! It’s almost like alt-J has created this secret language with its fans. Although we may not always know what we’re singing, we can definitely account for how good it makes one feel to be among a tribe of music lovers singing to the same tune.
The night came to a close after a powerful encore of “Breezeblocks,” one of alt-J’s classic singles from 2012.
Energy: A
Musicianship: B+
Sound: A
Stage Presence: B+
Set/Light Show: A
Overall: A
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