The acoustic Goose offshoot Orebolo (“Acoustagoose” as my 10 year old daughter calls them) returned to Colorado this past weekend for three nights at two beautiful venues. The first night’s festivities took place at the Gerald Ford Amphitheater in Vail, while the second two nights of the run were held in the old barn at Chautauqua Park in Boulder.
They say opposites attract, and this was the case last Friday at Chautauqua in Boulder as the hard driving Rock act known when the Drive-By Truckers showed up for a two-night stand at the historic venue. The venue is plagued with cranky neighbors complaining of noise issues, so the band bent to the rules and unplugged their electric instruments and played acoustic with the volume dialed way back in an attempt to meet the low noise threshold.
The Flatirons and the setting sun lit the scenic grounds of the Chautauqua Auditorium this past Tuesday night before the meeting of two pieces of American history – The 116 year old barn and the 88 year old King of the Blues: BB King. Baby boomers filled the venue to see a man who was a whole twenty years older than themselves, but had lost some of his magic along the long 88 year road. In the end it was more of a poignant reminder of our eminent mortality as humans than an entertaining night out.
Last Friday was another beautiful summer evening at the historic Chautauqua Park in Boulder. Chicago’s Andrew Bird played two sold-out shows, the second a performance in the large barn of a venue that is Chautauqua Auditorium on Friday. Concert goers picnicked in the park and drank beer outside the dry venue as the sun set and a remarkable night of music was about to begin.
Before Saturday’s Umphrey’s McGee show at the Chautauqua Auditorium many people picnicked and played Frisbee in Chautauqua park which created a party like atmosphere even hours before the show. The energy built all day as more and more fans came strolling into the park to have a good time, and wait patiently to see the band they love. Their patience paid off as the band delivered a smoking show full of fan favorites and a few choice covers.
Last weekend Listen Up Denver! got the chance to sit down with Jake Cinninger, Kris Myers and Ryan Stasik of Umphrey’s McGee at sloppy mudfest that was Wakarusa. The band is celebrating their 15th year together and is thrilled to be taking the stage at Red Rocks again this summer. As the mainstage thundered away in the background, we talked about their favorite memories on The Rocks, their pre-show rituals and how much practicing it takes to maintain their incredibly tight performances.
Picnicers dotted the park surrounding the historic Chautauqua Auditorium last Friday night before Americana rocker Ryan Bingham brought a surprisingly rowdy show to the historic barn of a venue. It felt like one of the first true nights of summer with a huge orange moon peeking through the trees and a perfect temperature for jeans and a t-shirt. The intense, foot stomping show was the perfect Friday concert to let loose at. The venue may not have suited his style, but nobody seemed to mind one bit.
UMPHREY’S MCGEE Friday, […]
Gregory Alan Isakov is another one of the amazing things we have as Colorado residents and the buzz on the grounds of the historic Chautauqua Auditorium was a testament to his talents. The old dark barn of an auditorium was packed with rolled blue jeans, flannels, and the last summer dresses of the season and it seemed like everyone came with a group of friends, or ran into people they knew, as folks gave out hugs and warm greetings throughout the evening.