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.
A cloud covered sky kept the temperature modest for a late August evening as a blend of Denver’s hip converged on Morrison’s marvel…Red Rocks. The demographic ranged from hipster to soccer mom, hippie to yuppie. Very diverse within the upper middle class, Caucasian world. We had a mild urge to go Hunter S. Thompson on it, take an assortment of substances and try to mingle, but it was a Sunday.
Imagine a tiny wayside town off the beaten path of another place off another beaten path. This is Rancho Del Rio, site of the annual Campout for the Cause festival. Located four miles from State Bridge in Bond Co and Highway 131, the use of the word “town” for Rancho Del Rio is extravagant. Simply “Rancho,” as the locals call it, is no more than a smattering of small cabins and a local BBQ stand.
Patrick Sweany can be described as a Blues Rocker with elements of Folk and Soul; he can jam out on Slide guitar and finger pick like nobody’s business. The energy this man emits is simply incredible. Think The Black Keys meets Elvis Presley meets Billy Bland meets Wilson Pickett. This man is a rock star and he proved it for a crowd of 9-5ers in their 30s and 40s last week at The Walnut Room as he showcased a bunch of songs off his new record that will be released in July.
Last week at The Paramount, Chris Isaak proved that he is the epitome of an entertainer…and damn-well knows it. His show was part tight musicianship, part stand-up comedy and part pure love of performing. His charisma and charm oozed from the stage and he seems to be settling into his prime. From Holiday standards to 50’s rock classics to his own diverse catalog of original tunes, Isaak played a little bit of everything and the crowd ate up every minute of the two hour performance.
All controversy about guns, religion, and lateness aside, Madonna put on a truly amazing performance at The Pepsi Center last week. From the EDM influenced tracks off her recent release ‘MDNA,’ to classics like “Like A Prayer” and “Vogue,” she delivered a concert that gave fans a great overview of her storied career without letting them forget that she is The Queen of Pop. When all was said and done, it was a true celebration and without a doubt one of the most impressive concerts we have ever experienced.
Paul Simon and his “So Beautiful, Or So What,” tour stopped at the 1st Bank Center on Wednesday and the evening found Simon and his band in fantastic form. While it took a few seconds to get the sound ironed out during the opener, “Boy In The Bubble,” once they had it dialed in, Simon’s voice sounded as good as ever. During the two hour show, the legendary songwriter and his 9 piece band took us on a magical journey through the depths of his catalog.
