While I have never looked into any particular concert at Red Rocks, I have been aching to see a show there for years on end. It is highly regarded as the best concert venue in the United States. Honestly, have you ever heard anyone that has had the pleasure of seing a show there say otherwise? When Bon Iver announced their spring 2012 tour I was excited to no end to see that they had actually scheduled a stop in my home town of Salt Lake City. However, going over the dates I noticed that the very next stop on the tour was in Golden, Colorado to play the infamous Red Rocks Amphitheater. There was no doubt in my mind, this was the concert I would make the journey to see. As a bonus, I had the added pleasure of learning that Miss Leslie Feist would be opening, after I had already purchased my tickets. Score.
If this were a travel site/blog I would tell you that if you haven’t been to Denver, you need to log in to your Travelocity account and get booking immediately. I fell in love with this city (and surrounding areas). It was more amazing than I can begin to tell you.
Red Rocks simply said is beautiful. Beyond beautiful, really. For those unfamiliar the venue is an open air 
amphitheater and is set between a few stunning monolith rocks. The biggest being to either side of the seating. The venue is huge yet intimate and the view of Denver’s city lights just beyond the stage was really an unforgettable sight.
Bon Iver had been touring with the UK folk act The Staves, who weren’t originally supposed to play at this particular show. The band consists of three sister’s who sing over a simple acoustic guitar. Already a little overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the park, I was honestly brought to tears when the first notes were hit and the first lyrics sung. The venue’s sound was so incredible and this was just the opening act! The Stave’s are a mellow listen, their lyrics honest and their harmonies are flawless. The band is slated to release an album in the very near future. Be sure to check out their official site here.
While I have been a fan of Feist’s first album, her second effort Metals blew me away. It was literally an unexpected staple for me in 2011. Leslie Feist walked out solo to the stage and began with Metals‘ “Comfort Me,” which set the tone for her entire set. She was precise, captivating and her voice was flawless. She made her way through most of the Metals tracklist and threw in some older songs including “I Feel It All,” and “Sea Lion Woman.” What surprised and entertained me most was how charming and witty Feist was. The only thing that would have made that set any better for me would have been if she played The Reminder‘s “Intuition.”
By the time Bon Iver was set to take the stage sun had set and the city lights came to fruition and Red Rocks itself had been illuminated. Again another site to be overwhelmed by. Justin Vernon and crew took to the stage and jumped right into “Perth” the opening track from their self titled album. Everything that was to follow was almost like a dream. Pure Magic.
The band powered through songs from all albums equally. A very special moment for me was when Vernon played a newer, bolder arrangement of “Blood Bank,” . While Vernon has earned praise for his work as a songsmith and the strong composition of the band’s latest album, I feel his music resonates with a mass audience because of the pure emotion that can be felt on each and every song, new and old. They are the type of songs that transport a listener to when and where they were as they first heard them. They can take you back to heartache as easily as reminding you of falling in love. They have the ability to reach out and touch everyone differently. This was apparent as everyone in the crowd was able to sing along to every song including other favorites such as “Holocene,” “For Emma,” and “Flume.” Bon Iver were beyond incredible, I cannot wait for the opportunity to see them again.
A final note about Red Rocks:
I have never been to a venue that is so large, yet was so incredibly loud. Not only loud but also unbelievably clean. Getting to experience every single note that I have memorized over the past few years in that particular setting was something to remember. The scenery is also second to none. I highly recommend a trip to Colorado to see a show here. Find out for yourself why it so regularly hyped as “The best concert venue in America.”
Two of the pictures featured in this post were originally posted on the CBS Denver web page.