September 21, 2023 • 32 mins
From the million year old rocks to intimate theaters, the mile high sound echoes and echoes. Maybe it’s the mountains, maybe it’s the air but one can’t deny that there is a certain expanse in these jams and spaces unlike any in America. At this altitude the sound does strange things, man.
Written by Caitlin White
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
In Denver, everything sounds pale, blue, crisp, slightly colder, rocky,
mountain high. John Denver dubbed it not living long enough
to watch his eponymous city. Take the phrase and run
with it, mixing marijuana, mountain air, and a sense of
psychedelic freedom into the very core of what it means
(00:25):
to be in Colorado. Those who don't blow smoke, blow
through the snow and impossibly skinny sticks, skiing and snowboarding,
risking life and limb for a wooch of air and
speed trailing behind them, or hike for hours, insisting that
exploring mothern nature is its own kind of drug. Maybe
it is, well, of course it is. It's the first drug.
(00:51):
In Denver. I get off a plane, blow on a harmonica,
dance and move put on a show for these happy
mountain people. In air that feels slight, lightly foreign. The
higher the altitude, the lower the temperature, So even though
elevation doesn't impact the speed of sound, the cold does.
The lack of oxygen means we're getting closer to the sun,
(01:12):
but instead of more heat, the air is thinner and
sound moves slowly trance like. For some. The mountain air
is intoxicating an antidote for the illness. They weren't even
aware of a craggy cure. The way a certain song
gets stuck in your head changes the trajectory of your life,
shifts your heart into a new gear. They call Colorado
(01:34):
the mountain state, but it's more of a feeling than
something that exists inside a border or at the top
of a peak. Mountain state. It can be a way
of life no matter where you go, but when you're
in Denver, it's all that applies. It happened to John Denver.
You know. He wasn't born in Colorado, but discovered it
while touring in his late twenties. He was born in
(01:55):
the high desert of New Mexico, but decamped to Colorado
almost as soon as he found the place. It changed him.
People come here looking for that change, the altitude increase.
The lucky ones find it.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
He climbed cathedral mountains, He saw silver clouds below. He
saw everything as far as you can see. And they
say that he got crazy once and he tried to
touch the sun, and he lost a friend, but kept
the memory. Now he walks in quiet solitude, the forests
and streams, seeking grace in every step he takes, his
(02:34):
sight is turned inside himself to try and understand the
serenity of a clear blue mountain Lake.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
John Denver Rocky Mountain High. I suck in the extra
air for my next note, breathing deeper than I'm used to,
and all the blue shifts to red, not blood red.
Martian chronicles red the dust of an unearthened underbelly, shoved
up to the surface before manifest destiny claimed this land
(03:03):
for America at all. Alien is the perfect description for
these Red Rocks, and right among the best of them.
And over one hundred years ago, legendary Colorado color Coloradan, Colorado, Colorado,
John Brisbane Walker had the vision to coax this natural
(03:23):
sandstone amphitheater into a monument to live music out in
the middle of this red nowhere. Ask any touring artist
what their dream venue to perform in a America is
and you'll get a short list. Radio City, Hollywood Bowl,
and Yes, Red Rocks. It's widely regarded to be one
of the best amphitheaters in the entire world because the
(03:45):
acoustics are naturally perfect. In all these episodes, we talk
about the walls and the rooms and the sounds that
have absorbed over the years, the ghosts that have cradled
now echoing back into your canals. But these red rocks,
they've been sponging up millennia, star radiation and age after
age of an expanding universe. Is there really any competition
(04:07):
seeing your favorite artist performer show? Here is a mecca,
a trip of epic proportions. More than just a mecca,
it is an ageless pillar of humanity. It's a natural cathedral,
place of worship and the venue that informs the rest
of how live music is laid out in this city.
There's Denver itself, the city proper, though it always exists
(04:28):
in relation to the scattered mountain cities calling from just
a few hours away, vale In Beaver Creek, Bachelor, Gulch, Arrowhead, Aspen,
tell your ide, Breckinridge, Boulder, The city spatter across the
big sky country here like constellations, even if Denver shines
is the true North to get visitors and outsiders in
(04:48):
the door, guiding them into the mountain state way of life.
Like most of the Western States. It was gold found
in the rocky mountains that precipitated American settlers flocking to
the area. In the DNA of that frontier town spirit
never fully faded away. Perhaps that's what keeps musicians the
original Troubadours returning to and emerging from its snowy wings,
(05:10):
taking stages built into mountains and tucked behind literal boulders,
or in the case of venues in the nearby boulder,
mystical ones. Start breathing deeper because this mile high city
is going to get inside your bloodstream and fast. Sound
(05:36):
of Our Town is a podcast about the music that
shaped the city you're touching down in, or that you're visiting,
or that you're moving to. But it's also about finding, hearing,
and experiencing its best music happening right now. What sounds
and places of shape that city's culture, and what new
sounds continue to define it. It's about getting together in
a room to listen and why that matters. So whether
(05:58):
you are quickly dropping in or for a long stay.
In each episode, I'll introduce you to the real places
and sonic stories echoing in a particular town so that
your life is enriched with live music. My name is
Will Day. I'm an artist that have been slugging it
out in many towns for many years. We are all
here because we've been at that live show where the
music takes over. It has moved us, whether we're the
(06:20):
audience or the band, taking us somewhere together. And in
this episode, well you know, we're visiting Denver, Colorado, because
after all, you don't have to be from Denver to
get forever acclaimed Mountain time. There's the likes of John
Denver and Neutral Milk Hotel artists who are so taken
(06:42):
with the city that it runs through the core of
their work like a threat. You don't have to be
from here to be floored by it, besotted and forever changed.
All the best American cities do this. They hypnotized folks
and young. As this one might be, it's no different.
But it's also produced a mighty handful of musical legends
in such a short time, like Philip Bailey, two of
(07:05):
the lead singers from Earth Wind and Fire, Glenn Miller,
Judy Collins, India r Ren, Isaac Slade, Derek Vincent Smith
aka Pretty Lights, Laura Vie's One Republic, Nathaniel Ray, Flowbots,
the String Cheese Incident, Neela Pecarek of the Lumineers, Tennis Ingrid,
Andre apples and stereo yonder Mountain string band. Think of
(07:32):
the sound of this city as a stream flowing in
and out of folk, country and R and B, the
rootsy sounds that built this town, then cascading down into
a waterfall of psychedelic blues, the contemporary jam invoking electronic
music that's come to embody a youth culture, sound of
millennial and gen z artists, and then the fans who
(07:53):
find their bliss in a space between the drop, the beats,
and the melody. Denver is a young city, both musically
and otherwise, the nineteenth largest city in the country and
still growing. It might not have the pedigree and dignitaries
of more profound music cities like Chicago, Atlanta, New York,
or Los Angeles, but it's getting there. It's coming into
(08:15):
a golden age. Right now, we're living through what would
likely be the historic era of Denver's musical history. A
jam band culture mixes with electronic music and a growing
appreciation for truly unique venues like Red Rocks. As images
from each iconic show weave their way through our social feeds.
Where else can you see a show under the stars
(08:37):
in a natural amphitheater with perfect acoustics. Oh, that also
is one of the most beautiful places in the entire world.
No wonder the turn toward a planet that mellows the mind,
slows the thoughts, and brings sounds and sensations into sharp focus.
No wonder the embrace of a synthe dreamy, electronic wave
of music that encourages communal experience, shared emotion, and plur
(09:00):
for all. It isn't just a dichotomy of country and
folk music or electronic sounds either. Plenty of rock and
pop and hip hop and metal find their way to
the central American hub that is Denver. Plus, there is
a whole separate scene brewing in Boulder, the forty five
minute away Brooklyn to Denver's bustling Manhattan. So where are
the best places to catch a glimpse of the city's
(09:22):
blue light music scene. How do you manage to slip
into the soundscape as just a visitor passing through? The
answer lies at the first stop, the perfect place to
wade into the slipstream. I'm not saying you need to
roll a jay or chew an edible gummy before you
embark on your first Denver adventure, but if you want
to or if you do it, turns all the rest
(09:44):
of this up to eleven. If that's not your thing,
let the music work its magic instead. What is a
great song with the best drug any of us have
ever had? Not to hit it too on the nose
(10:04):
with the color theme. But the Bluebird Theater is the
heart and soul of live music for the local scene
and be loved by pretty much anyone who's ever visited,
seen a show or grace the stage originally built in
the early nineteen hundreds and named after its founder, John Thompson.
The theater was reconfigured in the mid nineteen nineties and
(10:24):
flipped from a movie theater into a music venue. Massive
stars like Ed Sheer and tiam And Paula and Oasis
have performed at this five hundred capacity stage, which was
designated as part of the US National Register of Historic
Places in nineteen ninety seven. Like most great venues, it's
the architecture and location that makes this spot so beloved.
(10:45):
Designed by prominent Colorado architect Harry W. J. Edbrooke, who
also is responsible for a number of the other buildings
in the Denver Skyline, including the Denver Gas and Electric Building,
the Ogden theater in the First National Bank, all of
which are also protected on the National Register. But this
spot has been hosting world class musicians for right around
(11:05):
three decades now. But what Denver is preserving in this
theater isn't just historic architecture. These tiered layouts, this balcony
that provides excellent sitelines for the whole place, but it's
really just a hub where everyone can gather and celebrate
rising musicians as they come through town. Perch between Conger
Street and City Park neighborhoods, the venue is central for
(11:28):
most of the city. Selected as one of the best
clubs in America by Rolling Stone, it's the local history
and vintage charm that really puts this venue in a
league of its own for Denver. Check the listing for
who's in town and playing the Bluebird when you're visiting,
and maybe go check out a young local band if
you don't recognize any of the names. After all, this
place has a great track record for hosting superstars long
(11:50):
before they make it big. Odds are though a national
act will be passing through and seeing them in this
intimate setting will be one of the best time times
you ever see them play. It's standing Ramoni, so come
with your stamina in tow, but be prepared for a
warm welcome from friendly staff and other patrons who know
that shows at this tiny venue are a gateway drug
(12:13):
into the larger Denver music scene. The gerald R four
Amphitheater is not quite Red Rocks, but think of it
as a stage plopped right down in the middle of
a ski town, and the appeal is real. It's technically
(12:37):
in Veil, so come prepared for a two hour drive
from Denver proper if the show you want to see
is host it out here, but hey, if you're not
able to score, spend your tickets for a show at
Red Rocks or your artist of choices booked the Ford
Amphitheater instead, just know that it's still going to be
one of the best venue experiences of your life, with
tiered lawns that are welcoming to patrons of all ages
(12:59):
and the close proxy to downtown Veil. If Red Rocks
is the Hollywood Bowl or Radio City, then the Ford
Amphitheater is the Greek theater, the roseland ballroom of this
mountain state. Plus, if you are into winter sports, spending
the day hitting the slopes and freshening up for a
night at a rock show is kind of the perfect
all day adventure For those of you who want to
(13:20):
experience the rocky mountains and not just see them wavering
like a mirage in the distance, this is the place
to catch a show. Keep in mind, Veil is even
higher altitude than Denver and runs close to eight thousand
feet in most places. If you're not one of the
lucky few who's made better and glowier by the mountain air,
keep a close eye on your hydration and sleep. Altitude
sickness is no joke either, and drinking too much alcohol
(13:42):
or wearing yourself out with the skiing and snowboarding could
have a bigger impact up here. Stay hydrated and get
plenty of rest to make sure you get the most
out of your trip. That's the most health advice I have.
So back to the Ford Amphitheater. Shows are only hosted
here during the summer due to rather obvious constraints like
winter weather and the aforementioned eighths and feet of elevation,
But like outdoor venues, the rules are slightly more relaxed.
(14:04):
Guests can bring in their own food and personal coolers,
just no alcohol, please, blankets and tarps, umbrellas and short chairs,
all that stuff. Lawn seating is a first come, first serve.
It has a capacity of twenty eight hundred. The odds
of you getting a nice lawn seater are pretty high.
Despite the laid back atmosphere, people make the trek all
the way out to Veil for good reason. This venue
(14:26):
experience is absolutely stunning. When the music starts, people take
it seriously. The reverence of a show under the Veil
skies will unquestionably change your perspective on what a listening
room or space should be. Hey, not everyone wants to
(14:58):
book a trip that involves getting on a plane then
an additional two hour drive up to Snowy Peaks at
eight thousand elevation just to see a band in a
mountainside venue. I get it, that's all right. Some people
want something simpler, less polished, They want a towny vibe.
They want cover bands, and there's no shame in that.
A cover is one of the more under celebrated art forms.
(15:21):
And thankfully there's a spot in Denver, and that spot
is Herb's hideout. I almost don't have to I don't
have to say anything else after that dude just urbs hideout.
That could just be the whole segment for the no
cover spot. Just to say the name says it all.
It does the whole job, invoking both a place where
escapism is literally the name and the idea that some
(15:43):
local dude named Herb is still working behind the stick,
ready to serve you up a cold long neck while
you peel the label and eye of the stage on
the open mic night. And hey backline is provided. Alls
you need to do, as their website proclaims with multiple
exclamation points, is come down and bring your voice and
your acts. If that doesn't let you know that this
(16:04):
place is a musician owned then the constantly free live
music will tip you off. Are certain this isn't a
ticket to joint at all, but a place where anyone
is welcome. The drinks are served mighty stiff liquid courage
is important for belting out into a mic, maybe for
your first time in a whole host of jazz, reggae, blues,
R and B, and jam centric musicians that regularly rotate
(16:26):
through located right in the heart of Loto. That's Lower
Downtown for those of you who haven't played the SOHO
South of Houston or NoHo North Hollywood game before in
your life. Herbs is a nice break from the rest
of the nightlife scene in the area when you're looking
for something just a little bit more chill. Punk bars
(16:52):
and pizza just go together, right. Anyone with a thing
for the loud and epic, the punk, metal, hardcore, and
otherwise grungy is going to find something to love on
the bill at Summit, But they also have shows coming
up with reixop and Tate McCrae. This place contains multitudes,
technically a two in one venue. The Summit Music Hall
is the large space which can hold up to one
(17:13):
thousand capacity, and a smaller offshoot up front called the
Marquee Theater has a rich, rich punk history. Within that theater,
the counter that sells hot slices all night three point
fifty for cheese, four for pepperoni. That's pre pandemic prices.
There's only room for a couple hundred people in the
Marque when a show is on, so if you catch
(17:34):
an act there you love, it'll be truly special. But
this space is worth going to get your face melted in,
even if you just pop in for a slice at
the end of the night. A recent renovation upgraded it
from a dingy punk rock club into a modern, contemporary,
self respecting punk rock club, and that's always an exciting
step in any venue or punk rockers life. Denver has
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a festival culture that will be familiar to people who
grew up in states like Vermont, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and
other more rural areas where music festivals aren't Coachella or
Lalla palouzified, but festivals that actually orbit around particular music
styles and genres like folk and roots music or you know, beer,
as we often find. The number of music in brew
(18:28):
or october Fest themed festivals that happen in Colorado every
year is astonishing, and maybe beer is responsible for more
music than we give it credit for. Weed gets all
the love when it comes to enjoying music, and beer
is oddly the designated driver. So let's detour for a
second and talk about some of the best places to
grab a local brew when you're in the Mile High City. Like,
say you need to grab a brew before heading over
(18:50):
to Summit for the whole punk bar and pizza package
deal just a five minute driver or so away. Is
Zuni Street Brewing Company owner Willie Trudner is the head brewer.
He spent time studying German brewing styles in Munich before
opening up this very spot. It has a variety of
German and Belgian style beers, including an award winning standout,
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the Belgian Wheat Beer Way West Width. Again, this spot
is in Low high aka Lower Highland, and Summit is
in Low Dough or Lower Downtown Denver, which is directly
to the east. An even better stop might be at
Cerebral Brewing in Congress Park before or after a show
at the Bluebird Theater, about five blocks away from the venue.
This brewer's hours run from late afternoon until ten or
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eleven pm most days. As the name suggests, scientific and
creative expression runs a muck here, so the menu is
constantly in flux and includes flavor profiles that are way
far off the beaten path like lemon merangue and pink starburst.
And yes, we're still talking about beer. Finally, if you're
looking for another cool neighborhood to check out, most anyone
(19:53):
who's a beer aficionado in Denver these days will tell
you to head up a little further north to five
points and give our our mutual friend a world. If
you have plans to visit Herb's Hideout, this is the
brewery to check out that's nearby, maybe a fifteen minute
walk or so between the two. Our mutual friend that's
the name of the place is beloved for its massive
(20:14):
outdoor space and eye catching colorful murals. So if you're
visiting during the summertime, it's the place to hang out
to soak up the sun. With a bent toward local ingredients,
OMF turns out everything from smoked wheat beers to the
uber hoppy ipays that have taken over palettes everywhere in
the bureau world lately. Now that you know what, you
get properly hydrated, let's get back on the festival tip,
(20:35):
because here we have offshoots for blues, rock, jazz, mountain music.
We got bluegrass and roots, bluegrass and folk and country
jams and more jazz and more bluegrass and global dance music,
and a whole lot of festivals that are specific to
secluded towns like Aspen, Colorado Springs and tell your ride.
Speaking of and this should go without saying, the best
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time of visit Denver in general is the summer. Unless
you're extremely well versed in the methodology living in and
with the snow, and for some reason, you're really good
at being in frigid temperatures in the winter months. Summer
is the time to drop by, especially since that's when
most of these endless festivals are taking place. If you're
a music lover who wants to see more of Colorado
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than just Denver and Boulder, planning your trip to coincide
with one of the many, many music festivals that are
held throughout the year could be a great anchor. Then again,
you might just want to pinpoint the date your favorite
artist is playing Red Rocks and build everything around that.
So that's enough of a lead up. Let's actually talk
about this infamous venue and break it down for real,
because that is the spot most calendars plan around. In
(21:52):
nineteen oh six, something happened to John Brisbane Walker. He
had a vision, which actually isn't that uncommon when it
comes to the music, but he had one nonetheless, and
it was the beginning of Red Rocks. Well, hold on,
that's that's a bit of revisionist history already. The beginning
of Red Rocks, the place itself being used for musical
(22:13):
or metaphysical performances, likely dates back to the Ute tribe,
the indigenous people who lived in the Great Basin before
American settlers. The Utes, whose tribal name is the source
of the name for the state of Utah, lived in
central and southwest Colorado and likely found a use for
the Red Rocks Amphitheater within their own culture. Maybe Walker's
(22:36):
vision was something more akin to a bit of cultural
memory broken off from the stream and slipped into the future.
Either way, once he got the idea into his head,
the publishing magnate with unlimited financial resources was pretty much unstoppable.
Sound familiar, At least this time it was a millionaire
using his power for good. Walker hosted shows there for
(22:57):
a few years, and then the city eventually bought the
venue space from him. In what had been known as
the Garden of Angels became the Garden of Titans, and then,
just finally, Red Rocks. Colloquial names tend to win out
over lofty publishing magnate idioms. Let's just call it what
it is. Designed by Denver architects Burnham Holt and Stanley E. Moorse,
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there are literal fossil fragments, dinosaur tracks, and other ancient
marginalia built into the walls of this venue. It's designed
as an open air space, with little in the way
of actual walls or ceilings except for some areas built
into the rock face itself. The stage is the central focus,
with tiered bleachers affording pretty excellent sight lines of the
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musicians performing in the Denver City skyline glinting in the distance.
It's this kind of place that feels wholly without any pretense,
a sparse, unflinching park that stretches across over seven hundred acres,
all coalescing in this red red stage that feels primal
in nature, honest to our legacy of performing for and
(24:05):
with each other. Sure, ride the bus out to Red Rocks,
clamber up the stairs, scan your ticket, get your beers,
find your seats, enjoy the show, beg for the setlist,
take all your videos, and maybe even get a little
stoned on the stones. Do all the normal best show
of your life stuff. But don't forget to take a minute,
either mid show or before it starts, to really look
(24:26):
around at where you are, to remember how special it
is to be an inhabitant of Earth, a place where
natural concert venues just leap up out of the ground.
Sometimes where culture after culture, generation after generation stumbles upon
them and makes them into a sort of plaything, a
place to celebrate and venerate, to party and to pray.
(24:51):
This shit is ancient. It is easy to lose sight
of that. Under the thumb scroll and the tyranny of
all our content. The music moments are the ones that
make us feel joined to the Earth, the cosmos, and
each other. And maybe those aren't three separate things. Well,
(25:17):
this might only be a hidden gem if you haven't
made your way from Denver proper over to its grungier, cooler,
smaller neighborhood city of Boulder. Hands Down, locals recommend the
Fox Theater as the best place to catch a show
in this city, and it was also added to the
best music venue lists by Rolling Stone, placing fourth overall
(25:38):
on that list. Just slightly larger than the Bluebird Theater
with its six hundred capacity, this is another place where
you're going to get an underplay style show with some musicians.
That's why keeping an eye out for a larger artist
booking a show here while they're on their national tour
is a good idea and the reason for an offshoot
from a Denver trip located in the Hill neighborhood of Boulder.
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One unique thing about this venue is that the floor
slightly slants forward, so if taller patrons are standing closer
to the stage, it doesn't block the sitelines for attendees
standing in the back of the venue. Genius right clever
like a fox. When you're on the Hill aka, one
of the main commercial areas within Boulder, there's a couple
(26:22):
places to check out for quick eats. These both work
better pre show, but kitchen stay open until eleven PM,
so if you're out early it's doable. The first is
half Fast Subs, a sandwich shop that claims to have
the largest menu of sandwiches in the world, with over
one hundred different sandwich types. And they're not just plentiful
in options either. These subs are cartoon worthy, high stacked,
(26:45):
multi layered, and multi ingredient beauties, which is not to
say they're fancy, but they're more complex than just a
club or a chicken salad with names like Dagwood's Dream
with pastrami, roast beef, ham provolone, grilled onions, horse radish,
lettuce and tomatoes, or the Baba Bouie with turkey grilled onions, pepperoni, Swiss, lemon, tomatoes, mustard,
(27:07):
and mao. There's a reason this place thrives by a
college campus. The portions are large and the prices are affordable.
You won't go hungry with one of these in your
belly before a show, and sandwiches aren't your thing, no problem,
you head over to Illegal Piezz instead. This quick Mexican
food spot is built around the mission style burrito that
(27:28):
are a regional delicacy in places like San fran Aka.
They are huge, they have rice inside the burrito. Another
element of the mission style burrito is steaming the tortilla
before filling it with toppings, therefore making the tortilla more
stretchy soa can hold more. But I digress. Illegal PiZZ
serves everything from brito bowls, tacos, salads, even nachos. And
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what's more, if you're a band rolling through town to
play a show, say at the Fox Theater, which is
about one block away, then you qualify for a free
meal at Illegal Piezz as long as you have an
Instagram handle, are from out of state, and can sure
the venueill link to verify your show. Then the meal
is on pets. That is truly the epitome of the
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mountain state. Prepping for visit to Colorado does not have
to be extensive, but it's worth definitely taking a look
at the jam scene before you go. If you're not
someone who is at all familiar with the fact that
the Grateful Dead simply have not died, or that bands
(28:35):
like Fish and others have stepped in to feel the
ever present demand for more live and psychedelic noodling, then
there's a little fun homework. One very Colorado group who
is part of that scene is the String Cheese Incident,
and they are a great stand in as well as
a gateway drug. Throw on the documentary waiting for the
(28:56):
snow to fall and get a front row seat to
both the band's identity and their connection to the snowy
culture of their home state. Never have these two elements
been entwined better than within this hour long clip. So
whether you fall into the psychedelic blues that makes Denver
(29:17):
pop and chill and appeal to so many who initially
thought they'd just be passing through, or you get caught
up in a web of eternal, red and earthy heart
driven history that keeps this city forever grounded in its
compelling past. Don't be surprised if a visit to Colorado
awakens more in you than you ever expected. Within these
historic halls, in mountainside listening rooms, the becallic, beautiful, and
(29:40):
even feral side of music is allowed to rear its
shaggy head. Denver is a great city to visit, but
it's all the countryside around this city that might end
up changing how you hear your favorite song forever. And
(30:01):
one more thing, sometimes the jam band scene gets some
flak it doesn't deserve. I can't think of another genre
where when a band really gets together and puts together
a live show with tremendous players who know their instruments
up and down, that people come when they build it,
(30:22):
and there's no baseball field needed, just a big show
with adventurous songs. And there's an infrastructure waiting for that
in cities like Denver, and in other cities as well,
but Denver especially, And I think that kind of behavior,
that kind of loyalty and love, says a lot about
(30:46):
the style of music and the fans. But for the
places that embrace it, well, I think it says a
lot about those towns and how welcoming. It will be
when you get there, and that is our time in Denver.
Season two. Sound of Our Town Episode what episode episode six.
(31:13):
I'm not counting episodes. I'm thinking of where we're going next.
That's my job. I've asked you guys to leave reviews
and follow wherever you listen to podcasts, and you've done
that and it makes a huge difference. Thank you. Keep
them coming. People tell me I need to do like
a contest for reviews. I'm not gonna do that want.
(31:34):
I don't want to pit people against each other. I
don't want us to fight. Look. Sound of Our Town
is production of iHeartRadio and Double Elvis. It's executively produced
by Brady Sadler and Jake Brennan. Engineering work by Matt Boden.
This episode's head writer is Kaylin White. My name is
Will Daly. I have already introduced myself if you listen
(31:54):
this far, but you can hit me up at Will
Daily Official on Instagram or just spell Will Daily with
all the vowels D A, I L E Y, and
you'll find me anywhere digitally except for platforms that used
to have a bird as their icon. You know, I
made the music for this, I've said that before. Really
I want to wrap this up and get to the
(32:15):
next city. I'm excited about it. I got to finish
a record too, going back in tomorrow, and then I'll
be back on the mic for this show. I wonder
where we're going next, Well you find out on the
next adventure of Sound of Our Town. Until then, thank
you for your years, and look out for one another
out there.
In Denver, everything sounds pale, blue, crisp, slightly colder, rocky,
mountain high. John Denver dubbed it not living long enough
to watch his eponymous city. Take the phrase and run
with it, mixing marijuana, mountain air, and a sense of
psychedelic freedom into the very core of what it means
(00:25):
to be in Colorado. Those who don't blow smoke, blow
through the snow and impossibly skinny sticks, skiing and snowboarding,
risking life and limb for a wooch of air and
speed trailing behind them, or hike for hours, insisting that
exploring mothern nature is its own kind of drug. Maybe
it is, well, of course it is. It's the first drug.
(00:51):
In Denver. I get off a plane, blow on a harmonica,
dance and move put on a show for these happy
mountain people. In air that feels slight, lightly foreign. The
higher the altitude, the lower the temperature, So even though
elevation doesn't impact the speed of sound, the cold does.
The lack of oxygen means we're getting closer to the sun,
(01:12):
but instead of more heat, the air is thinner and
sound moves slowly trance like. For some. The mountain air
is intoxicating an antidote for the illness. They weren't even
aware of a craggy cure. The way a certain song
gets stuck in your head changes the trajectory of your life,
shifts your heart into a new gear. They call Colorado
(01:34):
the mountain state, but it's more of a feeling than
something that exists inside a border or at the top
of a peak. Mountain state. It can be a way
of life no matter where you go, but when you're
in Denver, it's all that applies. It happened to John Denver.
You know. He wasn't born in Colorado, but discovered it
while touring in his late twenties. He was born in
(01:55):
the high desert of New Mexico, but decamped to Colorado
almost as soon as he found the place. It changed him.
People come here looking for that change, the altitude increase.
The lucky ones find it.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
He climbed cathedral mountains, He saw silver clouds below. He
saw everything as far as you can see. And they
say that he got crazy once and he tried to
touch the sun, and he lost a friend, but kept
the memory. Now he walks in quiet solitude, the forests
and streams, seeking grace in every step he takes, his
(02:34):
sight is turned inside himself to try and understand the
serenity of a clear blue mountain Lake.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
John Denver Rocky Mountain High. I suck in the extra
air for my next note, breathing deeper than I'm used to,
and all the blue shifts to red, not blood red.
Martian chronicles red the dust of an unearthened underbelly, shoved
up to the surface before manifest destiny claimed this land
(03:03):
for America at all. Alien is the perfect description for
these Red Rocks, and right among the best of them.
And over one hundred years ago, legendary Colorado color Coloradan, Colorado, Colorado,
John Brisbane Walker had the vision to coax this natural
(03:23):
sandstone amphitheater into a monument to live music out in
the middle of this red nowhere. Ask any touring artist
what their dream venue to perform in a America is
and you'll get a short list. Radio City, Hollywood Bowl,
and Yes, Red Rocks. It's widely regarded to be one
of the best amphitheaters in the entire world because the
(03:45):
acoustics are naturally perfect. In all these episodes, we talk
about the walls and the rooms and the sounds that
have absorbed over the years, the ghosts that have cradled
now echoing back into your canals. But these red rocks,
they've been sponging up millennia, star radiation and age after
age of an expanding universe. Is there really any competition
(04:07):
seeing your favorite artist performer show? Here is a mecca,
a trip of epic proportions. More than just a mecca,
it is an ageless pillar of humanity. It's a natural cathedral,
place of worship and the venue that informs the rest
of how live music is laid out in this city.
There's Denver itself, the city proper, though it always exists
(04:28):
in relation to the scattered mountain cities calling from just
a few hours away, vale In Beaver Creek, Bachelor, Gulch, Arrowhead, Aspen,
tell your ide, Breckinridge, Boulder, The city spatter across the
big sky country here like constellations, even if Denver shines
is the true North to get visitors and outsiders in
(04:48):
the door, guiding them into the mountain state way of life.
Like most of the Western States. It was gold found
in the rocky mountains that precipitated American settlers flocking to
the area. In the DNA of that frontier town spirit
never fully faded away. Perhaps that's what keeps musicians the
original Troubadours returning to and emerging from its snowy wings,
(05:10):
taking stages built into mountains and tucked behind literal boulders,
or in the case of venues in the nearby boulder,
mystical ones. Start breathing deeper because this mile high city
is going to get inside your bloodstream and fast. Sound
(05:36):
of Our Town is a podcast about the music that
shaped the city you're touching down in, or that you're visiting,
or that you're moving to. But it's also about finding, hearing,
and experiencing its best music happening right now. What sounds
and places of shape that city's culture, and what new
sounds continue to define it. It's about getting together in
a room to listen and why that matters. So whether
(05:58):
you are quickly dropping in or for a long stay.
In each episode, I'll introduce you to the real places
and sonic stories echoing in a particular town so that
your life is enriched with live music. My name is
Will Day. I'm an artist that have been slugging it
out in many towns for many years. We are all
here because we've been at that live show where the
music takes over. It has moved us, whether we're the
(06:20):
audience or the band, taking us somewhere together. And in
this episode, well you know, we're visiting Denver, Colorado, because
after all, you don't have to be from Denver to
get forever acclaimed Mountain time. There's the likes of John
Denver and Neutral Milk Hotel artists who are so taken
(06:42):
with the city that it runs through the core of
their work like a threat. You don't have to be
from here to be floored by it, besotted and forever changed.
All the best American cities do this. They hypnotized folks
and young. As this one might be, it's no different.
But it's also produced a mighty handful of musical legends
in such a short time, like Philip Bailey, two of
(07:05):
the lead singers from Earth Wind and Fire, Glenn Miller,
Judy Collins, India r Ren, Isaac Slade, Derek Vincent Smith
aka Pretty Lights, Laura Vie's One Republic, Nathaniel Ray, Flowbots,
the String Cheese Incident, Neela Pecarek of the Lumineers, Tennis Ingrid,
Andre apples and stereo yonder Mountain string band. Think of
(07:32):
the sound of this city as a stream flowing in
and out of folk, country and R and B, the
rootsy sounds that built this town, then cascading down into
a waterfall of psychedelic blues, the contemporary jam invoking electronic
music that's come to embody a youth culture, sound of
millennial and gen z artists, and then the fans who
(07:53):
find their bliss in a space between the drop, the beats,
and the melody. Denver is a young city, both musically
and otherwise, the nineteenth largest city in the country and
still growing. It might not have the pedigree and dignitaries
of more profound music cities like Chicago, Atlanta, New York,
or Los Angeles, but it's getting there. It's coming into
(08:15):
a golden age. Right now, we're living through what would
likely be the historic era of Denver's musical history. A
jam band culture mixes with electronic music and a growing
appreciation for truly unique venues like Red Rocks. As images
from each iconic show weave their way through our social feeds.
Where else can you see a show under the stars
(08:37):
in a natural amphitheater with perfect acoustics. Oh, that also
is one of the most beautiful places in the entire world.
No wonder the turn toward a planet that mellows the mind,
slows the thoughts, and brings sounds and sensations into sharp focus.
No wonder the embrace of a synthe dreamy, electronic wave
of music that encourages communal experience, shared emotion, and plur
(09:00):
for all. It isn't just a dichotomy of country and
folk music or electronic sounds either. Plenty of rock and
pop and hip hop and metal find their way to
the central American hub that is Denver. Plus, there is
a whole separate scene brewing in Boulder, the forty five
minute away Brooklyn to Denver's bustling Manhattan. So where are
the best places to catch a glimpse of the city's
(09:22):
blue light music scene. How do you manage to slip
into the soundscape as just a visitor passing through? The
answer lies at the first stop, the perfect place to
wade into the slipstream. I'm not saying you need to
roll a jay or chew an edible gummy before you
embark on your first Denver adventure, but if you want
to or if you do it, turns all the rest
(09:44):
of this up to eleven. If that's not your thing,
let the music work its magic instead. What is a
great song with the best drug any of us have
ever had? Not to hit it too on the nose
(10:04):
with the color theme. But the Bluebird Theater is the
heart and soul of live music for the local scene
and be loved by pretty much anyone who's ever visited,
seen a show or grace the stage originally built in
the early nineteen hundreds and named after its founder, John Thompson.
The theater was reconfigured in the mid nineteen nineties and
(10:24):
flipped from a movie theater into a music venue. Massive
stars like Ed Sheer and tiam And Paula and Oasis
have performed at this five hundred capacity stage, which was
designated as part of the US National Register of Historic
Places in nineteen ninety seven. Like most great venues, it's
the architecture and location that makes this spot so beloved.
(10:45):
Designed by prominent Colorado architect Harry W. J. Edbrooke, who
also is responsible for a number of the other buildings
in the Denver Skyline, including the Denver Gas and Electric Building,
the Ogden theater in the First National Bank, all of
which are also protected on the National Register. But this
spot has been hosting world class musicians for right around
(11:05):
three decades now. But what Denver is preserving in this
theater isn't just historic architecture. These tiered layouts, this balcony
that provides excellent sitelines for the whole place, but it's
really just a hub where everyone can gather and celebrate
rising musicians as they come through town. Perch between Conger
Street and City Park neighborhoods, the venue is central for
(11:28):
most of the city. Selected as one of the best
clubs in America by Rolling Stone, it's the local history
and vintage charm that really puts this venue in a
league of its own for Denver. Check the listing for
who's in town and playing the Bluebird when you're visiting,
and maybe go check out a young local band if
you don't recognize any of the names. After all, this
place has a great track record for hosting superstars long
(11:50):
before they make it big. Odds are though a national
act will be passing through and seeing them in this
intimate setting will be one of the best time times
you ever see them play. It's standing Ramoni, so come
with your stamina in tow, but be prepared for a
warm welcome from friendly staff and other patrons who know
that shows at this tiny venue are a gateway drug
(12:13):
into the larger Denver music scene. The gerald R four
Amphitheater is not quite Red Rocks, but think of it
as a stage plopped right down in the middle of
a ski town, and the appeal is real. It's technically
(12:37):
in Veil, so come prepared for a two hour drive
from Denver proper if the show you want to see
is host it out here, but hey, if you're not
able to score, spend your tickets for a show at
Red Rocks or your artist of choices booked the Ford
Amphitheater instead, just know that it's still going to be
one of the best venue experiences of your life, with
tiered lawns that are welcoming to patrons of all ages
(12:59):
and the close proxy to downtown Veil. If Red Rocks
is the Hollywood Bowl or Radio City, then the Ford
Amphitheater is the Greek theater, the roseland ballroom of this
mountain state. Plus, if you are into winter sports, spending
the day hitting the slopes and freshening up for a
night at a rock show is kind of the perfect
all day adventure For those of you who want to
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experience the rocky mountains and not just see them wavering
like a mirage in the distance, this is the place
to catch a show. Keep in mind, Veil is even
higher altitude than Denver and runs close to eight thousand
feet in most places. If you're not one of the
lucky few who's made better and glowier by the mountain air,
keep a close eye on your hydration and sleep. Altitude
sickness is no joke either, and drinking too much alcohol
(13:42):
or wearing yourself out with the skiing and snowboarding could
have a bigger impact up here. Stay hydrated and get
plenty of rest to make sure you get the most
out of your trip. That's the most health advice I have.
So back to the Ford Amphitheater. Shows are only hosted
here during the summer due to rather obvious constraints like
winter weather and the aforementioned eighths and feet of elevation,
But like outdoor venues, the rules are slightly more relaxed.
(14:04):
Guests can bring in their own food and personal coolers,
just no alcohol, please, blankets and tarps, umbrellas and short chairs,
all that stuff. Lawn seating is a first come, first serve.
It has a capacity of twenty eight hundred. The odds
of you getting a nice lawn seater are pretty high.
Despite the laid back atmosphere, people make the trek all
the way out to Veil for good reason. This venue
(14:26):
experience is absolutely stunning. When the music starts, people take
it seriously. The reverence of a show under the Veil
skies will unquestionably change your perspective on what a listening
room or space should be. Hey, not everyone wants to
(14:58):
book a trip that involves getting on a plane then
an additional two hour drive up to Snowy Peaks at
eight thousand elevation just to see a band in a
mountainside venue. I get it, that's all right. Some people
want something simpler, less polished, They want a towny vibe.
They want cover bands, and there's no shame in that.
A cover is one of the more under celebrated art forms.
(15:21):
And thankfully there's a spot in Denver, and that spot
is Herb's hideout. I almost don't have to I don't
have to say anything else after that dude just urbs hideout.
That could just be the whole segment for the no
cover spot. Just to say the name says it all.
It does the whole job, invoking both a place where
escapism is literally the name and the idea that some
(15:43):
local dude named Herb is still working behind the stick,
ready to serve you up a cold long neck while
you peel the label and eye of the stage on
the open mic night. And hey backline is provided. Alls
you need to do, as their website proclaims with multiple
exclamation points, is come down and bring your voice and
your acts. If that doesn't let you know that this
(16:04):
place is a musician owned then the constantly free live
music will tip you off. Are certain this isn't a
ticket to joint at all, but a place where anyone
is welcome. The drinks are served mighty stiff liquid courage
is important for belting out into a mic, maybe for
your first time in a whole host of jazz, reggae, blues,
R and B, and jam centric musicians that regularly rotate
(16:26):
through located right in the heart of Loto. That's Lower
Downtown for those of you who haven't played the SOHO
South of Houston or NoHo North Hollywood game before in
your life. Herbs is a nice break from the rest
of the nightlife scene in the area when you're looking
for something just a little bit more chill. Punk bars
(16:52):
and pizza just go together, right. Anyone with a thing
for the loud and epic, the punk, metal, hardcore, and
otherwise grungy is going to find something to love on
the bill at Summit, But they also have shows coming
up with reixop and Tate McCrae. This place contains multitudes,
technically a two in one venue. The Summit Music Hall
is the large space which can hold up to one
(17:13):
thousand capacity, and a smaller offshoot up front called the
Marquee Theater has a rich, rich punk history. Within that theater,
the counter that sells hot slices all night three point
fifty for cheese, four for pepperoni. That's pre pandemic prices.
There's only room for a couple hundred people in the
Marque when a show is on, so if you catch
(17:34):
an act there you love, it'll be truly special. But
this space is worth going to get your face melted in,
even if you just pop in for a slice at
the end of the night. A recent renovation upgraded it
from a dingy punk rock club into a modern, contemporary,
self respecting punk rock club, and that's always an exciting
step in any venue or punk rockers life. Denver has
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a festival culture that will be familiar to people who
grew up in states like Vermont, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and
other more rural areas where music festivals aren't Coachella or
Lalla palouzified, but festivals that actually orbit around particular music
styles and genres like folk and roots music or you know, beer,
as we often find. The number of music in brew
(18:28):
or october Fest themed festivals that happen in Colorado every
year is astonishing, and maybe beer is responsible for more
music than we give it credit for. Weed gets all
the love when it comes to enjoying music, and beer
is oddly the designated driver. So let's detour for a
second and talk about some of the best places to
grab a local brew when you're in the Mile High City. Like,
say you need to grab a brew before heading over
(18:50):
to Summit for the whole punk bar and pizza package
deal just a five minute driver or so away. Is
Zuni Street Brewing Company owner Willie Trudner is the head brewer.
He spent time studying German brewing styles in Munich before
opening up this very spot. It has a variety of
German and Belgian style beers, including an award winning standout,
(19:10):
the Belgian Wheat Beer Way West Width. Again, this spot
is in Low high aka Lower Highland, and Summit is
in Low Dough or Lower Downtown Denver, which is directly
to the east. An even better stop might be at
Cerebral Brewing in Congress Park before or after a show
at the Bluebird Theater, about five blocks away from the venue.
This brewer's hours run from late afternoon until ten or
(19:32):
eleven pm most days. As the name suggests, scientific and
creative expression runs a muck here, so the menu is
constantly in flux and includes flavor profiles that are way
far off the beaten path like lemon merangue and pink starburst.
And yes, we're still talking about beer. Finally, if you're
looking for another cool neighborhood to check out, most anyone
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who's a beer aficionado in Denver these days will tell
you to head up a little further north to five
points and give our our mutual friend a world. If
you have plans to visit Herb's Hideout, this is the
brewery to check out that's nearby, maybe a fifteen minute
walk or so between the two. Our mutual friend that's
the name of the place is beloved for its massive
(20:14):
outdoor space and eye catching colorful murals. So if you're
visiting during the summertime, it's the place to hang out
to soak up the sun. With a bent toward local ingredients,
OMF turns out everything from smoked wheat beers to the
uber hoppy ipays that have taken over palettes everywhere in
the bureau world lately. Now that you know what, you
get properly hydrated, let's get back on the festival tip,
(20:35):
because here we have offshoots for blues, rock, jazz, mountain music.
We got bluegrass and roots, bluegrass and folk and country
jams and more jazz and more bluegrass and global dance music,
and a whole lot of festivals that are specific to
secluded towns like Aspen, Colorado Springs and tell your ride.
Speaking of and this should go without saying, the best
(20:55):
time of visit Denver in general is the summer. Unless
you're extremely well versed in the methodology living in and
with the snow, and for some reason, you're really good
at being in frigid temperatures in the winter months. Summer
is the time to drop by, especially since that's when
most of these endless festivals are taking place. If you're
a music lover who wants to see more of Colorado
(21:17):
than just Denver and Boulder, planning your trip to coincide
with one of the many, many music festivals that are
held throughout the year could be a great anchor. Then again,
you might just want to pinpoint the date your favorite
artist is playing Red Rocks and build everything around that.
So that's enough of a lead up. Let's actually talk
about this infamous venue and break it down for real,
because that is the spot most calendars plan around. In
(21:52):
nineteen oh six, something happened to John Brisbane Walker. He
had a vision, which actually isn't that uncommon when it
comes to the music, but he had one nonetheless, and
it was the beginning of Red Rocks. Well, hold on,
that's that's a bit of revisionist history already. The beginning
of Red Rocks, the place itself being used for musical
(22:13):
or metaphysical performances, likely dates back to the Ute tribe,
the indigenous people who lived in the Great Basin before
American settlers. The Utes, whose tribal name is the source
of the name for the state of Utah, lived in
central and southwest Colorado and likely found a use for
the Red Rocks Amphitheater within their own culture. Maybe Walker's
(22:36):
vision was something more akin to a bit of cultural
memory broken off from the stream and slipped into the future.
Either way, once he got the idea into his head,
the publishing magnate with unlimited financial resources was pretty much unstoppable.
Sound familiar, At least this time it was a millionaire
using his power for good. Walker hosted shows there for
(22:57):
a few years, and then the city eventually bought the
venue space from him. In what had been known as
the Garden of Angels became the Garden of Titans, and then,
just finally, Red Rocks. Colloquial names tend to win out
over lofty publishing magnate idioms. Let's just call it what
it is. Designed by Denver architects Burnham Holt and Stanley E. Moorse,
(23:20):
there are literal fossil fragments, dinosaur tracks, and other ancient
marginalia built into the walls of this venue. It's designed
as an open air space, with little in the way
of actual walls or ceilings except for some areas built
into the rock face itself. The stage is the central focus,
with tiered bleachers affording pretty excellent sight lines of the
(23:41):
musicians performing in the Denver City skyline glinting in the distance.
It's this kind of place that feels wholly without any pretense,
a sparse, unflinching park that stretches across over seven hundred acres,
all coalescing in this red red stage that feels primal
in nature, honest to our legacy of performing for and
(24:05):
with each other. Sure, ride the bus out to Red Rocks,
clamber up the stairs, scan your ticket, get your beers,
find your seats, enjoy the show, beg for the setlist,
take all your videos, and maybe even get a little
stoned on the stones. Do all the normal best show
of your life stuff. But don't forget to take a minute,
either mid show or before it starts, to really look
(24:26):
around at where you are, to remember how special it
is to be an inhabitant of Earth, a place where
natural concert venues just leap up out of the ground.
Sometimes where culture after culture, generation after generation stumbles upon
them and makes them into a sort of plaything, a
place to celebrate and venerate, to party and to pray.
(24:51):
This shit is ancient. It is easy to lose sight
of that. Under the thumb scroll and the tyranny of
all our content. The music moments are the ones that
make us feel joined to the Earth, the cosmos, and
each other. And maybe those aren't three separate things. Well,
(25:17):
this might only be a hidden gem if you haven't
made your way from Denver proper over to its grungier, cooler,
smaller neighborhood city of Boulder. Hands Down, locals recommend the
Fox Theater as the best place to catch a show
in this city, and it was also added to the
best music venue lists by Rolling Stone, placing fourth overall
(25:38):
on that list. Just slightly larger than the Bluebird Theater
with its six hundred capacity, this is another place where
you're going to get an underplay style show with some musicians.
That's why keeping an eye out for a larger artist
booking a show here while they're on their national tour
is a good idea and the reason for an offshoot
from a Denver trip located in the Hill neighborhood of Boulder.
(26:01):
One unique thing about this venue is that the floor
slightly slants forward, so if taller patrons are standing closer
to the stage, it doesn't block the sitelines for attendees
standing in the back of the venue. Genius right clever
like a fox. When you're on the Hill aka, one
of the main commercial areas within Boulder, there's a couple
(26:22):
places to check out for quick eats. These both work
better pre show, but kitchen stay open until eleven PM,
so if you're out early it's doable. The first is
half Fast Subs, a sandwich shop that claims to have
the largest menu of sandwiches in the world, with over
one hundred different sandwich types. And they're not just plentiful
in options either. These subs are cartoon worthy, high stacked,
(26:45):
multi layered, and multi ingredient beauties, which is not to
say they're fancy, but they're more complex than just a
club or a chicken salad with names like Dagwood's Dream
with pastrami, roast beef, ham provolone, grilled onions, horse radish,
lettuce and tomatoes, or the Baba Bouie with turkey grilled onions, pepperoni, Swiss, lemon, tomatoes, mustard,
(27:07):
and mao. There's a reason this place thrives by a
college campus. The portions are large and the prices are affordable.
You won't go hungry with one of these in your
belly before a show, and sandwiches aren't your thing, no problem,
you head over to Illegal Piezz instead. This quick Mexican
food spot is built around the mission style burrito that
(27:28):
are a regional delicacy in places like San fran Aka.
They are huge, they have rice inside the burrito. Another
element of the mission style burrito is steaming the tortilla
before filling it with toppings, therefore making the tortilla more
stretchy soa can hold more. But I digress. Illegal PiZZ
serves everything from brito bowls, tacos, salads, even nachos. And
(27:50):
what's more, if you're a band rolling through town to
play a show, say at the Fox Theater, which is
about one block away, then you qualify for a free
meal at Illegal Piezz as long as you have an
Instagram handle, are from out of state, and can sure
the venueill link to verify your show. Then the meal
is on pets. That is truly the epitome of the
(28:13):
mountain state. Prepping for visit to Colorado does not have
to be extensive, but it's worth definitely taking a look
at the jam scene before you go. If you're not
someone who is at all familiar with the fact that
the Grateful Dead simply have not died, or that bands
(28:35):
like Fish and others have stepped in to feel the
ever present demand for more live and psychedelic noodling, then
there's a little fun homework. One very Colorado group who
is part of that scene is the String Cheese Incident,
and they are a great stand in as well as
a gateway drug. Throw on the documentary waiting for the
(28:56):
snow to fall and get a front row seat to
both the band's identity and their connection to the snowy
culture of their home state. Never have these two elements
been entwined better than within this hour long clip. So
whether you fall into the psychedelic blues that makes Denver
(29:17):
pop and chill and appeal to so many who initially
thought they'd just be passing through, or you get caught
up in a web of eternal, red and earthy heart
driven history that keeps this city forever grounded in its
compelling past. Don't be surprised if a visit to Colorado
awakens more in you than you ever expected. Within these
historic halls, in mountainside listening rooms, the becallic, beautiful, and
(29:40):
even feral side of music is allowed to rear its
shaggy head. Denver is a great city to visit, but
it's all the countryside around this city that might end
up changing how you hear your favorite song forever. And
(30:01):
one more thing, sometimes the jam band scene gets some
flak it doesn't deserve. I can't think of another genre
where when a band really gets together and puts together
a live show with tremendous players who know their instruments
up and down, that people come when they build it,
(30:22):
and there's no baseball field needed, just a big show
with adventurous songs. And there's an infrastructure waiting for that
in cities like Denver, and in other cities as well,
but Denver especially, And I think that kind of behavior,
that kind of loyalty and love, says a lot about
(30:46):
the style of music and the fans. But for the
places that embrace it, well, I think it says a
lot about those towns and how welcoming. It will be
when you get there, and that is our time in Denver.
Season two. Sound of Our Town Episode what episode episode six.
(31:13):
I'm not counting episodes. I'm thinking of where we're going next.
That's my job. I've asked you guys to leave reviews
and follow wherever you listen to podcasts, and you've done
that and it makes a huge difference. Thank you. Keep
them coming. People tell me I need to do like
a contest for reviews. I'm not gonna do that want.
(31:34):
I don't want to pit people against each other. I
don't want us to fight. Look. Sound of Our Town
is production of iHeartRadio and Double Elvis. It's executively produced
by Brady Sadler and Jake Brennan. Engineering work by Matt Boden.
This episode's head writer is Kaylin White. My name is
Will Daly. I have already introduced myself if you listen
(31:54):
this far, but you can hit me up at Will
Daily Official on Instagram or just spell Will Daily with
all the vowels D A, I L E Y, and
you'll find me anywhere digitally except for platforms that used
to have a bird as their icon. You know, I
made the music for this, I've said that before. Really
I want to wrap this up and get to the
(32:15):
next city. I'm excited about it. I got to finish
a record too, going back in tomorrow, and then I'll
be back on the mic for this show. I wonder
where we're going next, Well you find out on the
next adventure of Sound of Our Town. Until then, thank
you for your years, and look out for one another
out there.
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