Blog courtesy of acclaimed music journalist, and Gizz-superfan, Jonathan Cohen
Watch the worldwide premieres from the 13-show marathon. The three-show Red Rocks’ premieres start Tuesday June 27. Read more about the entire marathon of shows in Cohen’s full Summer Tour write-up.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
Back in the friendly confines of Red Rocks on June 7, Gizzard dusts off “Sense,” which had been on the acoustic Caverns show set list but was cut for time, and debuts the genial “Hate Dancin’” from last year’s Changes album (hint: they don’t really hate it). A two-fer from 2017’s Murder of the Universe is an excellent precursor for three continuous tracks from “Nonagon Infinity,” with “Robot Stop” working in teases of “Hot Water,” “The Dripping Tap” and “Shanghai.”
In another “hey, why not?” move, Gizzard plays two separate shows at the gorgeous mountain venue the next day, with the afternoon matinee marked by the first performance of the gauzy “Satan Speeds Up” since 2014 and numerous devil-horn rockers such as “Self-Immolate” and “Evil Death Roll.” Walker gets the vocal spotlight on “This Thing” and “Most of What I Like,” and “Shanghai” has an impromptu chant about getting high, because … well, Colorado.
At the evening show, the twisting and turning “Rattlesnake” is an ideal opener to reset the collective energy, and Kenny-Smith again steals the spotlight with his vocals and stage presence on “Straws in the Wind” and “Presumptuous.” The last portion of the night shifts from the infrequently aired “Slow Jam I” into four straight rippers: “Hell,” “Mars for the Rich,” “Super Cell” and “Gila Monster,” the latter two “Petro” tracks reminding the audience of Gizzard’s inherent mastery of dynamics and virtuosity.
Watch the worldwide premieres from the 13-show marathon, the Red Rocks’ shows start Tuesday June 27th, with The Salt Shed and Remlinger Farms still to come. Save 25% when ordering all 13, available as an upgrade from any single-night’s show.
Jonathan Cohen is a music journalist, editor and author of the New York Times-bestselling authorized biography of Pearl Jam, 2011’s “Pearl Jam 20.” He previously served as the music booker for the first six years of Jimmy Fallon’s NBC late night show, where he oversaw the debut U.S. TV appearances of Tame Impala, Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, Lorde, Kacey Musgraves, and Ed Sheeran. He also plays keyboards in the band Chamberlain.
