Birds chirping, the trees blooming, April showers, and me fighting for air as I climb my way to my seat at Red Rocks. These are the truest signs of spring in Denver, Colorado and I am beyond thrilled that it is once again Red Rocks season.
Fresh off the fall release of his new album, it’s murph found himself headlining Red Rocks for the very first time in his career, and he brought an entourage of melodic house acts with him. The staccato delayed bass drops encapsulated a night filled with the genre that unites old school house heads and college party goers, and the crowd truly embraced its spectrum of ages.
Up front, rows were packed tight, three to four deep, with an upbeat, youthful energy that pushed the limits of the wooden benches stretching across the rocks. Further back, the space opened up into pockets where the elder statesmen of the crowd carved out room to dance, staying warm in the crisp nighttime air.
The moon timed its appearance just as it’s murph took the stage, fashionably late to the party. The crowd stared out in awe over the stage, past the city and into space above, just as the Artemis II took aim at the same target we collectively gazed at from below.
It’s Murph brought a presence to the venue that captured a wide array of house stylings. He incorporated what could only be described as a melodic house take on Flume’s signature stuttering sounds. I would argue that he tricked the youths in attendance into unknowingly enjoying progressive house.
Live vocals layered effortlessly into the set, highlighted by a performance of “Lift Me Up” from Liv Grace Blue. Then, in an entirely unexpected moment, Khalid appeared live on stage for a debut that caught everyone off guard.
Each track was given room to breathe, never rushing headfirst into the next drop. The pacing brought the crowd to life while still allowing moments to catch a breath before diving back in. Those melodic builds, paired with the timeless sweep of lasers cutting through the Red Rocks sky, created something that never loses its magic, no matter how many times you experience it.
