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It was a balmy late summer night at Red Rocks on Saturday as fans of all kinds headed in to see one of the most anticipated shows of the summer.
The Scene: While we were surprised to see the show did not sell out, it was actually a blessing as no matter where you were in the venue, there was still plenty of room to boogie. While the smooth sounds of Emancipator started the night off on a mellow foot, the crowd grew more colorful and livelier as the music ramped up. There were nothing but good vibes the entire show as everyone seemed to be celebrating one of the last warm nights of the summer and it couldn’t have been more perfect.
The Show: As mentioned above, Ilya, (who is playing a solo show THIS FRIDAY at Cervantes' Other Side), joined opening act Emancipator on stage for a set that was short but sweet. Fresh off a three-set stint at Burning Man, the silky melodies and organic instrumentals mixed with Govinda’s amazing violin playing made for a captivating show. Highlight of the set: “Anthem.”
With EOTO’s much buzzed about Lotus Stage sitting in the background; we were definitely excited to see what all the hype was about. The crowd swelled in size as Michael Travis and Jason Hann took to the stage and the Lotus Stage did not disappoint. Seated as if in the middle of a giant lotus flower, the guys played a mix of funk, dub step and gangster rap we actually enjoyed! Playing J-Kwon’s, “Tipsy,” and “California Love,” by Tupac, Hann and Travis broke it down the dozen’s of twenty-something’s in the crowd.
And then of course, there was Lotus. The boys came out guns blazing, opening the show with new favorite, “Golden Ghost,” off of their latest disc, Lotus. We were impressed with the band’s offering of both old and new material and the jewel-toned lights were perfectly timed, creating an atmosphere that only Lotus can create. It was a dance extravaganza as the band launched into "Spiritualized," and by the end; we could barely make it back down the steps to the lots. Lotus has always been a favorite here at Swaager and the boys did not disappoint.
Final Thoughts: While part of us was mourning the loss of our usual STS9 Red Rocks weekend we typically enjoy around this time of the year, we were lucky enough to have this show fill the void. With a ticket that was strong from beginning to end, we were released into the night with terribly sore feet. Keep an eye out for Emancipator this November, as he will be returning to Colorado for four nights!
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