Beck enters and ushers us to the dance-party church that was Red Rocks tonight. He cries out to the masses, “Dearly beloved we are gathered here this evening....Can we get together on the mountaintop tonight and get higher?”

Indeed we can.

If Andy Warhol and Prince has a baby he’d feel a lot like Beck. He lasso’s, shimmies, Mick Jagger’s across the stage and leads a stellar band of players in a show that feels well-worn and effervescent all at once. He is a splendid storm of melodious energy, clad in a motorcycle jacket with floppy blonde hair tamed by an (Isaac-the-Prophet, ala Children of the Corn style) black brimmed hat. I fell in love with everyone on the stage tonight. Please deliver me on a ride of syncopated jumping, falsetto cries and robo-voice authoritative assurances. “Who cares if it’s a Tuesday night?”

Jenny Lewis started the show floating in as Rainbow Bright incarnate, in hot pink fringe and sequins making me feel like everything was going to be alright.

The depths of her lyrics dancing off the glowing, copper hills enveloped me and I forgot my cares for a while. Her voice soars and swims, warm as the pillows of a comfy Sunday bed. But for me just now, I’ll keep my head under water in a way that feels so right. It could be auspicious place, the autumn of the air, a rush of color and life oozing from the stage but “there’s a little bit of magic...everybody has it” at least for tonight.

-Cherie Rae Cobbs

Photos by: Shon Cobbs

The cool, dry, dusk air rolling through the foothills of Colorado fills this mystical and mesmerizing venue. Mingling with the smells of Colorado beer, grilled concessions, and 10,000 fans waiting to greet their hometown heroes. This is my first time coming to Red Rocks as a photographer, my first time making photographs of either band, and honestly, my first time actually even seeing Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats live.

I started the Behind The Scene podcast in 2015, the same year that Nathaniel and band released S.O.B to the world and broke through the ceiling that most local bands find impenetrable. Doing this podcast, talking with so many amazing artists both local and national, my fascination with Nathaniel Rateliff has only grown exponential. Why does one artist break so massively, while other, equally amazing talents are left languishing? Is it merely a payment for dues rendered? Or is just timing and luck and kismet and...?

We are allowed to shoot from the photo pit for only the first three songs of both the Slim Cessna's Auto Club and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats performances. 3 songs, 10-12 minutes to try to capture the essence of 2 of the best live bands to come out of Colorado in decades. While fearing that 3 songs won't be enough to capture the magic of these incredible performers in photo, I quickly realized that I needed less than one half of one song to answer my questions above.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are enjoying the success that they are, not because of dues paid, or work ethic, or fate, destiny, luck, or magic. I mean, sure all of those play a part in the trajectory of any artist. However, it is much more simple than that. They are selling out multiple nights at one of the best venues in the world, as well as countless amazing venues internationally because they put on an absolutely electric, engaging, beautiful, and soul fulfilling live show.

The pairing with Slim Cessna's Auto Club perfectly added to the elevation of the evening as these two grandiose performers left me feeling inspirationally fueled, artistically fulfilled, and emotionally drained. We don't go to Red Rocks for the live music. We go to Red Rocks for an experience that can't be replicated elsewhere. Nathaniel Rateliff, Slim Cessna, and their respective league of extraordinary players delivered us exactly that, an experience that I know I won't be able to let go of anytime soon.

-Shon Cobbs

Photos By: Shon Cobbs