NaS and Company Invade Red Rocks

Nasir (Photo Credit: Milo Lee)

Red Rocks Amphitheater opened its welcome mat to some of the legends of hip hop on Wednesday night. Opening the festivities were local duo The Reminders who got the crowd warmed up for the likes of Royce da 5'9", Brother Ali, Black Star and headliner NaS. The crowd filled with traditional hip hop heads listened to some of the best tracks from the Golden Era of hip hop as Black Star and NaS brought their classics to the stage. It's easy to forget just how many hit NaS has, yet he managed to include them all. A perfect night for the biggest hip hop show of the Summer at The Rocks.

Photo Credit: Milo Lee

1. 2. 3. its Mos Def and Talib Kweli (Photo Credit: Milo Lee)

Bonanza Campout Makes Its Festival Return To Utah

Festival onlookers enjoying the scenery in Utah (Photo credit: Ryan Stephens)

The site: River’s Edge RV Park in beautiful Heber City, Utah

Despite being amidst an RV park and everyone who’s chosen to live there for the summer, the amenities that came with venue such as a general store and additional buildings that came in handy when camping sold out and were available as bungalows for the duration of the festival. Small and definitely walkable, it would have been nicer to have been in a more outdoorsy setting so to say, but the river alongside the festival was a perk.

Headliners: Nick Murphy, Nas, Lauryn Hill, and Odesza

Nick Murphy and Odesza played more upbeat sets than I’ve seen either of them play, which was nice to see in the festival setting. Murphy put on a much better, more lively show than he did at Red Rocks this year. Odesza and Nas definitely knew what the crowd wanted to hear, and they thrived in a setting like Bonanza where it’s so easy to thrive of the energy of the crowd. Interactive, lively, and beautiful, their sets were highlights of the weekend. It was nice to see big names like Ms. Lauryn Hill on the bill, but a real bummer to see a legend like her struggle through a set that wasn’t cohesive with the rest of the day’s music. Although I’m not denying this woman’s talent, it seemed as though her OCD kicked in, and instead of performing for the crowd that came to see her, she struggled through her performance on account of trying to perfect the intricate sounds she was trying to put forth, in an outdoor venue that wasn’t doing it for her.

The smaller names: Cut Copy, The Airborne Toxic Event, Wale, Duke Dumont, Kongos, Mutemath, Bob Moses, Jai Wolf, Method Man & Redman, Lany, Cherub, Slow Magic, Big Wild, Waka Flocka Flame, Eden, The Knocks, Tokimonsta, Robert Delong, Frienship, Honorss, Harrison Brome, R.Lum.R, Michl, Chet Porter, Kiev, Kyle Bent, Avalon Landing, Secrets, Cale & the Gravity Well, Ocelot

I don’t know about you, but the smaller names on a festival bill are usually the ones to tickle my fancy, and this was no different. Jai Wolf, Slow Magic,The Knocks, and Tokimonsta were some of my favorite sets this weekend. These artists across the board tried hard to put on a good performance for the crowd, and succeeded. Tokimonsta even played a really awesome after party on Saturday, the 24th. The Knocks, an NYC based duo stole my heart with their stage presence and their funky basslines.

/Mutemath, Wale, and Airborne Toxic Event were mildly nostalgic and equally entertaining. Some of the smaller names seemed a little out of place, but were enjoyable and also added to the variety that existed within the lineup.

The good: On account of being so small, it was easy to see and fully experience the festival to its fullest. There was just enough versatility in food vendors, product vendors, and brand ambassadors, in a setting that was very easy to navigate under the disorienting magic effect festivals have on some of us. The people were lively, friendly, and not too rowdy and everyone seemed willing to experience the desert in harmony. Utah native and Denver resident Casey Kawaguchi was one of the artists live painting the festival, and it was definitely nice to have a piece of Denver in Heber City. In addition to Casey, Jon Lang, and Anthony Ortega were also live painting the whole weekend to create some wonderful pieces for crowds to experience. There were even a few sculptures that were worth aweing over, but the imagery when everything came together was what shined over any negativities this weekend.

The bad: It’s apparent that this festival was over budget and under staffed by the way the camping, parking, and entry to the festival was handled, however the people behind it made it better and definitely tried to smooth things over for any unhappy festival goers. They didn’t even check bags upon entry into the festival until Sunday, y’all. Being at an RV park was also pretty terrible at times, and the after party “venue” was kind of a joke. Also, bands like Cherub should never be seen live, and what on Earth does Waka Flocka get paid for doing? Manic hair flips and popping bottles on crowds of rave kids? Some of the artists seemed unessential to the lineup, but essential to the overall feel of the festival.

Overall: For the price and the experience, I would say it’s a decent festival, that I look forward to watching grow and evolve. The kinks that exist shouldn’t be difficult to smooth over, and the Bonanza fam rolls squad deep. 7.5/10

Words: Lina Skrzypczak | Images: Ryan Stephens

Ultra5280's Best Photos of 2016

This year the Ultra5280 shutterbugs were all over the place. One of the coolest things we get to do around here is share our amazing photos with you from all the amazing concerts we get to cover. With a talented staff of amazing photographers some of these images are beyond words. A huge shoutout to all those who put in many hours and sacrifice to bring you these amazing photos. Big thanks to Matt Smith, Maddie Casey, Robert Castro, Andrew Rios, Milo Lee Hickman, and Stephanie Mathena. From Radiohead to Dolly Parton we present to you The Top Images of 2016....Ultra5280 Style.

Photo credits: Stephanie Mathena, Milo Lee Hickman, Maddie Casey, Andrew Rios, Matt Smith, Robert Castro. (All Rights Reserved)

Tattoos, Mohawks, and Piercings: Riot Fest Delivered On All Levels This Year In Denver


Since migrating from it’s Chicago birthplace, Riot Fest has brought to Denver some of the largest acts in music history; last year Riot Fest brought us alt-rock pillars Pixies and Modest Mouse, sided by rap deities Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube. 

The festival has become known as a three-day long nostalgia trip harking back on the audience’s early days of walkmans and pixilated iPods, walks on the sidewalk and angst fueled rebellion railed against the expected, the norm, and the sleeping, smiley radio-pop with no incisors, and instead celebrating the apolitical, angry and bass heavy, boiling with quick tempo rails against the corporate machine and mentality. 

Nothing but love at this years Riot Fest (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Held in The National Western Complex, four stages spread across dirt, gravel and concrete, branching out from the sweaty hearth of the Denver Coliseum and into the depths of the American anti-movement.

This year’s lineup was no surprise, comprised of equal parts punk, rap and alternative-rock, complete with headliners Death Cab For Cutie, Sleater Kinney, NAS and, most anticipated, the 30 year awaited reuniting of The Original Misfits. The festival drew fans from all over the world vying to get a glimpse of Glenn Danzig and freshly paved moments in music history. 

Fans of The Misfits were out in full force. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The National Western Complex quickly filled by 12:30 p.m. every day with Misfits tees, mohawks and black on black clothing, circles formed of both friends and strangers. The festival featured roughly a dozen different food trucks, offering vegan and vegetarian gyros and burritos, turkey legs, tacos and fried oreos, along with other typical carnival-esque exoticisms. 

Beer and other canned cocktails were sold for $6 to $8; expected fare for larger festivals. The tap lines were pretty long during high traffic, but if you knew which tents to stake out, a beer could be sought and bought in under ten minutes most of the time. 

Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The ageless wonder Mr. Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Friday’s most memorable include Rogue Wave, Wolf Parade, Death Cab For Cutie, Jane's Addiction, Descendents and particularly, Suicidal Tendencies.

The intensity in the pit during Suicidal Tendencies was a steep and steady ascent; during the first twenty or so minutes I was pushing my way through the circle-pit and chanting “Institution! I’m not crazy, institution!” with the best of them. Eventually the gravel and grit feeling we were stomping around in pervaded into everything; the crowd felt big, not only in number but in size, and I, being short, dipped out to avoid getting my eyes pitted by the silver spikes lining the handsewn back-patches adorning many a homemade vest. 

Mike Muir, frontman, recounted between two or three minute high tempo hits, “This isn’t a slogan, I’m not a politician! This is freedom!”, a direct reference to the foundation of the punk music, atheism and rebellion which incited fired enthusiasm. 

After their set, I found a friend who I’d lost within the first ten minutes, missing her left Toms shoe, spotted with a stranger’s blood on her shoulder and grinning dazedly.

Check Out Our Riot Fest Day One Gallery HERE


Saturday saw Meat Puppets, Danny Brown, Yo La Tengo, Vince Staples, Denver’s own Devotchka, Sleater Kinney, Julian Marley Performing Bob Marley and The Wailers’ Exodus, and Ween. 

Danny Brown played one of the most hyped sets of the weekend. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Danny Brown brought a lot of heat, spitting lyrics in quick succession, “And I smoke/ Blunt after blunt after blunt after blunt”, with his usual blur of obscenities and affable expressions. 

I dipped out halfway through his set to see mid-nineties alt-rock staple Yo La Tengo who recently released an album Stuff Like That There (2015) which is pretty phenomenal. Their set was concluded with a ten minute long song with a single, simple bass riff decorated with Ira Kaplan’s animated guitar solo, some fancy footwork with his pedals, slaps of his fret board and 360 degree swings sending his guitar sailing around his body. The song inched into your mind like a worm, it’s steady vibration lulling you into a Yo La Tengo induced, genex, ethereal, bass-binded spell. 

Corin Tucker of Sleater Kinney played an amazing raucous set. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Sleater Kinney, a Feminist punk four piece including front woman Corin Tucker, bassist Carrie Brownstein and drummer Janet Weiss brought the crowd to their knees. The band was emanating bright energy; with impeccable lighting, a royal purple, gauzy background and fog machine, the women brought what can only be described as pure lady power. Playing hits off of The Woods and Dig Me Out, my first encounter with this band left me stunned and in total disbelief. 

Check Out Our Riot Fest Day Two Gallery HERE

The third day of any festival is a feat in it of itself, and despite exhaustion and ear damage, the crowd turnout was larger than ever for Sunday’s lineup. The day began much like the ones before, only with more velocity, more Misfits tees, and more redbull fueled moshing. The lineup was noticeably more hardcore; Converge, Hatebreed, Murder By Death and Bad Religion filled up the earlier slots to prepare the crowd for The Misfits’ resurrection. 

The most commonly asked question floated around like a virus: “So, you going to Nas or Misfits?” Whether the organizers intended to create the “Which set can I stand to miss?” anxiety and the inevitable friend group division that ensued, or they simply assumed that the crowds for each would split easily like a cell undergoing routine mitosis, the question served well as a conversation starter between strangers throughout the entire festival. 

Bleached, L.A. an indie-pop-punk band headed by Mika Miko, drew a large audience into the Coliseum, with danceable, shimmeable pop and surf rock licks, a perfect band to make the September summer last just a little bit longer. 

2 Chainz....more like 2 Late. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

2 Chainz and Tyler, The Creator took on the Rock Stage back to back. Although 2 Chainz appeared twenty minutes after his scheduled slot, Tyler’s set was full and unimpeded. Tyler was literally elevated,  (he got airborne) in the Mile High City, jumping from the stage repeatedly, bashing the crowd in his lyrics as to be expected. 

Sleigh Bells came on next, with a full face assault; strobe-lights, heavy distortion and hard hitting bass, the crowd was wild for hits such as “Rill Rill” and “Kids”, intermixed with newer tracks off of the more recent Bitter Arrivals.

Tyler The Creator with some serious hops. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

I tried to get a good spot for Misfits, and even though I left halfway through Sleigh Bell’s set, a sea of people had accumulated around the Riot Stage, flowing freely past the sound stage and into the food truck lines. Danzig and band installed an unbendable no photo rule, and thus he and the rest (Jerry Only and Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein) were much unseen, but man, were they were heard. 

Although tension was predicted, Danzig was nothing if not nostalgic. He took breaks between songs to personally acknowledge Only, Frankenstein and the rest of the band present, eliciting cheers and chants. Much of their set consisted of the infamous album Walk Among Us (1982), one to two minute songs each inciting short lived circle pits and long lived pride from long-time Misfits fans and fanatics. 

Not Danzig and Jerry Only. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Danzig iterated, “This all started back in the early 80’s, when we dressed in all black; we didn’t look like anyone, we didn’t sound like anyone, and we were about getting people mad and getting people to party, and we got into trouble every single night,” before jumping into a rendition of the crowd favorite “All Hell Breaks Loose”. 

A group next to me had driven the same day from Montana, just to see Misfits’ reunite. The crowd was both fighting against each other to move closer and united with camaraderie, a newfound kinship created in their mutual fandom. 

After the Misfits wistfully exited, the crowd disbanded, smiling and dazed, astounded to have witnessed one of the most historic punk bands coming together again to play their most famous tracks. 

If I Ruled The World. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

All in all, this years Riot Fest was undoubtedly a success. We were given the chance to walk among the greatest of American punk history, to recount our youth and our nostalgia, and to gather together in mutual appreciation for all things anti. 

A gigantic thanks to everyone who made it out to the National Western Complex and to those who assisted in the process. We have made it out to Riot Fest for many years, and we will continue to do so, giddy with excitement and ready to release our inner riot. We can’t wait to see what the festival will brew up for 2017 lineup, but we can’t imagine it will be that much different; we can always expect that somehow, the lineup will be better than the previous. 

Check Out Our Riot Fest Day Three Gallery HERE

 

Words: Kendall Morris Photos: Robert Castro