J. Lo Dazzles In Denver With Her It's My Party Tour

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Jennifer Lopez is currently in the midst of her current tour rightfully named the It’s My Party Tour. The party invaded Denver’s Pepsi Center this past Wednesday night as the atmosphere came to life via an amazing glamorous production. For me personally I was sharing my own birthday so the whole night seemed surreal and a perfect way to celebrate. Now we’ve all know Lopez from her television/film/dance background, seeing her live proved to be worthy as she proved to be one of the industry’s most charismatic artist. With a production featuring lights, balloons, smoke, pyro, and a hanging dazzling chandelier that dropped to the center of the stage, there wasn’t a single vantage point in the whole arena that didn’t warrant the price of admission. That as well as the numerous costumes and outfits she graced the crowd with. Jaw dropping ensembles paired perfectly with the production giving each song even more meaning.

Lopez has recently shined with her collaborations with fellow latino artist such as Pitbull, Bad Bunny, and Cardi B. In fact the mostly dominant latino crowd ate up the celebration as they sang word for word from her vast catalog. Spanish hits such as “Dinero”, “Te Guste”, “Te Bote” and “El Anillo”, all set off impromptu dance parties across the floor and up and down the aisles.

She did manage to reach back into the archives with fan favorites we have come to love such as “Get Right”, “I’m Real”, and “Jenny From the Block”. It was those songs that introduced the world to Jennifer Lopez and seeing them come to life with amazing pageantry reminded us how far J. Lo has come. Much of the credit to her live performances has to go to the amazing dancers she has brought on this tour, a former fly-girl herself, Lopez meshed amazingly well with each choreographed routine.

J. Lo dazzles in Denver. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

J. Lo dazzles in Denver. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

One of the most touching parts of the show was when she brought out her daughter Emme for their version of “Limitless/Titanium”. It’s heartfelt moments such as that which enables Lopez to control the show from an all out dance party to a more sincere moment at the drop of a dime.

The consensus amongst the crowd as they exited the aisles was a shared admiration for what they had just witnessed. For me it felt more personal as I mentioned it was my birthday and I felt like the whole show was dedicated to me, an amazing way to celebrate my day.

Childish Gambino Proves Why He Is The Best Entertainer In The Business

The show was a no-photo policy.

Donald Glover is what we can call a modern day Renaissance Man, a man who combines an array of talents and skills to entertain us. A skilled writer, actor, producer, dj and musician, Glover uses all of these components to provide us with his own unique methods of entertaining us.

Tuesday night it was his musical moniker of Childish Gambino that set the Pepsi Center a blaze with his performance. He tore through his 17 song set at will and urged concertgoers to put away their phones for the performance.”This is not a concert, this is church echoed through the packed house” Gambino is a showman with his customary screams and gyrating dance moves that are often portrayed in his videos. Seeing them come to life in a live setting is truly extraordinary.

Childish Gambino performing on his last tour ever. (iPhone photo: Robert Castro)

Gambino erupted through his short catalog (he’s only made three albums) of hits including “Worldstar”, “Summertime Magic” even making it through the lower corridors of the Pepsi Center randomly popping out of the 200 section to give the crowd and up close rendition of “Late Night In Kuai” and “Stand Tall”.

It was those moments that Gambino truly connected with the crowd and kept the energy hyped all night. Most artist complain about the altitude here in Denver, not a single word was mentioned by Gambino, add to that the fact that he is coming back from a recent leg injury, the dude left it all on the floor.

One of the best shows in Denver this year. (iPhone Photo: Robert Castro)

He erupted into “This Is America” to end his set and at that point you could feel the crowd give all they had left in the tank to dance and sing along. After a brief break he returned for his encore set including early catalog hits such as “Sweatpants”, “Sober”, and “3005”. It was an amazing experience to say the least and no better way to end the night than a crowd sing-a-long of “Redbone”, that sealed an epic night and for us a perfect way to send off Childish Gambino on his last tour ever.

March 2018 | Denver's Most Highly Anticipated Shows

compiled by Meesh Deyden for the masses

Lorde photographed in 2014 by Ultra5280 Editor in Chief, Robert Castro 

Lorde photographed in 2014 by Ultra5280 Editor in Chief, Robert Castro 

Mon 3/5 Lorde at Pepsi Center with Run the Jewels

Following her Grammy snub and a string of heartfelt and righteous comebacks, Lorde's North American leg of her Melodrama tour finds an equally fierce (if not more so) ally in openers, Run the Jewels. You may recall Killer Mike's moving speech at a music venue in St Louis, Missouri just a half hour after the Ferguson grand jury decided to not indict officers involved in the killing of Mike Brown. Unsurprising to fans, both acts are heralded for making emotionally and politically astute music that makes you wanna dance h a r d. To sweeten the deal, the seemingly disparate pair just released a remix of Lorde's "Supercut" featuring verses by Killer Mike.

Tix: At the time of publication, tickets are still available! // Pro-Tip: The Pepsi Center powers that be have ordered bartenders to stop serving about 3/4 through the show, so plan ahead for optimal buzz. 

Sat 3/10 Lucius at Boulder Theater

When you move to Brooklyn to embark on your music career and move into a house that turns out to have been a music school and a recording studio, it seems destiny may be working an angle. Since the release of their 2012 EP, Lucius-- led by Berklee School alums Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig-- have toured with Jack White, had their song "Two of Us on the Run" streamed 30+ million times, garnered top nods from NPR & NY Times for their 2014 album, Wildewoman, and snagged a gig singing back up for the legendary Roger Waters. Instead of amping up the production after all this, Lucius is returning to the basics, releasing Nudes, an album of acoustic tracks coming this spring. 

Tix: SOLD OUT // Pro-Tip: Take the bus from Union Station aka don't be a drunk idiot. But if you are drunk and have a case of the drunchies, the Taco Bell next to the theatre will be your best friend.

Sun 3/11 George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at Ogden 

George Clinton and P. Funk recently released a track (see video above) that is the 1st song under the Parliament name since the 80s. That's decades w/o an official new P Funk groove! "I'm Gon Make U Sick O'Me" is part of Medicaid Fraud Dog, an album that Clinton says will feature "P-Funk horn players Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Greg Thomas, and Benny Cowan." So if you missed their private show for Outdoor Retailer at Broadway's Temple in February, you can still grab tickets to their Ogden show. 

Tix: $32 // Pro-Tip: Get funky before the show at the funkiest joint on the block-- Sancho's of course. 

Fri 3/16 Portugal the Man at MCA

Turns out that Portugal the Man is pretty tight with current MCA exhibited artist, Cleon Peterson. The recent Grammy winners will be playing a private show at the museum for some lucky fans, and all ya gotta do to get a ticket (really, the only way to get a ticket) is give 'em the ole razzle dazzle, social media style. For full entry rules click here. 

Tix: see rules for entry here // Pro-Tip: If you have time before or after the set, check out the exhibit in the basement-- it's a video collage matched up to Kanye's "Ultralight Beam" by renowned artist Arthur Jafa!

Tu 3/20 Kinky Fingers at Lion's Lair with Acid Tongue, Ancient Elk

Yo! Surf rock babes, Kinky Fingers, are ridin the wave these days with their latest release, Garbage Plate, hittin the streets and an upcoming Treefort Fest slot! They've been playing a bunch of shows around town, but we're particularly excited for their March gig at our beloved Lion's Lair! Doors are at 8:30 and we suggest getting there in time to check out some stellar opening acts! 

Tix: $8 // Pro-Tip: Lion's Lair is one of our fave classic Colfax dives, so treat it with respect, damnit! And by respect we mean: bring cash, tip your bartender, cheer on the bands, and if you wanna talk during a set, don't do it right by the stage, ya twerp. 

Arcade Fire Put On The Show Of The Year In Denver

Walking into the Pepsi Center on Wednesday night you would have thought you were about to witness a boxing match judging by the boxing ring smack dab in the center of the arena. Not the case as Canadian imports Arcade Fire used the prop as their stage to shine. All we were missing was the familiar sound of Michael Buffer exclaiming "Let's Get Ready To Rumble". The band played into the boxing moniker as they were introduced before the modest crowd (who by the way missed the best show of the year) just like the prized champions of the squared circle.

As soon as they set foot into the ring all hell brooke loose for almost two hours of non-stop dancing and singing. The band put on a performance that will be talked about for many years to come (unless they outdo themselves on their next tour). Backed by one of the most talented bands in the land Win Butler played the master of ceremonies as each song on the setlist flowed smoothly and gave life to the live performance with the array of lighting visuals that would make the most popular EDM fan jealous. Fans who were on the floor got one of the most intimate performances as the center stage rotated along with the band members making for dynamic views all around. The setlist was a hodgepodge of material spanning from their five studio albums. Opening with the first single off their new album "Everything Now" the band took tremendous pride in what has been a much ridiculed album earning modest ratings. Not ones to back away from criticism, the band has established themselves beyond the fact that the perception of one album shouldn't hinder the amount of work they have put in to position themselves as one of the most respected bands in the world. Notable moments from the night were solo performances from Régine Chassagne who got to shine and impress on new single "Electric Blue" (Off Everything Now) and our beloved "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) off their third album The Suburbs. Her penchant for the theatrics gave way to a warm and welcomed reception as the crowd ate up everyone of her unorthodox dance moves. We love you Régine don't ever change. After all was said and done this may very well have been the show of the year for us.

Opening the night was Colombian band Bomba Estereo who warmed up the crowd with their stapled tropical electro indie anthems. Many in attendance were left in awe as the band who sang mostly in Spanish captured the audience with the array of tropical flare.

Arcade Fire Set List:

Everything Now | Signs Of Life | Rebellion (Lies) | Here Comes The Night | No Cars Go | Haîtî | Electric Blue | Put Your Money On Me | Neon Bible | Intervention | Modern Man | The Suburbs | Ready To Start | Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) | Reflektor | Afterlife | Creature Comfort | Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) | Encore: We Don't Deserve Love | Everything Now (Chorus) | Wake Up

Words and images: Robert Castro

The Red Hot Chili Peppers Returned To Denver After Their Rescheduled Appearance

California rockers The Red Hot Chili Peppers made their way back to the Mile High City for their rescheduled performance at The Pepsi Center on Monday night. The legendary rockers belted out their hits from their incredible catalog to entertain the packed house. In typical RHCP fashion the band played for the crowd with intensity and true showmanship. They also celebrated the birthday of bassist Flea (who managed to throw in a few jabs at the Denver Nuggets) who still manages to get up and down the stage with his gyrations and customary bass in your face attitude. Check out the amazing photos from staff photographer Aly Mclaran.

Lead man Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers performs for the Pepsi Center crowd. (Photo Credit: Alyson McClaran)

Depeche Mode Prove That Some Bands Get Better With Age

Dave Gahan belting out lyrics. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The  multi-talented Martin Gore. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Synth legend Mr. Andrew Fletcher. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The Pepsi Center was full of nostalgia this past Saturday as a sold out crowd welcomed music pioneers Depeche Mode. Just like a fine wine the band has found themselves in a rejuvenated state on their current tour. This was stop number two on the Globa Spirit Tour. Often times it takes a band three to four shows to shake off any nervousness or uneasiness. As much experience as they have as a collective they managed to control much of the emotions during the first few songs. Known as pioneers in the new wave or electro-pop scene the band has managed to provide us with music that has left us always wanting more. Led by the trio of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher the band has always maintained a consistent sound that sounds as amazing today as it did twenty five years ago. The same raspiness and electric stage presence of Gahan backed by the blissful guitar play of Gore and mind numbing synth effects of Fletcher had us singing along to classics such as "Barrel Of A Gun", "World In My Eyes", "Enjoy The Silence", and "Personal Jesus". Mix in some new material and subtle effective production, the show never lost a beat. Even when it was time to slow things down with Gore taking lead vocals on songs such as "Somebody", the audience used the slower paced ballad to catch their breath for a grand finale. The Spirit Tour has just gotten started and we highly suggest taking it for a joy ride when it hits your town.

Words and Images: Robert Castro