Ultra5280's Best Shows of 2016

We had the amazing opportunity to cover some amazing shows this year. The nice thing about our staff is that we all have different taste in music, for example our managing editor Mcclain Morris absolutely loves Pitbull (who would have known). A few things need to fit our criteria to make it a good show, showmanship, production, sound and the signature staple each band brings to the crowd. As with our top albums of 2016 we asked some of our good friends to chime in with theirs, so once again a huge thanks to our friends at Live Nation, AEG, Two Parts, and Soda Jerk Presents.

Robert Castro - Editor in Chief - Ultra5280

1. Radiohead - Austin City Limits Music Festival (Weekend Two)

2. Tame Impala - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

3. LCD Soundsystem - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

4. Bud Bronson and The Good Timers - The UMS

5. Sigur Ros - Ellie Caulkins Opera House

Mcclain Morris - Managing Editor - Ultra5280

1. The Lumineers - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

2. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats - Pabst Music Festival (Denver)

3. Brent Cowles - Syntax Opera House

4. Portugal. The Man / Glass Animals - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

5. Langhorne Slim - The Bluebird Theater

Matt Smith - Photographer - Ultra5280

1. LCD Soundsystem - red Rocks Amphitheatre

2. Brand New/Modest Mouse - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

3. Explosions In The Sky - The Ogden Theatre

4. Ryan Adams - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

5. Dolly Parton - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Tobias Krause - Event Manager - Two Parts Co

1. Tame Impala - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

2. Father John Misty - Ellie Caulkins Opera House

3. My Morning Jacket - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

4. The Raven & The Writing Desk - Fort Greene Bar

5. Dragondeer _ The UMS

Rikki Aston - Talent Buyer - Live Nation

1. Iggy Pop/Josh Homme - Ellie Caulkins Opera House

2. Dolly Parton - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

3. Chris Stapleton - The Fillmore Auditorium

4. Ja Rule/Ashanti - The Ogden Theatre

5. Sigur Ros - Ellie Caulkins Opera House

Zoe Lanterman - Marketing Director - Soda Jerk Presents

1. LCD Soundsystem - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

2. Tame Impala - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

3. Against Me - Riot Fest

4. Unknown Mortal Orchestra/Whitney - The Aggie Theatre

5. STRFKR/Com Truise - The Aggie Theatre

Geoff Brent - Talent Buyer - Soda Jerk Presents

1. LCD Soundsysytem - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

2. Nothing, Nowhere - Moon Room

3. Native Daughters - Larimer Lounge

4. Against Me - Marquis Theater

5. Modern Baseball/Joyce Manor - Summit Music Hall

Danny Sax - Talent Buyer - AEG

1. Gojira - The Gothic Theatre

2. Choking Victim - The Gothic Theatre

3. Mac Demarco - The Ogden and Red Rocks

4. The Specials - The Ogden Theatre

5. The Head and The Heart - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

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)

The Magic of Sigur Rós: A Visionary Tale

Now before we begin, I want to start off by saying that seeing Sigur Ros for the first time was a  moment I will never forget. I had never seen the band before so my expectations were pretty high considering the amount of praise they get for their live shows.  Let's just say they didn't disappoint. The band had to move venues in order to accommodate their elaborate visual production to immerse the audience into a full Sigur Ros experience.

The band is currently only touring with three members. The Icelandic threesome reached from their extended catalog of music that I'm not even going to attempt to spell. The band played two sets with an intermission between. Opening with "Á", a new song they have been playing on this tour was received to a warm welcome.. The first set was welcomed with large moments of silence and a visual interpretation that consisted of ever changing LED panels complimenting perfectly to the mastery of the music. The second set started with "Ovedur" which led to crowd favorite "Staralfur", possibly their most recognized song. The elements of the visual presentation was probably enough to warrant the price of the ticket itself. Visual elements have almost taken on a new meaning with a number of artist nowadays implementing it into their sets.

If you ever get a chance to see a Sigur Rós concert make no mistake it will immerse you into a place where you can get lost among the etherial substance of pure ecstasy. Not many bands can do that nowadays.