Gods of Summer Tour ft. Ra Ra Riot, Jimmy Eat World and Third Eye Blind

Third Eye Blind (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

On a cold rainy Saturday, Denver witnessed the Gods of Summer Tour featuring Third Eye Blind and Jimmy Eat World. Anybody growing up in the mid to late nineties got to witness two of music post grunge pioneers. The tour stopped at Levitt Pavilion this past Saturday, with rain forecasted throughout the night concert fans got lucky as the stormed only played havoc for about 20 minutes before the skies cleared and the bands belted out all the classics we have come to love. Ra Ra Riot opened up the festivities to get things started. Followed shortly by the band from Tempe, Arizona. Jim Adkins and company rallied in the rain to give us a dose of nostalgia from albums such as Bleed America, Static Prevails and Futures. Fan favorites included “The Middle”, “Sweetness” and “Pain”. The band has maintained its cult following for years now and luckily for us we have had the chance to follow them throughout their fabled careers.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World slaying in front of a packed Levitt house. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

As the rain stopped it was time for bay area rockers Third Eye Blind to hit the stage. Adorned in a bright yellow hoodie with matching sneakers frontman Stephan Jenkins and company opened with “Screamer”, which happens to be the name of their forthcoming album set to drop in July. Playing out like the soundtrack to any 90’s teen movie the band ripped through classics such as “Never Let You Go”, “Semi-Charmed Life” and “Jumper”. The band managed to show its relevance with Jenkins commanding the stage, some brief audience banter about the show feeling like a basement show due to its intimate setting and lack of production lighting (weather uncertainties caused them to stay in their trailers). For some it was a show that featured two bands that had a major impact in their teenage adolescent years, while others basked in the comfort knowing that good music still exists even if they achieved popularity in the 90’s.

Ra Ra Riot (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Pandora Music At SXSW: March 13-16

One of our favorite events every year at SXSW is the Pandora at SXSW event. With a slew of guest artist performing all week they manage to capture the essence of every tastemakers dream, from hip to country chances are you will find it at the four day and four night event. This year some of our favorites included sets from Jimmy Eat World, Lewis Del Mar, T.I, PVRIS, Rob $tone, Powers, and more check out our photos from the event below.

Photo Credit: Aly Mcclaran and and Robert Castro. DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION. All Rights Reserved.

Music | SHOW ALERT: Summer Ends Music Festival in Tempe, Arizona

not quite ready for summer to be over? We aren’t either. That’s why next weekend we’re escaping down into the heat of Tempe, Arizona to end the season with a bang at the Summer Ends Music Festival. Taking place at the Tempe State Beach Park just off the Arizona State University campus, there’s never been an end-of-summer celebration quite like this. With headlining acts ranging from Hozier to Kanye West, this 4-day festival has something for everyone. 

As much as we love Colorado’s music scene in the summer, traveling for other festivals happening outside our beloved state isn’t the easiest when you’re based here, which leaves us feeling a bit left out of all the fun. A trip to Lollapalooza, Firefly, Bumbershoot or Coachella can only be reached by expensive plane rides and the treacherous planning of vacation days. It’s safe to say that many wish it was easier to make a quick “vacation” out of a festival, rather than an extended trip through clogged airports.

Until now, we didn’t think there was an easy solution to this sad summer situation. But what many Coloradans have seemed to forget (even us!) is how surprisingly close Phoenix, AZ really is. Only a short 12 hours away, this easy drive southward gives you the opportunity to turn your festival-going dreams into a fantastic road trip through Colorado's backyard. Stops along the drive could easily include the gorgeous Taos, New Mexico, Salida, Colorado, or even a break at the Four Corners Monument or Mesa Verde National Park if you plan your drive right. A longer route allows for a night’s stay in Telluride, or even a cross through the scenic Moab and Arches National Park on your way to or from Denver. If you’re looking for a quicker trip down, Southwest Airlines offers tickets to Phoenix for about $60/way on a consistent basis, allowing for a quick, warmup getaway during chilly Colorado winters. 

Ultra5280 isn’t the only Denver outlet to be treating Phoenix like our sister city these days. In 2013, Denver’s favorite breakfast eatery, Snooze, opened their first of three locations in Arizona, one just a stone’s throw away from the Summer Ends Music Festival grounds in Tempe. Another one of our favorite restauranteurs, Illegal Pete’s, are preparing to open their first location outside of Denver later this year in Tucson, a mere 2hrs north of Phoenix. The Summer Ends Music Festival is even produced by Phoenix independent promoters Lucky Man Concert, who feel surprisingly similar to our favorite Denver-based independent promoter, Soda Jerk Presents, who own the Summit Music Hall (among others) and promote their own major music festivals like  Riot Fest Denver each year. Bringing in acts big, small, local, and everything in between, Lucky Man has worked hard to make Phoenix a must-stop musical city, and we at Ultra5280 believe that it’s time we celebrate our closest major market, and share in their summer fun. 

Tickets are shockingly cheap to join in on the Summer Ends fun, and each day of the festival fits a different genre, making it a well-rounded music festival for any listener. Ultra5280 is proud to help continue to foster this Denver/Phoenix friendship that’s only beginning to blossom, and hope to put Phoenix roadtrips on the map for music-goers looking to turn their concerts into more of an adventure. Looking for your next show to attend? Maybe this time you should look at concerts hitting Phoenix as well. 

Jimmy Eat World | The Ogden Theatre | July 20

I must preface this review by saying I will do everything in my power not to write a love letter, but beings as we’re talking about Jimmy Eat World, it might be hard not to. The year was 2006, I was young and excited and falling in love with music for the first time. That year was the first time I dipped my big toe into the vast waters that is the concert scene, kicking off my eventual career with one night with Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday, and Mates of State at the Fillmore Auditorium. I can say with full confidence that even after nearly a decade, Jimmy Eat World still gives one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. Playing at The Ogden this past Saturday in support of their newly released album Damage, the show was as full of energy as I remember it being all those years ago. 

South of France (Photo Credit: Matt Smith) 

Opening the evening was a last minute addition, Denver band South Of France. One of the members of the touring main support act, X Ambassadors, was ill, leaving the band unable to perform. Lucky for Jimmy, Denver's ongoing weekend festival The Underground Music Showcase (The UMS) was able to spare one of Denver’s finest to fill the room with mellow indie sounds. With both a male and female vocalist trading leads back and forth, it was dynamic and chipper - the perfect style of music for lazy summer days camped out beachside back East. Playing a quick 30 minute set full of “oohs”, and beats from a tambourine, the band seemed excited to have such a big opportunity, and certainly made the most of it.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World (Photo Credit: Matt Smith)

The audience seemed relentless in their wait for the headliners to begin. Denver is no stranger to Jimmy Eat World: beings as the band hails from Arizona, Denver is one of the closest major markets to tour. After playing here for nearly 20 years, it has become apparent what a soft spot the city has for this band. With fans young and old and everything in between, it was a wonderfully eclectic audience on Saturday night, proving that good music transcends age. With the four-piece taking the stage promptly at 9:30, lead singer Jim Adkins took a quick moment to introduce the band and greet the audience before diving into their set. Playing hit after hit off of their eight full-length albums, the impressive diversity of musical styles throughout their catalog was quickly established. Opening with their current radio single, “I Will Steal You Back”, the band followed it with five songs all coming from five different albums, making it easy for fans from any era to immediately be pleased. Playing fan favorites like “Pain”, “Hear You Me”, “Your New Aesthetic”, and “Work”, the band also hit on big cult classics like “Polaris”, “Lucky Denver Mint”, and the infamous “Goodbye Sky Harbor” in which Jim Adkins loops himself into a beautiful build up over three minutes. Saturday night it appeared that Jim’s loop pedal was broken, so the band instead treated fans to a heavy interlude halfway through the song - a new twist and pleasant surprise. 

Jimmy Eat World (Photo Credit: Matt Smith) 

Closing out the night with hits “A Praise Chorus”, Sweetness”, and “Bleed American” three of the singles off their self-titled album, the band returned for an encore of the beautiful “Chase This Light”, “Big Casino”, and the smash hit “The Middle”. Before beginning their last song, Adkins took a minute to thank their crew, and thank the fans for coming out. Noting that the band will be having their twentieth anniversary next year, Adkins spoke about how meaningful it’s been to have Denver continually backing them throughout their careers, and how much they genuinely love performing here. A sweet, but simple gesture, it was certainly enough to make me proud of my city, and how well we treat a band I feel gave direction to both my life and my career path. If you haven’t picked up a copy of the band’s new album Damage, it’s available online now through their website, or for your quick listening pleasure on Spotify. They may joke about their age and longevity like it’s a bad thing, but it is truly a rarely achieved feat for a band to have that kind of relationship, passion, and commitment for such a long time. To some people age is a bad thing, but I hope Jimmy Eat World treats it the way one does with wine, and will come to realize that the years have only made them better. Here’s to twenty more years of incredible music from incredible performers. I know I’ll still be here, singing just as loudly as I did in 2006 - Cheers!

-Maddie

Setlist: I Will Steal You Back | My Best Theory | Appreciation | Your New Aesthetic | FUTURES | Kill | Work | Never Getting Back Together (Taylor Swift Cover) | Damage | Heart Is Hard To Find | Hear You Me | Let It Happen | Pain | Always Be | No Never | Polaris | Lucky Denver Mint | Goodbye Sky Harbor (Abridged Solo) | A Praise Chorus | Sweetness | Bleed American | Encore: Chase This Light | Big Casino | The Middle