2019 brought plenty of fresh faces to the various Denver stages, and with a new venue in tow, we were blessed with some seasoned acts that surpassed the tests of time as well. With iconic names like Elton John, Garth Brooks, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones making appearances in The Mile High City just to name a few, this year was sure to produce a lot of spectacular performances. The surprise for us here at the music desk was the amount of local or smaller shows that also made just as much of an impact. This list is a snapshot of our year, from the historical greats to the soon-to-be, we’re showcasing the finest acts that rolled through Denver — in our opinion, of course. Check out our top 28, and if your favorite didn’t make the cut, we probably didn’t make it to the show or just aren’t cool enough yet.
Elton John @ Pepsi Center on February 6
Photo by Dani Brandwein
Turkuaz, a rainbow nine-piece band from Brooklyn, slapped the faces of the Ogden Theatre on February 16, making a name for themselves as an experience unlike most others. The group offered a one-of-a-kind spectacle of a performance including live versions of their most recent release at the time, Life in the City. Since the show, it is safe to say they have gathered a hefty fanbase in Colorado as they returned this summer to open for Umphrey’s McGee at Red Rocks, then again for the Jazz festival in Telluride and are due to return for a string of New Year’s shows in Frisco, Fort Collins and Boulder. – Denby Gardiner
Flaming Lips w/ the CO Symphony @ Boettcher Concert Hall on February 22
Photo courtesy of Jerry Paper’s Facebook
Jerry Paper at Larimer Lounge this year showed the increasing jazz and lounge influences of Paper’s work, especially over the years as he’s worked with record label Stones Throw. This performance, in particular, was eclectic, as expected with Paper, yet more refined in sound. Artists like Paper recognize that their music should be the focal point of their show and recognize that dazzling visual elements not only feel overwhelming at times but can also distract from the music itself. His stage presence remained simple, and Paper humbly drew attention to his touring band multiple times throughout his set, who he clearly respected and admired. The highlight of Paper’s 2019 visit to Denver was the band opening directly before him, Ava Luna. With quirky vocal effects that added a layer of whimsy to their music, the band delivered such a mind-blowing performance that for a moment, I forgot I was there to see Jerry Paper. – Padideh Aghanoury
Judah & the Lion (Bud Light Dive Bar Tour) @ Larimer Lounge on April 29
Photo Courtesy of Turnstile’s Facebook
Hands down one of the most unique shows of the year, hardcore band Turnstile joined indie dream-pop icons Turnstile for an evening that surprised everyone in attendance. Though they’re both respected within their own scenes, the distinctly different sounding bands seemed like an odd choice for a co-headlining tour — in fact, the pair share little apart from similar names. The show proved to be an outright battle of the bands, and Turnstile came prepared for a fight. Whipping the crowd into a frenzy, Turnstile’s DIY hardcore roots shined as fans moshed and stage dived as though their lives depended on it. In fact, the energy of the band was so infectious that it carried into Turnover’s set, with fans gingerly making their way onto the stage to carefully stage dive after being inspired by Turnstile’s fanbase. – Mariah Hansen
Florence + the Machine @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre on May 20
Photo by Alden Bonecutter
Billie Eilish was a riot. Just as she was becoming a household name, with the release of her debut album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, behind her, and no shortage of hype to ride on, her adoring mostly teenage fans turned up in full force and showed out. Screaming at the top of their lungs, and dressing as carbon copies of the singer, Eilish’s Red Rocks performance was an “Oh, shit!” watershed moment if there ever was one, even Rolling Stone Magazine chronicled the experience. The songs were big, yes, but the pandemonium, the nearly constant downpour of rain that the audience stuck through and the jaw-dropped parents, really drilled home how larger than life Billie Eilish is. – Kori Hazel
Read our full review of the performance here.
Garth Brooks @ The Mile High Stadium on June 8
Photo By Dylan Langille
Nothing like the hometown heroes to pep up a summer lineup and The Motet did just that with their Red Rocks show in July. Their supporting acts assisted in making the night one of the best of the year, as Moon Hooch and Galactic both know how to bring the heat to gas up a musical party. The Motet used their expansive sound to show off their 2019 release, Death or Devotion and turned out one of the best-received performances Red Rocks had all summer. Lyle Divinsky’s pipes are unmatched bouncing off the monoliths, and the years to come are sure to be some of the best to expect from The Motet. – Denby Gardiner
EARTHGANG @ The Odyssey Stage at Underground Music Showcase on July 28
Photo by Heather Fairchild
As always, Matt and Kim’s show are anything but professional but that’s why they’re always worth seeing. There’s always excitement and there is sure to be something new or wacky they do when they’re getting to know their crowd. Their no filter expressions allowed the venue to open up and make fools of themselves together on the dance floor. Their performance was an injection of positivity that you can’t help but smile and move to. – Andrew Venegas
Read our full review of the performance here.
The Rolling Stones @ Empower Field at Mile High on August 10
Photo by Camille Breslin
Flying Lotus creates music that cannot be contained, thrashing sonic dissonance in the middle of mind-boggling visuals unlike most of his contemporary counterparts. His performance at Mission Ballroom was slated to include all of the above, but what was so striking about this show was the way that Mission managed to amplify the already grandiose existence that is Lotus. The venue made the 3-D visuals that Lotus has made famous even more important, making the audience wonder if the approaching balls of fire coming from the screens were really all that fake. On top of that, the sound was perfectly in tune with the experience, showcasing the new venues all-encompassing system. It was a perfect opportunity for the newly minted venue to stretch its legs and show the audience exactly what it could do. – Camila Biddulph
Bon Iver @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre on September 3
Photo by Brandon Johnson
Sometimes a show is great because it’s a good time. Maybe the artist isn’t your all-time favorite, see-it-or-die, or the band that sounds exactly like their album. A great concert is entertainment at its finest, and there are few that can meet that criterion better than Mac DeMarco. This October at Red Rocks, he delivered his stripped-down charm, Canadian wit and basement-boy antics in a performance that was truly heartwarming. No matter the size of the venue, seeing DeMarco live is nearly as cozy as cracking a cold one with him and listening to him strum one of his tunes for you. – Jessica Rendall
Read our full review of the performance here.
Peer Review w/ D Tiffany and Rosa Derenzi @ Inner Space on September 7
Photo by Daniel Amimoto
2019 was a good year for Denver residents who wished to relive their emo days of the ’90s and early 2000s. (And it looks like his pop-punk renaissance will continue into 2020 — Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer’s much-anticipated “Hella Mega Tour” comes to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park next July.) While Blink-182 played their anthemic hit, “I Miss You” during their exuberant — and clearly popular — performance at the Pepsi Center in July, their version simply couldn’t compete with original vocalist, Tom Delonge’s. Delonge, who left Blink-182 in 2005 to found Angels & Airwaves, covered “I Miss You” — and many of his other iconic hits from previous musical projects — as part of an acoustic solo set in the middle of Angels & Airwaves’ show at the Fillmore on September 24. Equally comprised of singing and storytelling, this stripped-down half-hour segment was one of the most touching moments of the year’s gamut of nostalgic pop-punk performances. From his onstage charm to his era-defining singing style, Delonge has become the voice inside all of our heads, and we were ecstatic to hear it ring throughout the auditorium. – Josie Russell
Read our full review of the performance here.
Sigrid @ The Gothic on October 4
Photo by Brandon Johnson
As Tame Impala strays further and further away from the gritty psych-rock it once embodied and fans grapple with whether they should brave a $20 service fee for a show at the Pepsi Center, we look back with intense nostalgia at the few times Kevin Parker has graced Denver with his presence. One of those times was this past November, at Denver’s newest venue, the Mission Ballroom. Despite selling out two nights in a row, the venue was almost too comfortable, and I was able to get a spot in the seventh or eighth row without trying too hard, though the incredible coordination of spectral lights with visual effects would’ve made the show equally impressive from the back of the room. Tame Impala’s show at the Mission was when we all (including Kevin Parker himself) collectively mumbled: “Okay, maybe I do like this venue.” Tame Impala’s expressive instrumental lines and ghostly vocals guided fans through the night as we waded through layers of confetti and memories of the first time we ever did acid and someone said to us, “Hey, have you heard of this weird Australian band called Tame Impala? They sound kind of like the Beatles.” Whether you have misgivings about the future of the band or not, both of their shows at the Mission Ballroom this year were an instant highlight. – Anna Santoro
Read our full review of the performance here.
Vampire Weekend @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre on October 8 & 9
Photo by Alden Bonecutter
The many man band played several times in the Centennial State but of the first 2019 show in Boulder – the group was missing several of their members. Once they returned in October with no sinus infections or missing members, the string of notes seamlessly weaved together. The performance was flawless, with exception to one stubborn microphone. Whether it was a healthier appearance from the band or a few brass pieces returned, there was a little extra shine at their Ogden Performance in October for Whitney. – Andrew Venegas
JPEGMAFIA @ The Bluebird on October 24
Photo courtesy of TR/ST’s Facebook Page
TR/ST’s show at the Summit in November was low on the mainstream’s radar, which is just how fans preferred. If you’re like me and you just can’t get enough of ’80s synth-pop or industrial, seeing Robert Alfons in person was probably the most excited you had been to see anyone walk back and forth for an hour and 30 minutes across a stage all year. The venue was just packed enough that it felt like a big deal but shared enough space so everyone in the room had a view of the stage. Both openers (DJ Slave 1 and SRSQ) were similar but different enough from TR/ST that you didn’t feel like you were watching the same band three times. Alfons’ contagious on-stage energy matched the erratic light show, and his voice — which has been described as “soul-piercing” — oozed over the room like mercury. It truly felt like Alfons may as well have been dancing in the middle of the crowd with us. An artist’s first tour always holds a novel energy shared between the artist and the crowd. With a concise but inclusive discography that most attendees had never seen live until that night, TR/ST’s show at the Summit was no exception. It was all at once a performance, a party and an exhibition of artistry. – Anna Santoro
Brittany Howard @ The Ogden on November 14
Photo Courtesy of Rhinoceropolis’ Facebook
The release party for local musician Entrancer’s Downgrade LP, hosted by Multidim Records at Rhinoceropolis, was an intimate night of local experimental music from a myriad of artists ranging in style. The night kicked off with a mesmerizing DJ set from I.Lind, who played experimental records that when paired together, took listeners on a journey through soundscapes frozen in time. Following I.Lind, Youth on Record educator Felix Ayodele played a set comprised of abstract beats and loosely-structured samples, creating a fabric of textured sounds that provided the groundwork for his live improvisations on the keys. Other live performances came from local artists Lone Dancer, Techno Allah and Entrancer himself. – Padideh Aghanoury
DaBaby @ Mission Ballroom on November 21
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