Live Review: Spoon and Pixies at Red Rocks

Big crowds don’t always turn out for opening bands, but when Spoon took the stage at Red Rocks recently, the amphitheater was full – of people and excitement. The long-reigning veterans of minimalist indie rock reminded everyone why they’ve been around for over three decades now. Britt Daniel and company opened with “Jonathon Fisk” and then quickly had the fans on their feet with “The Hardest Cut.”

Spoon played a full 15-song set. They sounded great, but what was more noticeable, was how happy they seemed to be there. The band were full of energy as they played songs like “The Way We Get By,” “Inside Out” and “I Turn My Camera On.” They closed their set out with “The Underdog.” A timely political song about what Daniel describes as “those who try to run the world by stepping on the necks of their opponents.”

Next up was Pixies. Front man Black Francis stepped onto the stage, grabbed a mug from the drum riser, took a few sips and told the crowd, “We’ll start by playing you a few new songs, and then we’ll play some more.” You never know what you’ll get at a Pixies show. The band create their set list on the fly. This particular evening was an eclectic mix of nearly 30 songs that included “Cactus,” “Debaser,” “Isla de Encanta” and “Motorway of Roswell.” A few covers also made it into the mix like Neil Young’s “Winterlong” and “Head On” from Jesus and Mary Chain.

The band are notorious for their no-nonsense approach to live performance. Minimal stage banter, simple lighting and just a bare bones sonic blast that feels both intimate and explosive. Check out our photos below: