Monolith Festival 2008 |
Monolith is the ground-breaking two day music festival that is the largest festival in Red Rocks long luxurious history. For the last quarter century Red Rocks Amphitheater has been recognized as the #1 music venue in North America. Renowned for having the best natural acoustics of any venue anywhere in existence also the most steps to the top. 65 rows. With mother nature as it architect the design of the amphitheater consists for 2 massive red sandstone Monolith rocks set side by side with the stage and seating area for up to 9,450 people in between. The earliest notable rock and roll performance at Red Rocks was by the Beatles on August 26, 1964 and countless other acts over the years. Led Zeppelin first U.S appearance was Red Rocks enough about the history and on to the show. I wasn't able to attend the first day due to prior obligations but what I heard i missed out that is until the freezing rain started in around 10p.m it was just in time for the final act Devotcka to take the stage which is unfortunate for them seeing is that most everyone went home when the rain started. Sunday started out looking like the weather was going to be a repeat of the night before with a cool cloudy overcast but by noon it had cleared and the sun broken out of its hiding spot. I was able to make to all the bands that I wanted to see. As the night began to fall upon us I was getting ready for the reason I even wanted to attend the Festival this year and they were the last 3 bands to take the main stage. Band of Horses, T.V on the Radio and Justice The Band of Horses took the stage a little after 7 and they didn't disappoint opening with "Is There a Ghost" from there 2nd album released last October and finishing with "Funeral" from there 2006 album "Everything all the Time" 9:00 the M.C for the main stage Dave Dugan took the stage with the Mic in hand and this is what he told us in attendance "At 11 am they got a call from T.V on the Radio and they said they were in Salt Lake City Utah and there bus had broken down. We thought what the hell. At 12:30 we got a call and the bus was fixed and they were on there way. I told them that they would never make it in time and they said they could. At 5pm we got a call that said that they were in Grand Junction 4 hours away and they wouldn't make it in there bus over the mountains in the shape its in. So they informed us that they all rented cars and they were going to drive 100 mph to get here and again I told them that they would never make it and they said they could. Well without further adu a band that speed across the mountains without getting a speeding ticket just for you tonight T.V on the Radio.. and the band rushed the stage and began to play beautifully it was amazing. I LOVE TECHNO MUSIC so to get to see this next band who exploded onto the scene with hit song after hit song was going to a freaking God send. Justice took the stage at 10:40 between 10 feet tall towers of speakers and a huge white cross in the middle of there decks. This is were I have to tell you the bad news of the night. Twenty minutes into a heart pounding set BLAM the sound goes dead. No music it just stopped. Dead air. The crowed didn't think nothing of it at first. maybe just the way they stopped the song but when the dynamic duo from France threw up there hands and walked off the stage the audience including myself was in total shock. What just happened. Luckily it wasn't the people who work for Red Rocks but it was there own private stage hand had messed it up somewhere along the way. after 10 minutes of silence the Duo walked back on stage and began soft and slowly building up to a song that I have heard they wont even play during there live sets. The International smash hit "D.A.N.C.E" the crowed at immediately forgot that they music was cut off till of course it happened 30 minutes later. This time the duo stood on stage waving there hands in the air while the audience screamed and began to sing in harmony "WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS" The crowd never got what they wanted and Justice's set was cut short not once but twice. The thought itself fathoms me. Hope to see the festival back next year and bring Colorado some Indi talent from across the globe |