Steve Miller Band @ Red Rocks, CO, 9/11/23

[thatguy]

I went on a week trip to CO to visit some friends I hadn't seen in a very long time. We only spent a few days with them in Parker, then we used some Hyatt points to stay in downtown Denver. We wanted to go to Red Rocks, but the only show that week from someone we'd heard of was Steve Miller Band on Monday, 9/11. I've never seen SMB, so we bought tickets. We ended up having to get them thru StubHub or some similar exchange and the prices were ridiculous, but the venue was worth it. 

After a out of character late season heat wave, Sun/Mon threatened rain, so we bought some travel umbrellas and brought garbage bags, and while it rained overnight, the day was beautiful, neither hot nor cold. Perfect summer weather.

We got some seats in the general section. It didn't matter where. There isn't a bad seat in this place...There was an opener. They were OK, but they played to a half empty venue and didn't have the energy. As time progressed, the venue filled...and filled. It got a little tight, so we moved to these walled planter things on the sides of the aisles. These also filled completely. The entire venue was full to the gills.

SMB came out and owned the audience. Everybody knew every song and sang along. I caught a few gaffs, but SMB is a pro. The giant screens on either side of the stage were clear and the camera crew on point, so it didn't matter how far back you were, you could see well. 

Lots of fun. 

TIL: Les Paul was Steve Miller's god father. Les and Mary got married at his house with his parents as best man and maid of honor. He started learning to play when he was 4 and Les taught him his first chords. He said he used to hang out at Les’ house after school and there were Les Paul guitars all over the house, but he never gave Steve one. Les said Steve needed to earn it. Steve went on to buy a ‘59 and as he was telling the story, held it up and then played it for the crowd… pretty cool moment



--tg

---

PS: he's 79 years old and still sings and plays great...

[Drunk Monk]

Steve Miller was one of the most disastrous shows in Shoreline history. A borderline MCI (mass casualty incident). That was a long time ago, though. I do not remember exactly when. 

I would love to see some show at Red Rocks some day... Been there, but not for a concert.

[Greg]

WTaF? First the "I almost died" non-story and now the "MCI" without any details. We should just start calling you BlueBaller.

[Drunk Monk]

We should just start calling you BlueBaller.

I don't think this means exactly what you think it means.


Shoreline had added some cyclone fencing to cordon off the middle walkway to the lawn. It was poorly conceived because during a breakout became a major pinch point. People were getting crushed because of traffic entering the fenced corridor from both ends. The masses got upset, and rightly so, in the that process, the fencing collapsed sending patrons down the hill in a tangle of cyclone. 

It was a bad day in the early years of SLA, but perhaps not as bad as the first year when the gas from the underground dump was seeping up through the lawn and some pools of fire were sparked by smokers. That was just before my time there.

[Greg]

I stand by my statement, BB.

Thanks for the clarification. That sounds horrific.