The Denver Botanic Gardens performance space is an intimate theater in-the-round on the grounds of the spectacular gardens. The venue hosts a Summer Concert Series featuring artists from every genre. Guests are invited to bring blankets, pack picnics with their favorite beverages and enjoy an outdoor summer concert.
Last week, I attended a show by Amos Lee, a folky, soulful artist with a rich, honeyed voice and number of well-known songs from five successful albums. If you’re not immediately familiar with his music, you may recognize his songs from television shows such as Parenthood or commercials from AT&T.
Amos is a likable front man and plays with a talented six piece band in which musicians move effortlessly from guitars to keys, horns, mandolin and pedal steel. His stage banter is witty and frequent, sharing insight into his songwriting and personal experiences. Originally from Philadelphia, his music has a southern sound that seems more inspired from his days at the University of South Carolina.
The setlist included songs from each of his albums and a preview of a few new ones which will be released on a new album on August 31. Highlights included ‘Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight’, in which they did both, with Amos forgetting the chords while the band never missed a beat, the gospel-tinged ‘Flower’ and crowd favorite ‘Violin’.
The three-song encore got the reserved crowd on its feet and dancing, first slowly to the ballad ‘Arms of Woman’ and then grooving to his biggest hit to date “Windows Are Rolled Down”. He ended the set with a fantastic and fun cover of Queen’s ‘Fat Bottomed Girls”.
It was a spectacular night with perfect Denver weather, good friends and a truly enjoyable show. My only disappointment was not hearing ‘El Camino’ a song he performs as a duet with Willie Nelson on his Mission Bell album. Amos Lee is on tour through early October.
Music-Loving Education Champion: Tim Taylor
Venue: Denver Botanic Gardens
City: Denver, CO
Date of Show: August 1, 2018
