Internationally renown megastars, Duran Duran played their first of two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheater on Monday, August 28th, 2023. Rounding out the bill were fellow Brits, Bastille, and Legendary group Nile Rodgers & CHIC. This show almost felt like a triple-headliner, as each act brought their own renown and established energy to the stage.
Nile Rodgers & CHIC started off the evening to an already packed house. Opening with the well known “Le Freak”, they played with a tightness and untamed energy that they have clearly established over their multi decade run. Their set evolved into numerous hits that Nile himself had produced over the years ranging from David Bowie to Madonna. To anyone not already aware, the famed producer had also worked extensively with Duran Duran on “The Reflex” and “Notorious.”
After a short spout of rain in between sets Bastille took the stage, and were greeted with the same excitement as their predecessors. Their dark and moody lighting didn’t necessarily match their energy, as the members utilized the entire stage running back and forth with limitless zeal. As they traded moments in the spotlight, they all joined together in taking time to engage the crowd. Their set was a perfect bridgeway to the much anticipated final act.
The crowd erupted in anticipation immediately after Duran Duran’s intro schematics started playing. After a few minutes, the members appeared silhouetted by an array of vibrant colors, as if they were being beamed down from space. The opening three songs flowed seamlessly into each other, ending the section with “Hungry Like the Wolf.” This was a clear indication of how the rest of the set was going to go, and no one seemed to mind one bit.
The band played with a near flawless intensity as they bounced off of each other as they executed what appeared to be a well oiled machine. Each of the mobile members took turns in the spotlight trading off until ultimately handing over the reins to their enigmatic frontman Simon Le Bon. They took the crowd through a montage of time spanning nearly twenty songs, with plenty of equally as impressive visuals to accompany them. By the time they closed the show with the fan favorite “Rio”, it was obvious that the crowd was not quite ready to go home. Luckily for those coming back for the second night, was sure to have a few more surprises in store for them.
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