The Black Diamond Skye tour closed out the season at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado, this past Monday night. Alice in Chains headlined the event, bringing with them the Deftones and Mastodon.
Each band is touring in support of their newest albums, with a word from each title adding up to the name Black Diamond Skye Tour. Alice in Chains’ “Black Gives Way To Blue,” the Deftones’ “Diamond Eyes,” and Mastodon’s “Crack The Skye.”
Mastodon opened the show with the sun quickly fading. Their set was short and dark, but filled with a heavy, progressive, metal attack of songs new and old. Their years of touring have really made this band tight performers. This was Mastodon’s first time performing at this grand venue, and there seemed to be some extra special energy coming from them. Singer Troy Sanders was interacting with the crowd more than usual, and kept looking up and out into the audience and sky. Mastodon warmed up the crowd and surely pleased all fans.
After a short break, the Deftones came out to a vamped up stage with a wall of lights and a raised platform for singer Chino Moreno. He hit the stage belting out their new hit song “Rocket Skates”, which seemed to set the tone for their 12 song setlist. Moreno was in good spirits. He was running and jumping all over the Persian rugs on stage, as he sang all their classic radio hits and some songs from the new album. “Change (in the house of flies)” seemed to bring the crowd to the loudest applause yet.
The venue was now packed with fans of all ages. It was dark and windy but not too chilly for those rockin’ out. The headliner Alice in Chains hit the stage and the energy was phenomenal. Singer Jerry Cantrell spoke to the audience, reflecting back on their first and only Red Rocks Show. Cantrell said years ago, with original singer Layne Staley, Alice in Chains opened for Slayer in the pouring rain. He said he was thankful for this amazing weather tonight and thanked the audience for coming. He also mentioned that it was singer William Duvall’s first time here at the Red Rocks. The crowd applauded wildly.
Alice in Chains performed a killer 16 song set. Starting out the show with a few of the old hit songs, the crowd was standing for the entire show. Singer William Duvall has a voice that is so similar to the deceased Layne Staley, it gives you chills. Duvall is soulful and funky and strutted on stage. He seemed overwhelmed at times, looking out at the crowd and making awe-like expressions. Jerry Cantrell was constantly smiling, and watching the fans in the crowd. He even laughed out loud while watching some drunk guys in the front row try to get a photo of themselves. Everyone was having a mighty good time!
The energy from everything was almost overwhelming. The energy of the music, combined with the energy from Mother Earth and these Red Rock Mountains was one of the most memorable concerts to witness. To see a lineup of this caliber, performing at the most amazing and beautiful venue in the world, was a once in a lifetime experience.
Setlists:
Mastodon:
Naked Burn
Divinations
Oblivion
Crystal Skull
Colony
The Czar
Megalodon
Blood n Thunder
DEFTONES
Rocket Skates
Around the Fur
Be Quiet & Drive (Far Away)
My Own Summer (shove It)
Diamond Eyes
You’ve Seen the Butcher
Sextape
Passenger
Change (In the House of Flies)
Nosebleed
Engine no 9
7 Words
ALICE IN CHAINS
Them Bones
Dam that River
Rain When I Die
Again
Check my Brain
Your Decision
No Excuses
Grind
We Die Young
Last of my Kind
Lesson Learned
Junkhead
Rooster
Encore:
Nutshell
Man in the Box
Would
We would like to thank Michael Moses from BWR and Amanda Vangoethen from Warner Brothers for allowing BackstageAxxess to shoot the show.
