Of The Trees at Red Rocks: A Sober Perspective

Of The Trees delivered a beautifully orchestrated Red Rocks performance that blew minds — even of those not under the influence.

There’s something uniquely enchanting about how music fills the air at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The towering red sandstone formations amplify every note as you stand underneath the moon’s natural light, creating an electric atmosphere that leaves you feeling connected body, mind, and spirit to each note. It’s a part of the magic; everyone who has attended an event knows exactly what I’m talking about.

As I mentioned in last year’s event review, Of The Trees is one of my favorite artists, so returning to Red Rocks for round two was a no-brainer. His night one lineup caught my eye with a diverse crew, including Mindchatter, Resonate Language, Anna Morgan, Posij, and Sylph. Add in the breathtaking magic of Colorado’s iconic rock formations plus Of The Trees’ creative vision, and the night became truly spiritual.

For this year’s set, I wanted to experience Of The Trees’ brainchild without goggles and view it exactly as it was intended to be seen. From his woodland mossy tree house stage design to how the mesmerizing 360 LED walls surrounding him transported him into new worlds, elements, and dimensions, this setup alone had enough stimulation and wonderment to elevate all on its own.

I’m not saying you can’t enjoy a show and have some fun. In this review, though, I want to point out a few key factors that stood out to me while experiencing one of my favorite artists at Red Rocks sober. Some of you may or may not be surprised to hear my report that observing the master at work was just as exciting to witness without any assistance from substances — perhaps even more so.

Photo Credit: shutter.klick

Who needs an upper when Of The Trees has control of the decks?

Okay, but let’s be real here. Who can argue with me on this one? Once this guru of sound hops onto any stage, you already know he has the heat locked and loaded. Get that man on the Red Rocks stage, and that’s like having gasoline next to a match.

Right out of the gate, he told us it was game time with “Muscaria.” You could feel the electricity as the crowd jumped to the beat, releasing their pent-up energy from waiting for that exact moment. The feeling was electric, and I was more sensitive to the power of the music. I felt a natural, music-induced high right from the start.

I took in the visuals for all of their glory without wondering if they were enhanced.

Regarding Of The Trees’ reputation at Red Rocks, everyone knows he never skims on the visual aspect. This year, he had dark.moon.designs create a mossy, rustic tree house surrounded by visual walls, a magical world that felt millions of miles away from civilization.

All around him, the scenes would cycle through many different, jaw-dropping journeys for the eyes, from a cozy cabin with a fireplace to him standing in a mystic forest. Of course, he threw in moments of controlled chaos, too. I couldn’t help but smile and feel grateful to absorb all of this hard work and planning with an unaltered mind and see the beauty of it for what it truly is.

Photo Credit: brizzzzzle

My connections within the crowd were more genuine and pure.

Everyone knows the crowd can make or break an evening. Luckily, Of The Trees typically brings some of the best people out of the scene into one place, and this year, I was placed in a magical little bubble of sweethearts.

I was able to fall into a conversation with some adorable girls dressed as mushrooms, dance with someone hard and heavy to the beat who was just as excited about the drop as I was, and also offer water to those around me in need. Yes, I realize you can do these things even when you’re not sober — but it felt good knowing these were decisions I made because I wanted to, not because my substance chose it for me.

It was an excellent night to distinguish the sick doubles (and triples) Of The Trees was slanging o ut.

There was no brain fuzz this night! And man, was it an excellent time to have a clear headspace to absorb the mixing madness he brought to the table. Of The Trees is an excellent producer, no doubt, but he is just as talented in his big blend business, too. It’s one of the many reasons I fell in love with his artistry.

On night one, he had many notable blends, like his collab with Barclay Crenshaw‘s “Blue Mile,” which was mashed with Buunshin‘s remix of the Ternion Sound track “Artifice.” It made the crowd go even more nuts when he mashed up the rap classic “15th and the 1st” by Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame with “Mellow Man” by Distinct Motive, which then trailed into EAZYBAKED‘s “Certified.” It was bonkers, completely cuckoo bananas.

Photo Credit: Franki3lee

When it’s all said and done, not dreading waking up the next day was such a good feeling.

Once the event was over, I left with my best friends. We grabbed some authentic birria tacos, talked about our favorite parts of the night, and fell sound asleep. The best part? I woke up with zero headaches or “what happened last nights,” and I could remember the experience without looking back at videos to piece the evening together. As someone who has experienced Of The Trees under the influence and sober, I can confidently say he provides all the energy and elements you need to feel elevated without any outside help.

I’m not trying to tell you how to live your life, not even close. I’m just here to let you know that if you’re afraid that going to a show sober will hinder you from the experience, you are gravely mistaken. In fact, you might be surprised, especially if it’s your favorite artist at 6,450 feet elevation, playing a sold-out show at one of the most breathtaking venues in the US.