Colorado’s own Gregory Alan Isakov plays sold-out show in Dillon

Coloradans turned out en masse at the the Dillon Amphitheater on Sunday to support Boulder County local and indie and folk singer Gregory Alan Isakov on Sunday, Sept. 3. For the sold-out crowd, Isakov performed songs from all six of his albums, including his latest release, “Appaloosa Bones.”

Isakov, who has been touring throughout the United States since the beginning of August on the “Appaloosa Bones” tour, voiced his joy at returning to Colorado.

“It’s so good to be home. We got to play in Colorado last night, and tonight, and tomorrow night, and we’ve never been here (to the Dillon Amphitheater) before. This is so beautiful,” Isakov said.

The show, which came within three weeks of the Aug. 18 release of Isakov’s sixth album, “Appaloosa Bones,” featured a number of songs from the new record. The album has a distinctly Western feel —Appaloosa is a breed of American horse — and much of the display behind the performers was themed around Wild West and old Coloradan scenes, including mountainscapes and mines. Isakov, a horticulturist who runs Starling Farm in Boulder County when not making music, clearly finds inspiration in Colorado’s landscape and history.

Much of Isakov’s music has a somber tone, which Isakov acknowledged throughout the night.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

“I didn’t know you could play so many sad songs in a row outside,” Isakov said.

The performance also contained moments of levity — at one point, pianist Steve Varney, skipping a song on his set list, began to play the introduction to “Watchman,” rather than “Salt and the Sea,” and quickly realized his mistake. “Oh, I messed up,” Varney said.

“Is this a bad time to introduce you?” Isakov asked. He also introduced Max Barcelow on the drums, Jeb Bows on the violin, John Grigsby on the bass, and Danny Black on guitar.

But Varney was not quite ready to let the light moment go. “I’m learning how to read, thank you,” Varney joked.

Despite the sad tone of his music, Isakov emphasized his appreciation for the Dillon crowd.

“We’re just in heaven,” he said, and the crowd seemed to agree. Though not all of Isakov’s songs are meant for dancing, the standing area in front of the stage was completely filled with concertgoers who wanted to be close to Isakov.

After over an hour of playing, Isakov and the band thanked the crowd and walked offstage, but returned after a minute to deafening cheers from the audience. The band played the encore set more casually, clustering together around one microphone.

Isakov appeared to adjust the setlist in the encore to set a more upbeat mood.

“I don’t know if this is happy, but it’s a little bit faster,” Isakov said before playing his song “All Shades of Blue.”

As the band played, the musicians danced together, exchanged grins, and traded places at the microphone, lightening the mood by showing the joy that performing brought them. It felt almost like being let in on a jam session, rather than watching a professional concert.

What matters in your community, delivered daily.

Sign up for our morning newsletter at VailDaily.com/newsletter

The Dillon Amphitheater has a few more shows left before the summer ends. Tickets are still available to see the Wu-Tang Clan on Sept. 9 and Greensky Bluegrass on Sept. 13 and 14, and there will be a free show with lespecial on Sept. 11.