Denver-Salt Lake City 9, 10, 11 September

9 Sept

A day off here in Denver. I went to the gym but by-passed the treadmill due to what I think is a broken toe. I’d knocked the hell out of it on the bed frame in the last hotel and for several days it’s been very bruised and painful. I can still walk but don’t want to put it through the rigours of a 40 minute treadmill push. After the gym I headed off to the great Denver diner Sam’s No.3 for lunch but when I got there it was closed for sidewalk repairs around it. Vastly disappointed that I would not get my bowl of pork green chilli, I tumbled into a nearby restaurant and martini bar called The Corner Office. On the menu to my surprise was a bowl of pork green chilli that begged to be ordered. Being a big fan of that concoction, having tried its many variations in different locales and often being let down, I have to say this was one of the best bowls of green chilli I’ve had anywhere and was in the most unlikely place…. a martini bar! Seriously great, packed with flavour, fresh Hatch chilli and just enough heat to linger but not overwhelm. Coupled with fresh, hot flour tortillas and a draft beer, it was a winner and highly recommended though I cannot vouch for anything else on the menu. The Corner Office, 1401 Curtis Street, Denver, CO. 80202. I had dinner tonight in a residential suburb of Denver called Platt Park, a beautiful 100 year old neighbourhood that has become a very attractive place to live as well as having wonderful shops and restaurants. The exquisite Sushi Den is worth the drive for Japanese cuisine, sushi, drinks and overall fantastic vibe. 1487 S. Pearl St. Denver, CO. 80210.

10 Sept

I rounded up Danny and took him to The Corner Office for a re-run on that pork green chilli. It really was that good. Tonight’s show was one anticipated like The Ryman but in a very different way. Red Rocks is a natural open air amphitheatre surrounded by towering, majestic, red sandstone outcroppings. Its use as a performance site goes back to the early 1900s when a makeshift stage was erected and an opera singer performed there, declaring it a perfect acoustical setting. Since then Red Rocks has hosted the who’s who of every musical genre. My first time playing this venue goes back to September 1972 with Neil Diamond. It’s always a humbling experience standing on that stage looking out at the audience and the lighted walls of red sandstone. Tonight was just that with a sold out audience of 8,400+. Our friend Pieta Brown was in attendance tonight and it was good catching up with her. Pieta opened for us on the North American leg of our 2010 tour and is a wonderful song writer, singer and all around artist who’s worth your time to check out if you haven’t done so already. Nightcaps back at the hotel and a few of us ventured around the corner for just one more ’til last call. Always a good time in Denver.

11 Sept

I made it three in a row for the green chilli at The Corner Office before saying so long to Denver. Tom Walsh, trumpet star of the band managed a last minute dash to the Rockmount store for a proper snap down cowboy shirt which he wore proudly at the show tonight. We had a very turbulent flight to Salt Lake City this afternoon. As we drove to the venue I remembered how clean this city is, not a spot of litter anywhere, and how fresh the air was as well. Tonight’s venue, Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre, is part of the University of Utah. Memorable from 4 years ago for how cold that show was and as I was coming down with some kind of vicious bug that ended up lasting a week or more. The crew had a late load in and set up due to heavy rains earlier today but by the time we’d arrived the skies had cleared to a deep blue and the rains had moved on. A lovely setting for an outdoor show, lawn seating for 3,000. We sound checked late but there was still a hint of warmth in the air. Remembering our show here last time, I donned my leather jacket as we took the stage. By the third song the cold had really begun settling in and a breeze had picked up. I’d have to say it was the coldest show we’ve ever played, every one to a man having difficulty playing because of numb hands and also each instrument reacting negatively to the cold, particularly the horns and wind driven instruments like whistles, pipes and wood flute. Nothing would remain in tune due to the cold. Stage manager Dave Hull brought out water bottles that had been filled with hot water and acted as hand warmers between songs. MK & Co. soldiered through the set and never gave anything less that our best. The audience was so great and hung in the cold right along with us. Hot cups of tea were waiting off stage prior to the encore and really helped to get us through the final couple of songs. It was a remarkable show, mind over matter, and one that I’ll not forget anytime soon. Hats off to all; audience, crew and band. A runner from the stage to waiting and warm cars to the airport and a 90 minute flight to Seattle where we’ll base for several days. Got to my room fully intending to go to bed but struggled with my computer trying to get online here at the hotel. After a 40 minute effort, ending with I.T. stepping in and solving the problem, I was wide awake and wandered down to the hotel bar which was mercifully still open to find Tom, Graeme, John and Danny bellied up. A couple of Don Julio Repesada nightcaps never tasted better and the day off tomorrow will be a welcomed one.