EDITOR’S NOTE: No Depression’s “Postcard From” series features dispatches from artists' daily lives on the road, in the studio, or anywhere in between. Our next installment comes from Leftover Salmon, who celebrated 35 years of being a band with a show at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater on May 26, 2025.
The rain held off after scaring us in the days before the show. Somehow, the sun found its way through the clouds for the first time in days. Clay Street Unit opened the show and the crowd was already fired up at the beginning of their 4:30 p.m. set time. That same energy remained 'til the entire event ended at 11:30 p.m. Yes, seven hours of glorious Red Rocks frivolity. I’ve never had such a satisfying picnic!
Kitchen Dwellers bring such a strong collection of songs and the greasy gators in the crowd were into every note and lyric from this young band, pushing the boundaries of bluegrass and beyond. Silas Herman had filled in for Shawn Swain on mandolin in the previous year, and the Dwellers welcomed him back along with the legendary Bill Payne (of Little Feat) on keys. The Pick-nic was hitting high gear!
Salmon followed with a bluegrass set featuring Jason Carter, Laurie Lewis, AJ Lee, and Nicki Bluhm hopping on to the celebration. We played some tunes from the new album, Let's Party About It, and also delivered some old gems along with contributions from the amazing guests.
