Why this hip-hop duo says coming to Colorado is like visiting grandma

DENVER ( KDVR ) — Despite headlining 11 shows at Red Rocks since forming in the mid-1990s, hip-hop duo Atmosphere is “super excited” for another show at the world’s only acoustically perfect natural amphitheater this weekend.

Atmosphere has two members: Slug, a rapper/vocalist, and Ant, a DJ/producer. On Tuesday, Slug told FOX31 in a Zoom interview that the duo has had a connection with the Centennial State since they first performed here 24 years ago.

“The first time I came there, I felt local. I felt accepted like I was from there. And so, to return there almost kind of feels like you’re going to visit one of your parents or you’re going to visit your grandmother who lives in another area, you know, where it’s familiar, it’s comfortable, there’s cookies,” Slug said.

As it turns out, Coloradans return the love. Atmosphere has over 35,000 monthly listeners on Spotify in Denver, which is their largest listening audience, according to a press release.

No one parties like Coloradans

The duo’s relationship with their audience is just part of why they keep coming back to Colorado.

“The party is unmatched. Nobody parties like that. And then when I say party, I don’t mean raging party, I just mean like the vibe of that party feels great. It feels communal. It feels like you’re a part of the party. It feels like everybody is participating, everybody’s welcome. That’s always going to be the main draw for us to come back to Colorado,” Slug said.

Slug remembers their first time performing at Red Rocks — they performed upstairs during a festival while Muse was headlining on the main stage. Even though wind and rain kept ripping vinyl off the turntables, he said it was an amazing experience.

“It was a very hard set for us to get through, and it was amazing because, for me, it was like — Red Rocks. This is famous, this is where U2 did the movie and all this stuff. And so, it was definitely a high mark on my timeline,” Slug said.

Red Rocks is the star of the show

The venue has proven to be a favorite for concertgoers and artists alike. For Slug, the venue is just as much a part of the show as the band is.

“The thing is the actual venue takes the stardom away from the audience and away from us. It’s all about this space that you’re in, the acoustics, this feeling of all of these special shows have occurred here , there’s this rich history,” Slug said. “I know that it’s not us that makes this special. It’s more about the venue and how it draws people in to come and become this community for one evening of all of us just hoping for close encounters of the third kind to occur.”

Slug recalls one time when he fell asleep underneath one of the catering tables — the quietest place he could find.

“I got woken up by my sound man, actually. He was like, ‘Yo, you’re on in like, two minutes,’ and I remember kind of getting up and stretching and being a little bit out of it and just kind of moseying out onto the stage, and suddenly the show started,” Slug said.

Atmosphere returns on Friday

Slug said he is particularly excited for this year’s Red Rocks show thanks to Atmosphere’s supporting acts: Method Man & Redman , Deltron 3030 , Skratch Bastid and NOFUN!

“I’m super excited for this show. This is an amazing bill,” Slug said. “I’m really excited that they’re playing because I’m really hoping that they steal the show from underneath everybody’s feet. Like, I don’t know if people are prepared for NOFUN!”

Slug said he is excited for more than the show — while in Colorado, he wants to try some food, check out some record stores and maybe go to Meow Wolf, but above all else, he is just excited to see the mountains.

“A friend of mine told me this, he was like, ‘These mountains are for everybody. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or you’re poor or what, if you live here, regardless of what hood you live in, you can look over there and there’s a mountain there.’ And that, to me, is, that’s as profound as it gets to remind ourselves and humble ourselves that, no matter who you are, that majestic thing right there is for all of us,” Slug said.

Atmosphere performs at Red Rocks on Friday, and tickets to the show are still available for purchase through AXS.

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