“Tonight is actually the most ever tickets sold for a King Buffalo headlining show in the United States, ever” proclaimed lead singer Sean McVay two songs into King Buffalo’s sold out show Saturday night at The Fox Theatre in Boulder. A testament to the band’s well-deserved growth within the heavy underground music scene, and their cross-genre appeal to music fans ranging from metal heads to jam band enthusiasts.
This is a band that recorded an entire album in a cave. The vibe of a room matters. And that buzzy Boulder energy was thick in the Fox Saturday night. I knew the band could feel it, as I noticed bassist Dan Reynolds gnashing his teeth and digging deep into the groove of “Mercury” early in the set.
With Mothpowder Light Show casting a trippy visual backdrop, the band was locked in from the start. In contrast to the previous night, this set leaned decidedly toward older staples, sandwiched between newer setlist mainstays. The early set one-two of Orion favorites “Monolith” that segued seamlessly into “Sleeps on a Vine” were personal highlights of the night. “Sun Shivers”, a rowdy, stretched out “Kerosene” (see video below), and “Centurion” also made appearances. “Firmament” served as the set closer, once again slowly building toward its powerful climax. What a perfect set closer.
The single song encore featured Longing to Be the Mountain closing song “Eye of The Storm”, which extended past the ten minute mark as it swirled and swelled toward a dramatic peak before easing into the closing notes.
This was my sixth King Buffalo show since first seeing them at Denver’s tiny Lost Lake Lounge back in 2019. Each time they come around, new songs are added to the mix, and the venues are slightly bigger. Their mastery of dynamics, and ability to seamlessly shift between heavy, riff-driven intensity and meditative, ambient passages creates a unique and spellbinding live experience. Boulder no doubt made an impression on King Buffalo, and vice versa.
King Buffalo, Dec 07, 2024, The Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO Setlist
Hours, Mercury, Monolith, Sleeps on a Vine, Grifter, Balrog, Goliath Pt. 2, Sun Shivers, Kerosene, Centurion, The Knocks, Firmament, Eye of the Storm
The Spread
- Orion (2016): 4
- Regenerator (2022): 3
- The Burden of Restlessness (2021): 2
- Longing to Be the Mountain (2018): 2
- Repeater (2018): 1
- Single, not on an album (yet!) (Balrog): 1
Stream and download this show over at archive.org. Thanks to discostew_42 for taping and uploading. Hug your local taper!
Watch “Kerosene” by King Buffalo, recorded live Dec 07, 2024 at The Fox Theatre in Boulder, CO
Photos by Mitch Kline.
Visuals and video by Mothpowder Light Show.
For upcoming King Buffalo tour dates, merch, and news, visit kingbuffalo.com.