Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats and King Buffalo, March 26, 2022, Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO Photos, Review, and Setlists

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats unleashed all of their sinister riffs and fuzz on the Ogden Theatre Saturday night, underpinned by the thunderous rhythm section of bassist Justin Smith and drummer Jon Rice, searing guitar solos, and that spellbinding voice of K.R. Starrs.

This was a top-to-bottom ripper of a set, with at least one song from each of their five studio albums in the mix. 2012’s remarkable Blood Lust got the most action, with five songs during their hour and half set, including standouts “Death’s Door”, “Ritual Knife”, and “I’ll Cut You Down” all making appearances. An exceptional mid-set “Slow Death” with its slow-burning groove was a highlight in an otherwise hard-driving setlist packed with favorites including “Shockwave City”, “Pusher Man”, “No Return”, and encore “Waiting for Blood.” Backlighting of psychedelic imagery much of the night added to the mystique surrounding this band. They were tight, and played with a ferocious energy and stage presence that has made them one of the best live bands in the heavy music scene.

King Buffalo has been at the very top of my list of favorite bands after discovering their music a few years ago. I’ve been watching them grow, gain well-deserved praise from across the globe, and progressively play larger and larger venues, from Lost Lake, to Larimer Lounge, and now a packed Ogden Theatre.

Their hour long set leaned heavily on songs from their two albums from 2021. The set kicked off with “Hebetation” and “Silverfish” from The Burden of Restlessness, followed by Acheron standout “Shadows.” With three of the best songs from their earlier albums making up the middle of this set, this was the perfect introduction for any new fans, and a treat for those of us who have been following them for a while. The band circled back to their newer work, with “The Knocks” and the dark and eerie “Cerberus” closing things out. If you’re a fan of heavy, blues-tinged psychedelic riffs, and cosmic jams, and you haven’t seen this band, I suggest you do so as soon as possible.

Get all Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats upcoming tour dates and info at uncleacidband.com.

King Buffalo can be found at kingbuffalo.com.

All photos by Mitch Kline.