As the sun dipped below the horizon on All Hallows’ Eve, children dressed in costumes—ranging from playful ghosts to ghoulish creatures—flooded the streets of Denver, ready to embrace a night of mischief and merriment. Halloween is a rare opportunity to step outside the ordinary and slip into another persona, a chance to celebrate the bizarre, bask in the glow of creativity, and share time with friends and family. However, deep within the heart of Colfax Avenue, something much darker was stirring. Something very much... alive.
Halloween night in Denver was transformed into an interstellar journey thanks to Denver’s own RADO, the up-and-coming Colorado jam band that has been making waves in the live music scene. Known for their fluidity in merging electronic-inspired sounds with organic, funk-driven improvisation, the Denver-based quartet took their audience on a musical escapade that felt more like an auditory adventure—one that not only showcased their original material but also paid homage to legendary transfusion pioneers, the Disco Biscuits.
The night began with an epic costume party, where Denver's iconic Blucifer and the haunting Jigsaw from Saw made notable appearances, with Jigsaw ultimately emerging victorious to claim the cosmetic throne. As the costume party subsided, RADO took to the stage to a sea of colorful, vibrant fans dressed in ensembles ranging from haunting to hilarious. Feeding off that energy, the band dove headfirst into an awe-inspiring setlist and did not look back, transforming Lost Lake into a groove-heavy, dynamic dance party that would’ve made the likes of Prince proud.
From the opening notes of “Life as a Machine,” it was clear the band was here to push boundaries. Keyboardist James Hatch took the reins right out of the gate, layering deep, swampy funk on top of the song’s opening rhythm section like a sonic tide at moonrise. The band—fresh off their 2024 Fall tour—felt tight, their performance smooth and fluid, as if the music was an endless continuum, merely an extension of another jam played long ago in some forgotten space. “Life as a Machine” segued into the night’s first tribute to the Disco Biscuits, with a high-energy version of “Helicopters”—one of the Biscuits’ most iconic tunes. Recognizing the familiar grooves, the crowd lit up and began to sing along, “Helicopters, look out below!” While paying homage to the original tune, RADO made the song their own by layering an eclectic blend of synths, distortion, and rhythm work.
Drummer Benny Cummings, who shares qualities of both a human being and a metronome, was the driving force, laying down a rock-solid beat that kept the dancefloor pulsing through the entire set. Kevin “The Shark” MacKinnon fueled the rhythm, scaling mountains of bombastic frets before locking forces with Cummings to create a rhythmic wall of sound and bass the likes of which have not been seen in Denver since Peyton Manning and the feared No Fly Zone of 2015. Weaving seamlessly between RADO originals and classic Disco Biscuits tunes, the band demonstrated their capability to meld soaring instrumental jams with melodic, emotionally charged compositions.
The RADO original “City Lights” came next, a haunting instrumental fitting the Halloween ambiance perfectly. The jam section was exploratory and downright spooky, summoning the spirits of Colfax for a musical séance of fright and delight. Guitarist Dylan Tuthill, channeling his inner Jon “The Barber” Gutwillig by wearing the classic Disco Biscuits jumpsuit, raised his axe to the guitar gods, ferociously firing more licks than a lollipop at the feverish crowd. Bubbling with positivity, the crowd matched the energy of the band all night long, as if almost to tell the band—that’s why we dance.
What followed was a seamless flow of RADO and Biscuits classics: “The Great Abyss,” “Mr. Science,” and “Ring the Doorbell Twice”—each of these pieces reflecting RADO’s understanding of the Biscuits’ formula while blending it seamlessly with a fresh twist that felt uniquely their own. The first set came to a dramatic conclusion with the band diving back into “Mr. Science,” bubbling up one more cauldron of funk for the masses. Had the night only been one set, RADO had already exceeded the crowd’s wildest expectations in all facets. But this was Halloween, after all, and after taking a brief set break that would’ve made Marc Brownstein proud, RADO returned to the stage for another frightful round of musical debauchery.
“Anxious Eggs” kicked things off to begin set II, a delicious original served hot and ready to the eager Denver crowd. As “Eggs” began to dive into the cosmic unknown, the band teased elements of the Disco Biscuits throughout the jam segment before peaking blissfully into the Biscuits’ “Tricycle” jam. Next up came a sandwich of the freshest ingredients—“Favorite Floor” kicked things off before spinning into the Disco Biscuits’ “Tourists (Rocket Ship)” off Bisco’s newest record Revolution in Motion. While other Biscuits covers throughout the night were newer to RADO’s repertoire, “Tourists” is a tune the band is quite familiar with, having covered it numerous times throughout the year. In fact, the cover of “Tourists” caught the attention of the Disco Biscuits themselves, earning RADO a spot on the popular podcast Touchdowns All Day hosted by Disco Biscuits guitarist Jon Gutwillig. The segment was filled with sweeping guitars, soaring melodies, and peaks as high as the Rockies. RADO showed maturity in their ability to create tension and release without ever feeling rushed. This level of control in their live performances is what gives them the potential to rise to new heights.
The clock was well past midnight, but the dancefloor knew no time, as RADO steered the musical journey into early November. “Cyclone” electrified the crowd one last time before finally landing back into the ending of “Favorite Floor” to finish off the musical sandwich and cap the night at an epic high point. It was a celebration—of Halloween, of friends, and a connection only felt through music. RADO continues to grow into a musical behemoth, with a future as bright as the city lights illuminating Denver. They are quickly becoming a can’t-miss act within the scene.
