How do you say farewell to a group of ghosts? What if those ghosts aren’t actually part of the afterlife just yet? You guessed it, I’m talking about The Ghost of Paul Revere. After 11 years, a discography that will span 9 albums, over 1,200 shows, and 6 different countries, The Ghost of Paul Revere have decided to hang up their hats for good. The devastating announcement swept across the newsfeeds of fans just a couple of months ago. The statement informed fans that their final appearance would be at their very own Ghostland Festival later this year. However, the Maine natives have decided to give it one last run across the US leading up to their final show. The Last Ride Tour rolled through the beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado on Friday night and I was there to document the festivities. The show was part of back to back nights in Colorado where The Ghost Of Paul Revere opened for The Revivalists.
First off, experiencing a show at Red Rocks Amphitheater is total sensory overload. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, there’s no other venue that compares. It’s a venue that artists from around the world dream of playing. Before the doors opened at 6pm, fans began to hike, yes hike, up the steep stairways and dirt paths to the Amphitheater entrances. A nice breeze cooled the air and the shadows of the rock pillars provided some reprieve from the scorching sun. As the gates opened, fans quickly filled the 9,545 person venue. The stage was set and it was time for The Ghost of Paul Revere to take the stage.
At 7:30 The Ghost of Paul Revere walked on stage to a warm welcome from the packed house. The band kicked off the set with “Wild Child“ and “In Deep.” The crowd immediately joined in with backing vocals of their own. As expected, the acoustics at Red Rocks were pristine. A slight echo bounced off the 300ft sandstone outcrops that create natural walls on either side of the venue. The drums and bass were punchy, the guitars were crisp, and the dulcet tones of the vocals sent chills down my spine. There’s something to be said when a band holds the crowd’s attention the entire set while surrounded by one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. The vocal harmonies and folky tones of “San Antone” and “Little Bird” had the crowd on their feet and swaying to the rhythms. The eight song set consisted of a nice mix of old and new material. The set concluded with “Love At,” “Frontier,” “Fire in the Sky,” and “One of These Days.”
The Ghost of Paul Revere are masters of their craft. The musicianship, stage presence, and passion that radiates from the stage at every show speaks volumes to the hard work that Griffin, Sean, Max, and Chuck have put into The Ghost over the past 11 years. Even though the members are moving on, the music of The Ghost of Paul Revere will always be there for fans to cherish. We can only hope that in the future, even if not under the flag of The Ghost of Paul Revere, new projects will arise. Thank you all for everything, you will be missed by many.
– Corey Smith
