Blind Pilot is a band that screams quality music with the most delicate of touches. Their bike-fueled origin story is now the stuff of legend, but the music is what hooks people for the long haul. However, fans have been left waiting for new tunes since the last album was released in 2016. Israel Nebeker admitted to being blocked working on the next Blind Pilot album. So as a solution he wrote the lyrics for In The Shadow of the Holy Mountain in a month and brought it to the band to flesh out. The approach resulted in a creative rebirth for the group and a fresh start to their live performances. In short it was a good idea that got the job done.

The crowd packed in early for a VIP meet and greet performance before doors opened to the ticket holders at large. By the time we arrived the floor was full and the rest of the Wash bar was filling in quickly.

Opener Molly Sarlé sauntered onto the stage as the nearly silent audience tucked in. Molly hails from Santa Cruz, California and is a member of the celebrated folk group Mountain Man. She released her first solo record Karaoke Angel in 2019. Her show started with a whispered hello. Her short set was a mix of originals and covers all played solo on her acoustic guitar. Her song “Human” is an esoteric journey of self-discovery and reflection. She treated us to a stripped down version of Kacey Musgraves’ “Slow Burn” and made everyone snap to attention with a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Tom Waits’ “Green Grass” to close her set.

After a short break Blind Pilot made their way to the stage for a transcendent ninety minutes of music. The crowd was locked in with almost no chatter from the audience. These types of musical experiences are a rarity on the Front Range. They opened the night with “The Story I Heard” about an aimless homeless man named JoJo. “Half Moon” about how quickly time passes came next. This song gained notoriety after being featured on the show One Tree Hill. Israel also treated us to a new song written in the Poudre Canyon just down the road. Despite the release of the new album, fans got a taste of their entire catalog with deep cuts like “I Buried A Bone” and “Colored Night.” At times they stripped the band down to a three piece around a single microphone. They invited local picker Jesse Bates to sit in on the pedal steel for a couple songs including the celebratory “Jacaranda” off the new album.

Late in the set in between songs Israel used his platform to discuss social anxiety and how he deals with it as a performer. The drum-heavy “We Are The Tide” was an anthemic wakeup for the audience. My wife came along for the show and mentioned, “Each song is like a hug.” “Umpqua Rushing” was a sing-along with the fans, before they broke for the encore.

Israel requested Monster Trucks to be put up on the screens. I found out later from the crew that they were messing around with the IMAG visuals during soundcheck and their tour manager told them to put up Monster Trucks. I can’t think of a bigger juxtaposition than Blind Pilot and the pageantry of a Monster Truck show, but somehow for “Believe Me” it worked. They kept the visuals going for the show-closing “3 Rounds And A Sound.” I heard a woman across from us say she drove 7 hours to hear that song. I’m glad they played it. That’s the type of devotion this band evokes from their fanbase. While the writer’s block kept this band out of the spotlight it appears that at least for now, the floodgates are open. The nationwide tour continues in 2025 with no sign of slowing down. If you like authentic, acoustic music with a purity and understanding not common on today’s musical landscape, I recommend checking out Blind Pilot. The world is a better place with this band on the road sharing their unique musical perspective.