Courtesy of songkick.com
She’s an artist that I stumbled upon some months ago, with whom I quickly developed a musical obsession. She’s been sampled, remixed and has been subtly creeping into my musical landscape. Ellie Goulding is a rising electro-pop goddess out of the UK and just hours after stepping off the plane in Denver on August 8, I was sitting in the mezzanine level of the darkened Ogden Theater waiting to see Goulding take the stage.
Opening for Goulding was an Australian house duo, Bag Raiders. DJs Chris Stracey and Jack Glass opened their set with “Gone Away”, a track off their self-titled debut album. The two played with an energy similar to a Matt & Kim live show. They were banging away on their keyboards, synthesizer and electric drum set with a true sense of abandon. We watched as the sea down below jumping around, waving their hands in the air as the lights washed over the crowd. The transitions were seamless throughout their set and even quick swigs of water didn’t slow the DJs down. It become more and more evident that Bag Raiders were music nerds who really knew what they were doing on stage. Their final song “Sunlight” was infectious.
It is the second single off their album and featured a ridiculous drum solo by Jack Glass. The Bag Raiders are one of the best unknown opening acts I have ever seen. After their show with Goulding, they announced that they were staying on in Denver to headline at the Ogden Friday, August 12.
After a bit of a wait and a couple beers consumed on my boyfriend’s part, Ellie’s band began to assemble on the stage. The guitar/bass/part-time keyboard player, drummer, and the keyboard/synth player took to the stage and the opening to “Under the Sheets” began. Cheers erupted in the crowd and Ellie walked out on stage in a pair of leopard print platform shoes, tiny black leather shorts, and bright red Ringmaster jacket. Goulding is tiny but as she stepped up to the mic, her unique voice filled every square inch of the Ogden.
Grabbing her acoustic guitar, Ellie broke right into “This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)”. Her voice was ethereal and her style of performance was natural and seamless. She had a flair for changing up her songs, whether it be by adding a harmony or a lyrical trill. With each new song, Goulding continued to prove her musical chops. She performs with an energy that showcases her confidence and her ability as a performer. Goulding is, to say it plainly, cool. On “Human” Ellie broke out her signature dance move by sliding out her right foot and adding a slight hip-pop keeping time with the music.
Goulding slowed it down with “The End”. She explained that it was one of the first songs she wrote and played in pubs when she was just starting out. It was obvious that the song had an emotional significance in the way she crooned over this song of lost love, “Cause I’m making up for lost time, and I’m making up for you. And I’m waking up from last night, and I’m waking up with you. So what’s new?” While much of the set list was composed of tracks from Goulding’s debut album Lights, it was nice to hear some of her lesser-known tracks. Following “The End” was an Elton John cover, “Your Song”. With just Goulding and a pianist on stage, the cover was slow and beautifully re-imagined within Ellie’s lyrical aesthetic.
As Ellie hit a transition, it became clear for the first time during the performance that she was sick. Goulding barely spoke throughout the concert, not even introducing the members of her band but her speaking voice was very hoarse as she thanked the Denver crowd and introduced “The Writer”. It was remarkable that until this point in the performance no one had realized just how sick Goulding was. However, her voice continued to soar through the set list. As the stage lights changed to a bright green and stark white Ellie introduced “Salt Skin” arguably one of the best songs of the set. Keeping with the energy of the concert, Goulding powered through “Salt Skin” and gave her voice a rest by breaking into a drum solo. With a floor tom and cymbal by her side, Ellie grabbed her drumsticks and proved once again what a rock star she truly is.
Goulding continued her drumming as “Salt Skin” became “Lights”. “Lights” is arguably Goulding’s most infamous song as it has been remixed by many artists, making it a viral craze. Seeing it performed live was even better than expected. By “Your Biggest Mistake” it became more evident that Goulding’s voice was quickly deteriorating. After taking a swig from a solo cup, Ellie rounded out her set with “Starry Eyed”. It was the perfect song to end the night. Full of energy and joy, Goulding performed up to expectations and gracefully bowed out (sans encore) promising to return to Denver for a future performance.
Throughout the set, Goulding showed an amazing amount of showmanship by pushing through and giving the Denver crowd a killer performance. After experiencing Ellie even when she was not 100%, I am dying to see her again in full spirits.
Ellie Goulding, thank you for powering through and giving Denver a show they will never forget.
Ellie Goulding’s Setlist @ The Ogden Theater- August 8, 2011
1. “Under the Sheets”
2. “This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)”
3. “Everytime You Go”
4. “Human”
5. “Little Dreams”
6. “Guns and Horses”
7. “The End”
8. “Your Song (Cover)”
9. “The Writer”
10. “Salt Skin”
11. “Lights”
12. “Animal”
13. “Your Biggest Mistake”
14. “Starry Eyed”
9 Golden Eggs
