Summary: Good show, but too much drama and personal medical issue prevented my enjoyment
I was at the show early, lucky to get quite good seats, up front, front row.
Contrary to others, I really enjoyed Future Islands. They were a bit odd, but the front man's passion and presence were exquisite.
I'd say venue was 2/3 to 3/4 full. Capacity is listed as 9450.
Prior to Moz coming on, we went to buy t-shirts. Another person apparently took one of the t-shirts on the table and the vendor accused me of stealing it and being in cahoots with them. Much drama as they called police over who wanted to see my ID, I said I have no shirt, I didn't take it. She demanded I pay for this shirt another person took, I declined and asked for manager, she said she'd have me thrown out, manager said if you didn't take I can't ask you to pay for it.
As the show started, we moved from our front row seats to the front crude imposing railing. A drunk 25-30 year old woman who someone called "Julian" was yelling at a person that had been sitting by us. She flipped him off and pushed her hand into his face. He slapped her hand away. Security came up and asked me what happened as the two people shouted at each other, as I was behind and between them.
Now, here's more drama. This was "Front row Security" which is apparently different from "Stage Security" which seems to also be different from Morrissey's personal security.
The woman screamed as I expained what I saw demanding that the person she flipped off be thrown out, and me too because "I was trying to get her thrown out." The front row security guy explained to stage security he was looking into it and the stage security ignored him and immediately "took the side" of the drunk lady. Apparently she was friends with the front row security because they demanded I move away from her (in front of the seats I'd purchased.) I declined and they said I could leave if I didn't. So, I moved over and ended up about 3 people from the front, 20 feet to the left. As I was walking away, in clear of both Front Row and Stage security, she threw her cup at my and it hit my ear. It hurt, but not badly, but the affront was cruel and explicitly ignored by Security. After she did that, she started screaming that both me and my wife had hit her and should be thrown out. Just silly, and they left her there, at the front, barely able to stand against the rail, screaming at anyone and everyone. Hard to believe but it was so. Shame on them.
Not the end of the world, first world problems, right? Still, it's so sad to be waylaid by such drama at such an opportunity to see Moz.
Morrissey came out and was in fine form, strong, confident, focused, consumate professional.
As the crowd pushed more my wife (on a crutch and foot brace) was in front of me with my arms around her keeping people from bumping her. Shortly after the third song started, she fainted, from the heat or dehydration or who knows what, maybe from that denver 'scent' as silly as it might sound.
I didn't know she'd fainted, I just knew she had collapsed in my arms, back into me. After 5 seconds I realized she wasn't responsive and I walked backwards through the crowd, bumping people with my back for 60 seconds or so, dragging her to the side and laying her down on her back. I checked her breathing and it was fine, so I asked Security to call a medic.
After some time, they arrived with a gurney and we went into the bowels of Red Rocks to the first aid/medical room, from which we distantly listened to the rest of the concert.
The EMTs did a fine job of support and care.
Here are my complaints:
1. It's not my job as a customer to guard the vendors shirts and they shouldn't act as if it is.
2. Security paid no attention to the seat # listed on my armband, and clearly played favorites with this drunk lady.
3. Alot of the front row crowd seemed to lack of sense of kindness or love, and were quite inconsiderate. I'm used to fending for myself at Moz show, and it's quite different when one is tending to a lame wife.
I'm sad how things turned out. Trouble loves me, I suppose. Thanks for listening.
Wife is fine which is really all that matters, and we see him again in SLC, but this time I'll stay away from unruly people.
So many of us are drawn to Morrissey because of our challenges, our battles, and the strengths and perspective he gives us.
I've seen him regularly since 1989 or so, and it just seems over time that our sad group has bifurcated into gentle caring kind people, and broken angry people. Of course, a large set of concert goers are ambivalent to the core issues, but.. I don't know.
Such a little thing as kindness and courtesy makes such a big difference.