Wilderado Brings Indie Rock to Aspen's Belly Up Before Red Rocks Show

What does it mean for the folks in Aspen that Wilderado is playing Belly Up on July 15, right before they take the stage at Red Rocks?

It’s a specific kind of luck for local music lovers. The Tulsa-based indie rock band brings its guitar-driven, anthemic sound to the Aspen venue the night before opening for a larger crowd at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. It’s not just another concert on the calendar. It’s a moment where the band’s history and their current momentum collide in a room full of neighbors.

Max Rainer, the band’s lead singer, songwriter, and front man, has been clear about what they are chasing. He points to early influences like Kings of Leon, Third Eye Blind, Delta Spirit, and Band of Horses. But he also notes that Fleet Foxes were part of that broad scope from the very beginning. The band started in Malibu, California, in 2015, and has remained true to those roots while expanding their sonic palette over the last decade.

Their first full-length, self-titled album arrived in 2021. Rainer describes that initial record as the band’s “truest and closest ability to just bring yourself to the table.” He argues that first records are often incredible because they emerge almost like an accident. There was no overthinking, just a collection of songs that felt ready to be recorded. Since then, the band has pushed back against the industry pressure to pump out music quickly. They wait until they have something authentic to say.

“I’m not wanting to write or put music into the world unless I feel like I couldn’t not,” Rainer said. He acknowledges that staying true to that instinct becomes more difficult as the years go by, but Wilderado has managed to stand in integrity.

Michael Marcagi, who opened for Wilderado in Vail on June 5, sees the band as well-curated. He notes that they are thoughtful in their songwriting and pay attention to everything from album covers to photography and videos. That care extends to their latest studio album, “Talker,” released in September 2024.

Rainer describes “Talker” as the record they wanted to hear at that specific moment in time. It took them a long time to be fully convinced of it, but they are proud that the final product satisfies their own standards. When working on the album, the band was feeling exhausted from playing the same songs on tour night after night. Rainer went in with a specific motivation to write songs that kept his attention without always sending the vocals to the rafters. He allowed for those big high notes but looked for other textures in the music.

The part everyone skips past is how this preparation translates to a live show. Wilderado isn’t just playing hits; they are presenting a carefully built set that reflects their current artistic identity. For people in the valley, seeing them at Belly Up offers a chance to hear that evolution up close.

Stand there long enough and you can see the difference between a band riding a wave and one building it. Wilderado is doing the latter, one song at a time. The lights dim in Aspen tonight. The crowd gathers.