Watch House at Denver Botanic Gardens by Luke

I have never written an article, blog, or anything of this sort, but what better opportunity than to reflect on seeing Watchhouse on July 26th at the Denver Botanical Gardens. This may sound cliché, but it was a night to remember, for a number of reasons. 

While I can’t claim to be a massive Watchhouse fan, they are a band that has been on my radar for a while. I was originally introduced to their music by my friend Ryder during a backpacking trip at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (highly recommend checking out), and I remember being amazed after listening to “Jump Mountain Blues”. Specifically, I was perplexed at how two people could produce a sound so full and warm. With that said, I was thrilled when I was asked to go on a date to the show.

The drive from Colorado Springs to Denver was quite cloudy, but it turned out to be a beautiful summer night upon our arrival. We pulled up to the venue fashionably late, partially due to my sprint back to the car to grab our blanket… right as the show was beginning. I could feel a real sense of intimacy among the crowd, especially as the duo walked literally two feet in front of us on their way to the stage. The place was absolutely packed with attendees, ranging from little kids running around the gardens to older couples enjoying a glass of wine. The stage was set up in the middle of a descending lawn, with people taking up every inch of available grass. Given that it was my first concert at the Denver Botanical Gardens, I was jaw-dropped at how cool the space was, wishing I had discovered it earlier in the summer. For people like us who didn’t arrive early, there was a secondary lawn where we found some open green space to set up.

After waltzing around the gardens during the first couple songs, we made our way closer to the stage, pouncing on a sliver of lawn that opened up. We felt welcomed into the crowd immediately, as the couple next to us offered up a blanket to sit on. We graciously declined, went to grab our belongings, and really got settled in. It was from that point on that I was put into a trance. I’m not sure if it was the company, the music itself, the beautiful gardens, or the raspberries and brie that we were snacking on, but something about the show just felt special. Everyone, including myself, seemed to have their eyes glued to the stage, vibing with each song they played, and showing their love through singing and applause. It seemed like much of the crowd were devoted Watchhouse fans, giddy from start to finish, and occasionally chanting for them to play “Wildfire”, one of their signature tunes. 

While I enjoyed getting to hear some familiar favorites such as Belly of the Beast and Golden Embers, a song that really stuck with me was Old Ties and Companions from their album Such Jubilee. I wasn’t familiar with the tune beforehand, but when they played it towards the end of the set, it felt special. One of the reasons I love seeing live music is because of the bonds and connections that it can create, and that message felt very relevant for me throughout the duration of the song. While I typically like to get up and dance during shows, their gentle sound had me perfectly content on our blanket, peacefully enjoying each of the 16 pieces that they shared. 

My same friend who introduced me to Watchhouse told me I had to go see them live. I now understand what he was talking about because they sounded truly phenomenal in person. Not only that, but I could feel the love and passion between Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz on stage, something you can’t experience through Spotify. It was the kind of passion that sticks with you, so much so that I had a girlfriend by the conclusion of the night. If that doesn’t make you want to go see Watchhouse, I’m not sure what will. Thanks for reading