It was the gig that almost wasn’t…
Touring in support of One Day Home, the tenth studio album of his more than two-decade career, world-renowned singer/songwriter Joshua Radin played back to back nights at Daniels Hall at Swallow Hill Music this past weekend. But the first of those shows – the one on Saturday night – almost didn’t happen. The band’s bus broke down on the drive from the prior night’s show Hastings, NE. Replacement parts had to be driven to them, with repairs being made on site. For a time, it looked very likely the band would not make it to Denver in time for that first gig.
But apparently the members of the sold out audience for that night’s show are leading charmed lives. The band made it to the venue… late, but not too late. They hurried through the load in, set up, and sound check. And then, right on schedule, the show did go on. And let me tell you… it was absolutely fabulous.
When this tour was originally announced, Radin was scheduled for a single night in Denver. When tickets for that show quickly sold out, and since there was a break in the schedule the next night, a second Denver performance was added.
And let me tell you once again… that second show, minus the drama from the night before, was also absolutely fabulous. Perhaps, given the opportunity for everyone to rest and recharge for a day in between shows, maybe even a bit more fabulous.
If you’ve seen Radin live, chances are you saw him perform solo acoustic. That’s how he does the bulk of his touring. But for this tour, which began one month ago in Nashville, he’s working with a full backing band. As much as I love his solo acoustic shows, there’s no doubt that having the full band adds some extra spice. Many of his songs feature full band arrangements, and this tour lets audiences hear them as they were originally recorded.
When I interviewed Radin back in August (Joshua Radin Interview August 2025) we talked about the differences between touring as a solo acoustic act, versus touring with a full band. He noted that most of the members of the band he would be touring with were people he’d never met before (the exception being his longtime guitarist Gabe Burdulis). He would meet them for the first time when they gathered in Nashville to begin rehearsals, a few days before the beginning of the tour. He also noted that while it would probably take a couple of weeks for the band to completely come together, they would be “locked in” by the time they got to Denver. And damned if he wasn’t right.
(For the record, the backing band was made up of Gabe Burdulis on multiple guitars, including pedal steel, Ben Young on keys and melodica, and Liam Hogan on drums and mandolin. They were unbelievably tight, given that they’ve only been playing together for a month.)
Now, if you’re concerned that having a full band behind him would take away from the intimacy you’ve come to expect from a Joshua Radin concert, fear not. At different times in each night’s sets, one or more members of the band would exit the stage, which acted to quiet things down. Radin performed solo acoustic on a pair of songs each night. He and Burdulis performed an acoustic duet on one song each night. And on both nights opener Maria Taylor came back on stage to sing a duet on the beautiful “Here, Right Now.” (FYI… Taylor sang supporting vocals on this song when it was recorded for the album of the same name, released in 2019.)
Even with the full band, they delivered quiet, intimate moments on stage. On both nights, the show opened with “No Envy No Fear,” from Radin’s 2008 album Simple Times. With Radin on acoustic guitar, Hogan on mandolin, and Burdulis on pedal steel, the song unfolded with a delicate intimacy. The gentle strumming of Radin’s guitar blended seamlessly with the shimmering, melodic lines of the mandolin and the haunting, ethereal tones of the pedal steel. The performance was slowed and quieted, allowing every breathy nuance to come through, making the moment simply gorgeous and utterly transportive.
And that was just the first song of the set. Phew!
When Radin tours as a solo acoustic act, he never comes on stage with a predetermined setlist. He prefers to make on stage decisions about which songs to perform, and when to perform them, based on “reading the room.” When touring with a full band, however, that’s just not practical. During Sunday night’s performance, as several audience members requested specific songs, Radin explained that accommodating requests wouldn’t be possible due to the need to adhere to a predetermined setlist, in order to effectively coordinate with the members of the band. But he also joked that the songs people were calling out just might be coming up later in the show anyway.
What this means is that the setlists for the two night were almost identical. The only difference was the insertion of the cover of the Yazoo song “Only You” on Sunday night. (You can see the full setlist(s), presented in order, in the photo gallery below.) The main set on Saturday night included seventeen songs. On Sunday night, the main set included eighteen songs. On both nights, the band returned to the stage for a two song encore – the bouncy “Vegetable Car” (from 2008’s Simple Times album), followed by a rousing, acoustic only version of the Bob Dylan classic, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”.
That latter song has become a staple of Radin live show encores, but these two performances were the best I’ve witnessed. With Young on melodica, Hogan on mandolin, and both Burdulis and Radin on acoustic guitars, the band moved to the front of the stage and played unplugged. It was epic – both figuratively and literally show stopping.
In the opening paragraph of this piece, I referred to Radin as a “world-renowned singer/songwriter”—and for good reason. But while his recorded music inspires, seeing him live reveals an even deeper gift… his storytelling. For example, at both shows Radin shared the story about how a chance encounter with a stray dog, on an isolated beach, helped him overcome writer’s block early in his career, and how looking that dog in the eyes inspired him to write the song “Here, Right Now.” Each story, whether funny or poignant, felt honest and heartfelt – offering glimpses into a life fully lived. As I left his second Denver performance, what lingered most was not just the exceptional music, but the hour and a half spent immersed in his songs and stories – a truly memorable and meaningful experience.
At the risk of sounding overdone and cliché – for many, seeing Joshua Radin perform live is a life affirming experience. His music resonates with people, touching them in deeply meaningful ways, often during difficult times, when they need something to help them through. It’s why he has such an emotionally invested fanbase. It’s why people like Michelle, who I talked to at Sunday night’s show, have seen Radin perform live more than two dozen times, at venues all over the world. Michelle, who lives in Boulder, explained how Radin’s music carries with it healing properties that have come to her at the most necessary times in her life.
And then there’s Anna and Ryan, a married couple who actually met at a Radin concert in Denver in March of 2022. They played his song “Today” at their wedding. They now live in Grand Junction, but made the trip back to Denver to attend both shows this weekend. When I talked to them on Sunday night, they told me that Radin’s music touches their souls and helps bring everything about life into perspective.
Stories like Michelle’s, Anna’s, and Ryan’s make me think of a quote from Billy Joel, who said, “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity.” That’s definitely the case with Radin’s music. Ask any of his fans… they’re happy to share.
In my review of Radin’s 2023 show, I wrote…
“Radin is, without a doubt, one of – if not the – most authentic musical artists I’ve ever met. The songs he writes and performs are about real life. They are heartfelt and earnest and sincere. They tell stories drawn from his journey through a life that, just like all the rest of us, has had its share of ups and downs.”
I bring that quote forward now because I think it perfectly captures the who, what and why of Joshua Radin. In interviews and on stage he tells the story of how he fell into music accidentally when he bought a guitar, to use as a meditative device, when he was 30 years old. If there’s such a thing as kismet, there’s no better example of it than that. Radin has a gift, which he was meant to share with the rest of us, enriching our lives, giving us hope.
A Joshua Radin concert is about a lot more than entertainment. Radin forms an almost mystical connection with his fans. He makes us laugh, and sometimes he might just make us cry. He gives us permission to feel, and he lets us know we’re not alone. And when we leave one of his shows, as hundreds of us did on both nights this past weekend, we find ourselves more grounded, and equipped with enhanced perspectives regarding what it means to be alive.
Before I wrap up, I want to give a HUGE shoutout to Ember at Swallow Hill Music. Thank you, Ember, for your warm and gracious welcome on both nights, and for making my job so much easier. To all of you reading this, if you’re not familiar with Swallow Hill Music, you need to check them out. Yes, they are a terrific concert venue. But they are a whole lot more than that. Spend some time getting to know them at https://swallowhillmusic.org/.
Special thanks to my friend and fellow temporary roadie Dave, who actually got to go on stage, while I just handed stuff up from below.
Story and photos by Rick Witt www.rickwittphotography.com
