I’m one lucky son of a gun. Each week, band and artist representatives send me new music, and over the years those introductions have led me to some exceptional artists. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing and covering Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers, Weakened Friends, Sons of the East, The Imaginaries, 2LØT, The Georgia Thunderbolts, and, of course, the Kurt Allen Band.
Nearly a year ago, I interviewed Kurt Allen and covered his band’s show at Lincoln’s Roadhouse in Denver. At the time, I knew him only through his terrific album Kurt Allen Live from The Red Shed, which I had listened to a few months earlier. What stood out immediately was his honest, old-school blues rock—full of boogie, grit, and exactly the kind of sound I love.
I reviewed that Lincoln’s Roadhouse show here: Denver Entertainment Hub/Kurt Allen Band. Saying the band blew the doors off barely captures it. Across three sets and three hours and fifteen minutes, they played 31 songs, including a dozen originals and covers by artists ranging from Albert Collins and Black Sabbath to Pink Floyd, The Allman Brothers Band, The Clash, and ZZ Top. It was a remarkable performance by an exceptionally talented band.
Since that show last August, Allen and his bandmates have seemed to be on the road nonstop. Luckily for us, that road brought them back to the Denver area this past Wednesday for a stop at Nissi’s in Lafayette. The show opened a four-night Colorado run, followed by dates in Lone Tree, Colorado Springs, and Keystone.
(This was Allen’s second Colorado visit in twelve months. In March, the band played Nissi’s in Lafayette, the Snake River Saloon in Keystone, and Bierstadt Lagerhaus in Denver.)
Wednesday’s Nissi’s show wasn’t the marathon the band delivered at Lincoln’s, but it still stretched well beyond a standard headlining set. As I noted last year, the Kurt Allen Band is not a cover band. Still, when the moment calls for one, they have the songs, chops, and confidence to deliver—and they did.
Clocking in at just over two hours and fifteen minutes of playing time, the band presented two eclectic ten-song sets, evenly split between originals and covers. Their range was impressive. At their core, they are a blues-rock trio, but few bands in that lane can play “Uncomfortably Numb” with the weight of a dedicated Pink Floyd tribute act, then charge into “War Pigs” with enough force to get the metalheads dancing in the aisles.
Allen’s “Uncomfortably Numb” solos were stunning, earning whoops, hollers, and a standing ovation. On “War Pigs,” bassist Adam Swartz delivered eerily accurate lead vocals while paying tribute to Geezer Butler with his bass work.
But again, the Kurt Allen Band is not a cover band. They have released two studio albums and one live album, most of it built around original material. The lone exception is Allen’s excellent version of Son House’s “Death Letter,” which appears on both the band’s 2014 debut, Titanium Blue, and its 2022 live album, Kurt Allen Live from The Red Shed. Wednesday’s set included three songs from Titanium Blue, seven from 2020’s Whiskey, Women & Trouble, and one unreleased track featured on the Red Shed live album.
Original highlights included “Death Letter,” “Graveyard Blues” — see the excellent video here: Graveyard Blues Kurt Allen Band — and “How Long,” Allen’s haunting nod to Led Zeppelin’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You.”
Cover highlights included a super-funky take on Albert Collins’ “Black Cat Bone,” Robin Trower’s “Too Rolling Stoned,” and “Slow Blues in C,” Allen’s tribute to childhood idol Alvin Lee of Ten Years After.
The song selection alone earns the Kurt Allen Band an A+, but their musicianship and vocals are what make them a must-see live act. Allen is not just a good guitarist; he is a great one, moving easily from classic rock and metal to slow-burning blues. Longtime bassist and vocalist Adam Swartz plays with similar authority, locking into natural, unforced grooves and delivering strong, confident lead vocals. A year ago, I thought he was good. Now, he is exceptional. New drummer Wrex Hill already sounds fully at home, bringing sharp blues instincts, power, precision, and fills that serve the songs rather than distract from them.
Put it all together—the originals, the covers, and the talent—and it’s easy to root for the Kurt Allen Band. They are not leaning on covers, nostalgia, or bar-band familiarity. They are writing, touring, grinding, growing, and playing as if every room matters. Wednesday night at Nissi’s was more than another stop on a long road trip; it was proof that real blues rock is still alive, loud, soulful, and powerful enough to turn a Wednesday night into something memorable.
Covering shows is nothing like life on the road, but it can still wear on you. Then a night like this comes along and the weight lifts. Walking through the welcome light rain to my car after the show, I was reminded what live music can do when it is done right—and how lucky I am to be there for it.
Before signing off, I want give a huge shoutout to Nissi’s Entertainment Venue & Event Center. I’ve wanted to cover a show there for a long time, and now that I finally have, I’m already looking forward to returning. Special thanks to owner Marc Gitlin and his staff for their hospitality. I didn’t eat this time, but the food looked terrific—next time, I’m arriving early for dinner before the show.
Thanks again to Kurt, Adam, and Wrex. I enjoyed spending time with you before the show. Stay safe on the road, fellas. Best of luck with the Florida gigs in October, and I’ll see you next time.
Story and photos by Rick Witt www.rickwittphotography.com
