Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
Audio By Carbonatix
An evening with CAKE at Red Rocks was a masterclass in musical eccentricity and lyrical wit.
The rock band, which formed in 1991 in Sacramento, California, will be releasing a new studio album this year – its first since 2011. And CAKE must be on a roll, because the show at Red Rocks on July 24 was a hit.
With its signature blend of trumpet-laced funk, sardonic storytelling, and genre-defying grooves, the Sacramento-based band transformed the iconic amphitheatre into a jubilant, offbeat celebration of alternative rock. Fans reveled in the band’s democratic energy and frontman John McCrea’s dry humor, proving once again that CAKE is never just dessert – it’s a full-course experience.
See photos from the show below.
CAKE’s debut album, Motorcade of Generosity (1994), was self-released and sold out of its van.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
The band’s breakout hit, “The Distance”, came from its second album, Fashion Nugget (1996), which went platinum.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
A disco ball helped set the mood for CAKE’s performance at Red Rocks.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
CAKE’s cover of “I Will Survive” was controversial—Gloria Gaynor called it her least favorite version due to lyrical changes.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
Fans packed Red Rocks for CAKE.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
Their third album, Prolonging the Magic (1998), also went platinum and featured experimental instrumentation like pedal steel guitar and musical saw.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
Fans were on their feet the entire night.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
CAKE’s fourth album, Comfort Eagle (2001), included the hit “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”, which reached #7 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
Fans at Red Rocks as CAKE steps on stage.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
The band’s fifth album, Pressure Chief (2004), was their last release under Columbia Records before going fully independent.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
Fans packed Red Rocks from front to back.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
CAKE created their own label, Upbeat Records, and released Showroom of Compassion (2011), which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
Their recording studio is solar-powered, often generating more energy than it uses.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
CAKE’s music blends genres including funk, country, mariachi, hip-hop, and disco, making their sound truly eclectic.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
The band’s name “CAKE” refers not to dessert, but to something that “cakes onto your shoe”—a metaphor for lingering impact.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
An instrumental version of “The Distance” appeared in an episode of The Simpsons in 2000.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
CAKE once played a Bar Mitzvah for a fan in Florida to kick off their 1999 world tour.
Photography By: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
Find more concerts on our Denver concert calendar.