When U2 plays to a sold-out Ernst Happel Stadium — capacity 75,000 — in Austria next week, Denver rockers OneRepublic will open the big rock show. That (and the other European dates OneRepublic will open for U2) is a big deal for the Denver group. But it’s also a smart move for U2. OneRepublic sells millions of records in the States, sure, but they do even better in western Europe.
Needless to say, OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder is a busy man these days. The biggest news from the singer/producer’s life: A new baby boy, Copeland, who “has pretty much been my world since I’ve been home,” Tedder said.
He’s also wrapped recording sessions with Faith Hill in his Denver studio, finished recording Adele’s new album, followed the wacky Colorado governor’s race, launched new singles with artists Natasha Bedingfield and Sky Ferreira, and awaited the Broncos regular season.
Tedder recently helped the Fray’s Isaac Slade judge a battle of the bands at the Ogden Theatre.
“I’m astounded by the level of talent and ingenuity in Denver,” Tedder said. “I heard an A&R (record label rep) say recently that he and his peers look at Denver now the same way they looked at Seattle in the early ’90s, and I thought that was pretty cool.”
