has always been a band to support a good cause. So it should make sense that Colorado’s joined on stage during a concert at the that benefitted the Bonfils Blood Center. Toward the end of the Paramount show on Tuesday, Tedder joined DeGraw to add surprise camaraderie and back-up vocals on “Finest Hour” and “I Don’t Want To Be.”
DeGraw’s flamboyant showmanship highlighted the night of good will. He flirted with the crowd, bending on one knee to serenade women in the front row. DeGraw winked and held their hands and ventured into the crowd to dance with another. Dressed in head-to-toe black and a trademark hat, flashing his Mephistophelian grin, DeGraw strutted and shimmied tirelessly. But to back up the cocky attitude, DeGraw has a voice to match — one that’s robust, fluid and dynamic.
Between bouts of getting intimate with the crowd, DeGraw took breaks at the piano, where he flirted with the keys. He demonstrated his prowess with the instrument during a solo performance of Billy Joel’s “She’s Always a Woman.” DeGraw performed his graceful cover after sharing an anecdote about attending a Billy Joel concert with his family when he was 15. After the show, DeGraw announced on the car ride home that he knew what he wanted to do with his life: He wanted to make music.
After a passionate set that included “Best I Ever Had,” “Chariot” and “Soldier,” DeGraw and his band rewarded a deafening encore roar with more music. The show closed with one of DeGraw’s biggest hits: “Not Over You.”
But DeGraw wasn’t finished yet. This being a concert for charity, the artist continued to show his big heart by returning after the house lights came up. For about 15 minutes he spent time shaking hands, signing autographs and shooting selfies with fans.
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Colleen Smith is a longtime contributor to The Denver Post and the author of the acclaimed novel “Glass Halo” and “Laid-Back Skier” by Friday Jones Publishing.
is a Boulder-based photographer and a regular contributor to Reverb.
