On Saturday, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats wrapped up an international tour cycle for its self-titled debut album with their second of two sold-out shows at the Ogden Theatre, including a surprise announcement from Governor Hickenlooper.
Before the band took the stage, AEG Rocky Mountains Vice President Don Strasburg, Night Sweats manager Chris Tetzeli and Jamie Van Leeuwen, a representative from the governor’s office, introduced Governor Hickenlooper, who officially proclaimed Dec. 17 Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Day.
Humbled, Rateliff took the stage to recognize the proclamation, getting on his knees while members of the band wrapped him in the Colorado flag.
“We made this record and I never thought that any of this would ever happen,” Rateliff said. “We had the great experience of having the Denver community help us along the way through so many different musical projects. Maybe on this Night Sweats Day, we’ll all plant a tree or do something good. But let’s continue to move forward in this year with love and hope and faith and remember that we are all one and we are all in this human experience together.”
Rateliff was visibly moved throughout his set, wiping away tears and, at one point, apologizing to the packed hometown crowd for not being able to keep it together.
The proclamation rattled off some stats from The Night Sweats’ recent tour that would cement its place as the de facto hardest working band in Denver. Some highlights:
- The band has travelled 208,000 miles in the last 18 months, playing 246 shows for more than 700,000 people.
- They sold out their August 2017 Red Rocks show in seven minutes.
- Their music has been streamed by 7.1 million people on Spotify, for a cumulative 432 years.
You can read a transcript of the proclamation in full below.
Nathaniel Rateliff, a principal member of our music scene for the last fifteen years, joins with Joseph Pope III, Pat Meese, Luke Mossman, Andy Wild and Mark Schusterman to perform as the venerable Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.
The rock and roll folk R&B group has travelled over 208,000 miles in the last 18 months, touring the world and playing sold-out venues.
And whereas, since June 2015, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats have performed 246 shows in more than 16 countries across the globe.
And whereas Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats have sold over 640,000 albums and have performed for over 700,000 people.
Whereas 7.1 million people have streamed the band on Spotify for a total of 432 years of cumulative music listening.
And whereas, managed by Chris Tetzeli at Denver-based 7S Management, the group, even with their global travels, has deep roots to the Colorado community.
And whereas their upcoming August 2017 Red Rocks show, a world-renowned venue with 10,000 seats, sold out in just 7 minutes.
And whereas Colorado’s music scene continues to grow and thrive with enormous talent, dedication and passion for community that musicians like Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats brings to our state.
Therefore, I, John W. Hickenlooper, the governor of the state of Colorado, do hereby proclaim, forever after, December 17, 2016, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Day in the State of Colorado.
