REVIEW: Skrillex’s Red Rocks Set Was Five Hours of Unfiltered Genius

It’s hard to put into words what Skrillex pulled off at Red Rocks this past Tuesday night. After his iconic solo set in 2023 being his first return to the venue in nearly a decade, expectations were high. But somehow, Sonny Moore exceeded them. This time around, it wasn’t just a journey through his discography, it was a declaration: Skrillex is still one of the most daring and forward-thinking artists in electronic music.

The set started off with two hours of genre-bending madness that showcased Sonny’s masterful work on the decks. Classic reggae, deep house layered with iconic vocals, and then an absolutely hypnotic segment of industrial techno deep cuts left an atmosphere of tension and excitement through every soul in attendance. It wasn’t your typical Skrillex set, but that’s what made it so exciting. The performance started off on a much heavier note than in 2023, laying the groundwork for what would come during the next 3 hours. Paired with stripped-back visuals and that massive Red Rocks atmosphere, it felt as though Sonny was building to something enormous.

Then came the centerpiece: a full front-to-back playthrough of his newest album, “FUS.” While it wasn’t the first time he’s performed it live, as he had debuted portions of it at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, it was definitely the most intimate and immersive version of the performance so far. Hearing the entire project in that setting really brought it to life. Every track hit, and you could tell how proud Sonny was of the curation of the album. Since it is meant to be listened to straight through, without interruption, that’s exactly what the decorated producer gave us. While “FUS” was being performed, it’s worth mentioning how much more of the production came on at this point. The lighting and atmosphere of the stage grew and grew until it felt like a proper Skrillex headline-set, and at this point the crowd was going insane.

Song: Skrillex, Virtual Riot – While You Were Sleeping VIP

From there, he dropped a wild run of unreleased music, including collabs with ISOxo, Nitepunk, Wuki, Moody Good, Habstrakt and more. These weren’t just quick edits or teases either, he played full-on tracks that felt like instant classics all the way through which only amped up the excitement. The crowd was tuned in and Skrillex looked like he was having the time of his life behind the decks.

While he stayed silent on the mic for nearly the entire show, the connection with the crowd was loud and clear. However, at the very end he finally grabbed the mic and said just a few words including: “I’m speechless… what more can you ask for?” and, before walking off stage, “I’ll see you next time.” It was short, sweet, and honest which was exactly the kind of raw energy that made the night feel so special.

They also brought back the wristbands from 2023, which lit up in sync with the music and turned the entire venue into a madhouse. You can check out a clip of that below. It was a small touch, but it made us fans in the crowd feel connected to the show in a way that’s hard to replicate.

Song: Benny Benassi, Gary Go – Cinema (Skrillex Remix)

As the clock neared midnight, it became obvious that no one wanted the show to conclude. Sonny’s set had been a perfect balance of experimentation, nostalgia, and what’s to come. If this becomes a biennial tradition, you can count us in every single time.

A marathon performance by an artist that so clearly cares for the people who support his work. The show absolutely exceeded my expectations, and honestly, just blew me away. 11/10.

Photo: Robby Hauldren

REVIEW: Skrillex’s Red Rocks Set Was Five Hours of Unfiltered Genius