Jess Nelson May 18th, 2026
It was cold and a little rainy the night Lauv and Khalid took over Red Rocks, but honestly that just made the whole thing feel more intimate. Two artists, two seriously good dye jobs, and a night that went from fun and upbeat to genuinely emotional in the best way.
Lauv
Lauv opened the night the way you want an opener to — like he had something to prove and the energy to back it up. Shaved mohawk dyed a deep red, sprinting around that stage from the first note, no band this time, just him filling the whole space on his own. Last time I caught him he had a full band behind him, so watching him hold Red Rocks solo and still make it feel massive said a lot about where he’s at right now as a performer.
The set wasn’t gas-pedal-down the whole way through, either. There was a stretch in the middle where he slowed it way into some of his sadder, more vulnerable songs, and that shift actually worked in his favor — it gave the set range instead of just relentless noise.
“Chasing Fire” was my moment. I’ve loved that song forever, and hearing it live, watching him throw his whole body into it, just hit different. I was up close shooting the first three songs and then posted off to the side for the rest, so I missed whatever banter he might’ve had with the crowd — but even from a distance, the energy never once dipped. For an opening slot, that’s the kind of set that makes people remember your name.
Photos by Jess Nelson Media, LLC. All images © 2026 Copyright Jess Nelson Media, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Khalid
Khalid walked out with pink hair that practically completed the night’s color scheme, and it wasn’t long before his dancers joined him — once they were out there, they took over real estate on that stage and held full command of the space for the rest of the set. Maybe it was that confidence radiating off everyone up there, but Khalid himself felt like he was in a different gear than the last time I caught him live. Khalid was serving c*nt all night, full stop, finally performing as his complete, out, unapologetically gay self in a way he simply couldn’t the last time I saw him, and that alone changed the entire shape of the night for me.
Then, right in the middle of all that swagger, he slowed everything down for what ended up being the moment of the night for me. He pulled a couple of fans up on stage, and it turned out one of them had lost a close friend — someone the song he was about to play held real weight for.
Before he even started the song, he sat there talking with her about it, and that conversation alone had me full-on tearing up. Then he sang the whole thing with her sitting just feet away from him. It was quiet and specific in a way that felt nothing like a bit, the kind of moment that reminds you why people still drive hours and stand out in the cold for a show.
Even the chaos fit the vibe. At some point he had a wardrobe malfunction with a sweatshirt that wasn’t zipping the way it was supposed to, and if he hadn’t pointed it out himself mid-set, I never would’ve clocked that anything was off. He just laughed it off and kept moving, and somehow that loose, unbothered energy tied the whole night together — pink hair, dominant dancers, a tear-jerking dedication, and a wardrobe mishap, all part of a performance that felt like Khalid completely in his own skin.
Photos by Jess Nelson Media, LLC. All images © 2026 Copyright Jess Nelson Media, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sending Love to Lauv
Not long after this show, Lauv stepped away from the rest of the Khalid tour to focus on his mental health. He’s always been open about that part of himself in his music, and choosing to walk away when he needed to takes its own kind of courage. Sending him so much love, light, and space to heal — we’ll be first in line whenever he’s ready to get back on stage.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you don’t have to go through it alone:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 (US)
- Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741
- SAMHSA National Helpline — 1-800-662-4357, for mental health and substance use support
If any information in this coverage is incorrect or needs to be fixed, please email PCD Editor at jessica@postconcertdepression.com. Thank you!
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