A Recap of the ‘South Park’ 25th Anniversary Concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater

Written by Juanita ‘Obi-Juan’ Bonner

Aside from loving South Park (Comedy Central; 1997) since its inception, knowing the creators – Trey Parker and Matt Stone – adore their characters just as much as the fans, was all I thought I needed... until now!!! Twenty-five years in, an anniversary concert on August 10th – at the beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheater – is EXACTLY the way this show should be celebrated, and I was lucky enough to be there for history in the making!! *WOOHOO*

Now that the dust has settled and the concert has been televised, I’d like to take this opportunity to discuss this truly once in a lifetime experience… including sharing an amateur slide show below as well as a few tidbits NOT seen in the recorded version. I urge you to: “respect my authoritah!” (LOL!!) and dive right in.
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Before we begin, I gotta say how neat it was that due to popular demand, a second show was added on the 9th. However, I was slightly bummed THAT show would precede MY show. *WAH* I mean… I fought hard in those 15 minutes of mad crazy finger clicks to get my measly general admission tickets! *YEP, SURE DID M’KAY!!* Just who are these folks that get to see this spectacular show before me!?! *HANDS ON HIPS* I soon came to find out that MY show was filmed for air on Comedy Central and therefore, contained a few extra special things the night before did not. *YAY!!* Regardless, my twinge of jealously, however unnecessary (LOL!), quickly faded as the day rolled into the evening. And by the end, I was glad that an entire second set of fans were able to enjoy some of the magic too! For what I experienced was almost mini-con-like with a barrage of South Park stans (*WINK*), music, sun and fun that I won’t soon forget. Starting with the Tailgate Party!

In correlation with the concert(s), presented by Comedy Central, AEG and Tegridy Farms, the Tailgate Party was free and open to the public both days. As we trekked towards the Trading Post, I wasn’t fully sure what to expect in a South Park themed Tailgate Party. True, the Guide to Attending gave a rundown of events. Things like lawn games, character displays for photo ops, trivia, karaoke and a cosplay contest as well as a chance to see 25 years of memorabilia, were all mentioned which definitely hyped my enthusiasm for sure! Not to mention I ran into some folks at my hotel that attended the day before who told me I was in for one hell of a time all the way around. *NICE* Yet, I still had no clue what to expect. What I got was pure jubilation!  

There were SO MANY personal favs it’s hard to choose. The life-sized displays are most definitely top of the list. The joy of seeing Randy and Towlie with a Tegridy Farms sign at the entrance or PC Principal with his arms crossed just inside the opening was immeasurable. And strung throughout were even more characters! Including Jesus, Santa, Mr. Hankey, Mr. Garrison, Mr. Mackey and more. I was absolutely ecstatic to see the creatures from the famed ‘Woodland Critter Christmas’ (Episode 8.14) and ‘Imaginationland’ 3-part story arc (Episodes 11.10-12). *HECK YEAH!!* Also available for photos was a set of four oversized balls from the insanely funny ‘Medicinal Fried Chicken’ (Episode 14.3) as well as a display of Satan and his throne. We took advantage of both… of course!!

The aforementioned games consisted of a giant Connect Four, oversized Jenga and Cornhole. All equally impressive! Especially the Connect Four (slo-mo video below). Plus, a fantastically painted South Park themed shipping container with a center walk through provided 25 years of memorabilia to drool over. And, after all that, watching fans take part in trivia and karaoke was a blast! Yep, I said KARAOKE was a blast… LOL!! The event concluded with a hilarious cosplay contest that I loved!! In short, the whole thing was AMAZING and well planned out… ensuring that good food, drinks, surprises, laughter, and joyful energy were shared throughout! *BIG GRIN* We left completely primed and ready for a good show on the rocks. To say we got one is putting it mildly.

Opening the festivities, Ween took the stage to play Take Me Away, and Roses Are Free. *NICE!!* Unfortunately, I missed it while in the merch line. Which, by the way, no matter where you were – tailgate or in the amphitheater – were excessively long. In fact, thinking I could skip the really, really long tailgate one and shop inside the concert is partially what caused me to miss the very beginning of the concert. That coupled with the initial get your seats, get drinks, and take it all in hub bub. *UGH* I was so bummed!! *SIGH* As I hastily made my way back to my seat – row 36 center (pretty darn good for general admission!) – I was able to catch Primus joining Ween for a group collaboration on It’s Gonna Be a Long Night and Here Come the Bastards, which was just… WOW!! Okay, I’m happy again… LOL!! Though, it’s worth noting that my plan to catch the opening during the televised concert was a no go since it starts with Bastards. *SHEESH!!* My Towlie towel and commemorative T-shirt was so worth it though!! *LOL* And… at least I could still hear the show!

Moving on…

With Les Claypool – who totally reminds me of that weird and cool uncle everyone wants to hang with (LOL!) – as the main MC, he offered proper props to Gene and Dean Ween then formally declared the mix of the bands to be Primusween!! As in Prime–U–Sween… LOL! Even giving us the commercial-like catchphrase: “Your pipes are mighty clean after you use Primusween.” *YES!!* We were then given a big screen presence of the little boys that brought us all together in the first place – Cartman, Butters, Kenny, Stan and Kyle. Blessed with the magical moment of watching them progress from the screens to a giant projection on the amphitheater rocks was so darn cool!! *CHEERS*

Next, as Trey and Matt took the stage the crowd erupted. Trey, settling in at the piano, opened with: Welcome to the Shindig. *BIG GRIN* It was here I began to realize that an overall collaboration extravaganza was unfolding. And boy was I right!! Not only did we get a mixing of the bands as back up for several South Park songs like Uncle Fucka, Montage, Let’s Fighting Love, Kyle’s Mom’s a Bitch, A Colorado Farm (YES!!) and The Ballad of Lemmiwinks, but they took turns individually playing some of their greats! Including the beloved Jerry Was a Race Car Driver and Voodoo Lady. *HELLS YES!!* Both of which are NOT on the videotaped version. We also got a rendition of Primus’ Tommy the Cat changed to the hysterical Butter’s the Cat with Trey as Butter’s for most of the lyrics. When I say it was great, I mean it was F@#CKING GREAT!! All the while, supported by characters on the giant screens and projections on the amphitheater rocks. *AWESOME* Oh, but the fun didn’t stop there.

Giving us the full history and progression of the South Park theme song, we learned that Trey and Matt sent a copy of the video that started it all – The Spirit of Christmas – to Primus in hopes they would create music for their project. Fortunately for us, Primus loved it and signed on. Les, looking like his cartoon counterpart, helps tell the story in a red and white pinstriped jacket and a straw boater hat topped with the dangly fish on a spring. After we heard the original raw instrumental (SO COOL!!), Les and Trey filled us in on the changes until they got it just right. Including a re-recording of Les singing after speeding up the main track. A session that took place backstage during a Primus concert at Colorado’s own Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre no less. *NICE* Rounding it out, Trey and Matt sang (of course!) while Primus played the original heavy bass theme as well as the newer 4th grade Whamola featured version. I especially loved that Les said Primus didn’t take the gig for the money, but because they loved what they saw. *HECK YEAH* We also got two more great surprises – both making history in the process. Only one of which was featured in the recorded airing.

First. The one not shown was Governor of Colorado Jared Polis taking the stage to give an excellent speech. *VERY NICE, M’KAY!* And though it’s not included in the official concert broadcast, I found a couple videos floating around the internet. One you can see here, courtesy of CapnOfCrunch’s YouTube page. Thanks dude! Citing multiple South Park tropes and their fictitious ties to the Centennial State, Governor Polis mixed in some actual legislation pertaining to climate change, diversity, legalization of marijuana and job growth. Giving special attention to the increase in jobs due to all the contractors Trey and Matt has hired for their hefty purchase and reconstruction of the beloved – all be it money pit of a mess – Casa Bonita. *HAHAHA* The best part? The entire speech was done through declaration with Polis at the end officially naming August 10th, 2022, as South Park Day in the state of Colorado. *WOOT!!*

The second historical event was the fact that Trey, along with Primus and likely many others, surprised Matt (and us) by having the two surviving members of the band Rush join them on stage and play Closer to the Heart. *HOLY COW* I couldn’t believe it. Right after the song Blame Canada too… LOL!! Plus, at the time, I didn’t know that following the death of Rush’s drummer Neil Peart on January 7th, 2020, Geddy Lee (vocals; bass) and Alex Lifeson (guitar) confirmed the band was basically done in a Rolling Stone interview that hit stands one year to the day of Peart’s passing. *WOW* Though they did express the old adage of never say never, no one expected them to turn up at an anniversary concert for South Park less than two years later. *WHOA* Even better was the look on Matt Stone’s face as he truly had no idea what was happening. I also loved Les calling the collab: “One of the most amazing moments of his life.” *DAMN STRAIGHT* Additionally, some bits that were cut from the TV concert included how affectionately Les spoke about the band stating Geddy is one of the biggest reasons he decided to play bass. Considering Les takes bass playing to a whole other level, the sentiment was touching to say the least. He also explained that he tricked Matt into practicing for a Rush tribute not realizing he would be on stage with the actual living members. *EXCELLENT!!* Finally, the melody was changed from “Closer to the Heart” to “Closer to South Park” for some of the performance! *YES!!* I mean… as Vulture put it – Everyone Thank South Park for Reuniting Rush – am I right?!? *WELL, DONE!*
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Closing out the concert with The Yelper Special (PERFECT!!), the guys left the stage only to return for a huge encore finale of America, Fuck Yeah from Team America: World Police (Paramount Pictures; 2004). It was SPECTACULAR!! And… as if all that wasn’t enough, I truly didn’t know how much I was going to love seeing Trey and Matt perform the voices that I’ve been watching via cartoons for over two decades. My personal favs were Mr. Mackey, Cartman and AWESOM-O from Trey and ESPECIALLY Butters from Matt!! Trey also mentioned that many of the crew who help make the show were sprinkled throughout the audience. *HECK YEAH* Lastly, the overall energy was fantastic, and I cannot say enough about the atmosphere and all the wonderful images projected on the rocks. From characters to Rush to the American flag and fireworks, the whole thing was one hell of a montage!! *BIG GRIN*

The South Park 25th Anniversary Concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater (8/10/2022) is available for viewing ad free on Paramount+ (subscription required) or with ads on the South Park website. And because the televised concert doesn’t feature everything, a full setlist can be found right here. *ENJOY!!*

Until next time… remember: “Without evil there could be no good, so it must be good to be evil sometime (Satan).” *WINK*

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