Ryan Adams Honors Colorado Radio Station in New Song

Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colo., is as storied a venue as any in the American landscape. From The Beatles to U2 to Radiohead to the Grateful Dead, many of the greatest touring bands and musicians in the world have stopped by the national landmark for a show at one time or another. Rocker Ryan Adams has joined their ranks on multiple occasions and will return on June 14, but this time he’s dropping a Colorado-themed song to mark his return.

Perhaps it’s in the name of publicity surrounding his upcoming show, or perhaps it’s simply a tribute to a rockin’ regional radio station, but no matter the intention, Adams has shared a new track called “105.5 The Colorado Sound,” which premiered Tuesday on—you guessed it—Colorado alternative rock station 105.5 The Colorado Sound. Adams name-drops local deejays (Benji, Margot) in the song and praises the Northern Colorado station. You can stream the track on the station’s website.

Clocking in at just under two minutes, the track, wielding some heavy guitar and clanging drums, very much evokes ‘80s hair metal. Adams is no stranger to the sounds of arena rock, but this track in particular calls upon the likes of Van Halen and Def Leppard.

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Swedish duo First Aid Kit, the folksy sisters who released their latest album, Ruins, in January, are opening for Adams at Red Rocks. Bryan Adams, the famed Canadian singer/songwriter of the ‘80s whom your parents have no doubt confused for Ryan Adams—the subject of this article—is playing Red Rocks just two days prior to Ryan Adams, on June 12. This scheduling does seem quizzical, given the potential for phonetic misunderstanding, but it’s real. You can see for yourself on the Red Rocks website right here. Imagine the chaos that will ensue when concert-goers who showed up at the Ryan Adams show to hear “Summer of 69” are treated instead to an acoustic telling of “Wonderwall.”

Ryan Adams released a new record, Prisoner, last year, and released a single, “Baby I Love You,” in February. You can read our review of Prisoner here, revisit “Baby I Love You” here and watch clips from Adams’ recent Rolling Stones tribute show right here.

Again, Adams’ new track is streaming via The Colorado Sound here. While you’re at it, listen to a 2006 Adams performance from the Paste archives below.