{"id":2453770,"date":"2020-01-27T02:45:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-27T09:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=319891"},"modified":"2020-01-27T02:45:00","modified_gmt":"2020-01-27T09:45:00","slug":"x-games-aspen-music-review-illenium-rae-sremmurd-bazzi-and-alesso","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/x-games-aspen-music-review-illenium-rae-sremmurd-bazzi-and-alesso\/","title":{"rendered":"X Games Aspen music review: Illenium, Rae Sremmurd, Bazzi and Alesso"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.9327420546933\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-319891-871\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-1-1024x678.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-1-1024x678.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-2-786x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Dale Pistole\/Special to the Aspen Times | Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.<\/strong><br \/>Dale Pistole\/Special to the Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-2-786x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-3-683x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News | Musical artist Bazzi performs on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Musical artist Bazzi performs on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)<\/strong><br \/>Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-3-683x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Musical artist Bazzi performs on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-6-1024x684.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Nate Krause \/ Special to The Aspen Times | Fans enjoy the Saturday show.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Fans enjoy the Saturday show.<\/strong><br \/>Nate Krause \/ Special to The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-6-1024x684.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Fans enjoy the Saturday show.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-7-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-7-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-8-1024x706.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-8-1024x706.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-9-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-9-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-10-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-10-1024x693.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-10-1024x693.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-11-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-11-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News | Musical artist Bazzi performs on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Musical artist Bazzi performs on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)<\/strong><br \/>Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-11-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Musical artist Bazzi performs on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-12-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-12-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News | Fans enjoy musical artist Bazzi on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Fans enjoy musical artist Bazzi on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)<\/strong><br \/>Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-12-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Fans enjoy musical artist Bazzi on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-13-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-13-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News | Fans enjoy musical artist Bazzi on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Fans enjoy musical artist Bazzi on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)<\/strong><br \/>Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-13-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Fans enjoy musical artist Bazzi on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-14-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-14-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News | Fans enjoy musical artist Bazzi on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Fans enjoy musical artist Bazzi on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)<\/strong><br \/>Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-14-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Fans enjoy musical artist Bazzi on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last day of X Games Aspen in Aspen Snowmass, Colo. (Liz Copan\/Summit Daily News via AP)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-15-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-15-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Dale Pistole\/Special to the Aspen Times | Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.<\/strong><br \/>Dale Pistole\/Special to the Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-15-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-16-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-16-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Dale Pistole\/Special to the Aspen Times | Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.<\/strong><br \/>Dale Pistole\/Special to the Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-16-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-17-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-17-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Dale Pistole\/Special to the Aspen Times | Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.<\/strong><br \/>Dale Pistole\/Special to the Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xphotopage-atd-012420-2-17-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-2-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-2-1-1024x683.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Nate Krause \/ Special to The Aspen Times | Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.<\/strong><br \/>Nate Krause \/ Special to The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-2-1-1024x683.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-4-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-4-1-683x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Nate Krause \/ Special to The Aspen Times | Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.<\/strong><br \/>Nate Krause \/ Special to The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-4-1-683x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-5-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-5-1-1024x683.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Nate Krause \/ Special to The Aspen Times | Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.<\/strong><br \/>Nate Krause \/ Special to The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-5-1-1024x683.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-6-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-6-1-1024x683.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Nate Krause \/ Special to The Aspen Times | Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.<\/strong><br \/>Nate Krause \/ Special to The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/01\/xskihuck-atd-012420-6-1-1024x683.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Illenium performs to a sold-out crowd at X Games on Saturday.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/entertainment\/x-games-aspen-music-review-illenium-rae-sremmurd-bazzi-and-alesso\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/entertainment\/x-games-aspen-music-review-illenium-rae-sremmurd-bazzi-and-alesso\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">The hordes of young music fans at X Games Aspen were the first audience to hear new songs from Rae Sremmurd, an unreleased track from Illenium and the live debut of Bazzi\u2019s hit \u201cI.F.L.Y.\u201d this weekend at Buttermilk. A sell-out crowd celebrated Colorado\u2019s own Illenium on Saturday, many sporting Illenium baseball jerseys, and thousands braved sub-freezing temperatures to jump up and down in unison to Alesso\u2019s \u201cYears\u201d later that night in a set punctuated by a surprise fireworks show.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Crowds were smaller than the four-show sell out of 2019, but in its sixth year of hosting shows in the 5,000-capacity temporary music arena on the Buttermilk bunny hill, X Games brought its youngest group of headliners (none over age 29) and the newest music from some of the world\u2019s biggest pop stars.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">ILLENIUM PLAYS AND REMIXES HIS BEST<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Illenium, the Denver-based EDM star, brought his A-game to the homestate crowd, playing hits, crossing genres, paying homage to his beginnings and drawing and releasing the energy of the venue, making sure everyone left wanting more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Acutely aware of how to shift energy in his largely college-aged or younger crowd, he worked it to his advantage to keep the audience entertained through a 90-minute set at the Buttermilk stage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The tension could be felt before he even began, as crowds of teens and 20-somethings flooded into the venue 40 minutes before showtime. The relaxed drinkers settled in the back of the venue while pairs and impromptu dance parties filled out the center and a solid mass of bodies pushed against the stage, shrouded by a haze of cannabis and fogged breath.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Illenium, born Nicholas Miller, walked onstage to an erupting crowd as the quiet voiceover that leads his latest album, \u201cAscend,\u201d played over the speakers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s unavoidable,\u201d the woman\u2019s voice began, \u201cJust happens. When you grow up, your heart dies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWho cares?\u201d both the male response and the crowd replied in unison, voicing the dichotomy of millennial cynicism and earnestness present in any good modern EDM lyric. With that, the tension broke and the energy released.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Miller started by making his way through quick, one-chorus impressions of some of his well-known songs, including the booming voice of Foy Vance paired with heavy dubstep drops in \u201cBlood,\u201d and the sing-along choruses of \u201cCrawl Outta Love\u201d and \u201cWhere\u2019d You Go?\u201d Anyone unaware of the lyrics could make correct noises to the easily singable melodies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">From there, Miller worked through an eclectic medley of his catalog, ranging from well-known favorites of \u201cCrashing,\u201d \u201cSound of Walking Away,\u201d and his remix of The Chainsmokers\u2019 \u201cDon\u2019t Let Me Down,\u201d to less-vocal songs from his earlier career including \u201cSo Wrong\u201d and \u201cIn Your Wake.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Through it all, Miller acted masterfully \u2014 pounding out drum fills on an electric setup surrounding his laptop and gliding across the fretboard of his guitar, both solo and as a duet with an onstage extra. As the temperature dropped and the audience flagged, Miller kept track, timing his beat changes to pick the crowd back up, even going so far as a rallying cry, \u201cCan you all bring some energy right now?\u201d before launching into a reverberating, \u201cThree, two, one!\u201d and a dubstep breakdown.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">However, as with many EDM artists hoping to play to the crowd, Miller returned to the choruses and drops of his songs multiple times. In each, he tried to make it feel fresh with different riffs or an unexpected cross into a new melody, but the latter half of the 90 minutes started eliciting feelings of deja entendu.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In the end, Miller seemed like he was going to finish his set by giving the crowd what they truly wanted: a communal moment of musical recognition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He worked through an extended mash-up of \u201cSad Songs\u201d and his newest hit with vocalist Jon Bellion, \u201cGood Things Fall Apart.\u201d Lyrics intertwining and audience jumping, Miller brought the crowd to a swell before one final twist: Ending the night with an unreleased song titled \u201cFeel Something.\u201d The crowd reacted with slight surprise, but no one stopped dancing during the residual cheer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">RAE SREMMURD DEBUTS NEW SONGS<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Near the end of an hour-long set Friday night, Rae Sremmurd\u2019s Swae Lee asked the enthusiastic crowd, \u201cOnly in Aspen for X Games, can I do some exclusive shit?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Making his way to the edge of the mosh pit, he said he\u2019d be watching his fans closely as they heard it for the first time: \u201cNobody here is going to know these words \u2014 I want to see some real reactions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The hip-hop duo\u2019s DJ then spun a few minutes of the new track, featuring a trap beat and Swae repeating lines like \u201cI got it straight out my system\u201d and \u201cGet that hate out my system.\u201d Swae said he expected to release the song by the end of February, with a full solo album to follow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The slopeside venue roared for it after Swae\u2019s build-up. And as the track played, he hyped the spectators up, dancing, pumping his arms and head-banging among them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The other half of the duo, Slim Jxmmi, also shared an unreleased solo song, a new collaboration with DaBaby called \u201cMic Check.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Thrilling as it was to hear the new tracks, Rae Sremmurd\u2019s performance was deflating.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The duo leaned heavily on recorded tracks spun by D_JaySremm for most of the set, singing and rapping in short bursts over the recorded versions. The X Gamers were unfazed, happy to dance and sing along to a set list packed with the Atlanta-based siblings\u2019 string of hits as they know them, following word-for-word as Rae Sremmurd opened with a party-starting run of \u201cNo Type,\u201d \u201cNo Flex Zone,\u201d \u201cPerplexing Pegasus\u201d and \u201cCome Get Her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The duo put a herculean effort into onstage antics and fan interaction \u2014 both jumping into the crowd multiple times, Slim turning the microphone over to an audience member to freestyle, Swae doing the Batusi, playing air guitar and smashing pineapples, both often lavishing praise on a rowdy, young audience Swae called \u201cone of the littest crowds in North America.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It\u2019s hard to be let down by a show with so much action (lasers and fog machines, strobe lights and a story-high video screen playing animations to boot) but it was a let-down. Swae and Slim are studio wizards who\u2019ve made some of the best hip-hop songs of the past decade, no doubt, but one of the things that\u2019s set them apart is the distinct and often surprising interplay of Swae\u2019s disarmingly gentle harmonies and high notes juxtaposed against Slim\u2019s rough-edged verses. Anybody hoping to see that play out live onstage at X Games left this show disappointed, though most of this crowd didn\u2019t seem to mind the pantomime and karaoke-style set.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Several times at the beginning or end of songs \u2014 including \u201cSwang,\u201d \u201cBlack Beatles\u201d and \u201cSunflower\u201d \u2014 Swae did sing a verse a capella or he vamped, plugging references to Colorado, snowboarding, Aspen and X Games into the most familiar of Rae Sremmurd lyrics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The chilly midwinter air may have hampered the duo\u2019s vocals, of course, with the temperature in the 30s. After closing the set with \u201cPowerglide,\u201d Swae hinted that the cold might have slowed him down: \u201cI got pneumonia or something f\u2014ing with y\u2019all!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">SEXYTIME WITH BAZZI<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Anybody who thinks X Games music can only move at one over-caffeinated speed should take notice, as the R&amp;B singer Bazzi proved otherwise in a gorgeous and sleek 45-minute set Sunday afternoon. The performance was filled with Bazzi\u2019s sex-positive slow jams, bad-boy confessionals and torch songs \u2014 tales of break-ups and raw emotions and rawer bedroom liasons.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The 22-year-old singer also treated X Games to the first live performance of his recent streaming hit \u201cI.F.L.Y\u201d (185 million Spotify streams and counting). The song was a high point of the evening, with the young crowd singing along to the infectious \u201cI f\u2014ing love you\u201d chorus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Bazzi was backed by a live drummer and guitarist, with an off-stage DJ piping in the electronic production. He also picked up a guitar himself for \u201cAlone\u201d and other songs. But the show was carried by a man and a microphone, with Bazzi singing R&amp;B augmented by some big bass drops \u2014 the cathartic crescendos of \u201cWhy\u201d and \u201cMine\u201d were highlights \u2014 and that booming drum set. It was an organic breath of fresh air.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As a songwriter, he can turn heartbreak, longing and devotion into perfect pop constructions like the set-opening \u201cParadise.\u201d As a performer, he can sell it without crossing the line into cheese-pop territory. He gave X Games a feel-good comedown after a weekend of bombastic EDM and hip-hop sets from Alesso, Illenium and Rae Sremmurd. His was lighter on the pyrotechnics and electronic sounds, drawing a smaller but no less devoted crowd of fans to the Buttermilk venue than his noisier predecessors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">After closing with an extended singalong \u201cMine,\u201d Bazzi returned for an encore. He took fan requests for his farewell song, choosing the sultry \u201cFocus.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Taking the X Games music stage hours after news broke of Kobe Bryant\u2019s death in a California helicopter crash, Bazzi \u2014 a Michigan native now based in Los Angeles \u2014 honored the NBA legend, calling him \u201cone of my heroes growing up, one of the greatest basketball players and humans of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI want you all to remember how lucky we all are to be at the X Games in Aspen right now alive and healthy,\u201d he told the Buttermilk Ski Area crowd, drawing a roar of applause and a \u201cKobe\u201d chant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:atravers@aspentime.com\">atravers@aspentime.com<\/a> <a href=\"mailto:swagner@aspentimes.com\">swagner@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/entertainment\/x-games-aspen-music-review-illenium-rae-sremmurd-bazzi-and-alesso\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rae Sremmurd performs at the first concert of the 2020 X Games Aspen on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times Alesso performs at X Games on Saturday night.Dale Pistole\/Special to the Aspen Times Musical artist Bazzi performs on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, on Buttermilk\u2019s Geico Music Stage for the last [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2453770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-18 18:46:59","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2453770"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453770\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2453770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2453770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2453770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}