Filter in Denver

About Filter

Filter started in 1993 as Richard Patrick's post-Nine Inch Nails project, built on industrial rock with heavy electronic elements and accessible hooks. The band peaked commercially in the late 90s with their second album, which spawned the hit "Hey Man Nice Shot" — a deadpan take on a controversial news footage that somehow became their signature track. "Take a Picture" showed they could do introspective alt-rock without losing the electronic edge. Patrick's voice, deadened and distant, became the vehicle for lyrics that were either cryptic or bluntly cynical depending on the song. Filter has existed in various configurations since, with Patrick sometimes being the only consistent member. They've never stopped touring, never really broke up, just kept moving forward with what amounts to a working industrial rock band. The catalog holds up because the foundation was solid: heavy synths, distorted guitars, and a refusal to sound polished or eager to please.

Tight, workmanlike sets with genuine heaviness. Patrick plays it straight, no showmanship. Crowds get loud on the hits but mostly watch rather than mosh. The electronic elements hit harder live than on record.

Known for Hey Man Nice Shot, Title of Record, Take a Picture, Captain Bligh, One

Filter + Denver

Filter rolled through Denver in September 2023, landing at Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre for a set that mixed their industrial-rock catalog with surgical precision. They opened with the grinding weight of "The Drowning" before moving into "For the Beaten," letting the crowd settle into that familiar Filter headspace. "Obliteration" hit hard midway through, showcasing the band's knack for making noise feel intentional rather than chaotic. The setlist leaned on their heavier material, though they weren't shy about "Take a Picture," the song most people actually know. They closed with "Hey Man Nice Shot," which landed like punctuation—definitive, memorable, done.

Filter in Denver News

• FILTER Announces March/April 2026 U.S. Tour With FINGER ELEVEN And LOCAL H BLABBERMOUTH.NET · Dec 9, 2025
• Filter, Finger Eleven & Local H Roll Out Their Spring 2026 U.S. Tour Dates Theprp.com · Dec 9, 2025
• This photography exhibition captures the wild and wonderful faces of Denver’s nightlife Colorado Public Radio · Sep 18, 2025
• Watch The Rolling Stones Play "Like A Rolling Stone" in Denver Relix · Aug 12, 2019
• Rescheduled Rolling Stones 'No Filter' tour coming to Denver in August 9News · Nov 19, 2018

Live Music in Denver

Denver's music scene has always had room for the harder edges. The city's venues range from intimate clubs to sprawling amphitheatres, and bands like Filter—who traffic in industrial metal and noise rock—find receptive audiences here. There's a lineage of Denver supporting acts that don't play it safe, from metal clubs on South Broadway to the larger outdoor stages. Filter fits naturally into that landscape, appealing to the same crowds who've supported heavier acts while maintaining their own distinct mechanized sound.

Denver road trip to see Filter?

Stay in Highland, where tree-lined streets and independent bookstores make it feel like you're actually in Denver rather than passing through. Eat at Frasca Food and Wine if you want to understand why Colorado takes its ingredients seriously—it's fine dining without pretense. Before the show, spend an afternoon at the Denver Art Museum's contemporary wing, which often has installations that match the visual language of experimental music. Walk around Santa Fe Drive's gallery district. It's the kind of neighborhood where the art and music scenes actually talk to each other.