New Jersey’s favorite rootsy jam band, Railroad Earth, kicked off a three-night stand at the Odgen Theatre with energy on Friday night.

Sixteen years proved worth the wait.

In the band’s first Colorado New Year’s show since 1996, hometown boys, String Cheese Incident, played their best show of the year, firing on all cylinders at the 1stBank Center over the course of three brilliant sets.

Among fans of jam bands, a commonly held axiom for those who like Widespread Panic is, “Never miss a Sunday show.” For those who like String Cheese Incident, one that might be adapted is, “Never miss the second show of a three-night run.”

On Sunday night at 1stBank Center, hometown boys, String Cheese Incident, brought the goods in force over the course of three delectable hours.

“Home for New Year’s,” said String Cheese Incident bassist Keith Moseley at the 1stBank Center early Saturday night. Calling it the “Hometown Throwdown,” it is the first time the band has played a Denver-area New Year’s run, and the first time the band has played New Year’s in Colorado since 1996, when they played in Telluride.

In the erupting world of electronic dance music, sensory overload sells. Saturday night at the Fillmore Auditorium, EOTO got the message. The peculiar livetronica brainchild of the String Cheese Incident’s percussion section, Michael Travis and Jason Hann pushed the limits of the venue’s sound system while bombarding an amped crowd with lasers, balloons, and their signature 3D mapping Lotus flower stage production.

Day two of Leftover Salmon’s set of shows on Friday and Saturday at the Boulder Theater.

Leftover Salmon blew through the Boulder Theater Friday and Saturday for a near sold out, two-night run that included several guests and lots of energy.

The String Cheese Incident gears up for a three-day New Year’s Eve run at the 1stBank Center to close out 2012

String Cheese Incident at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Saturday, 7/7/12. Photos and review of the concert.

String Cheese Incident at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Friday, 7/6/11. Photos and review of the concert.