On the final night of a two-year tour—twenty-four months away from family and friends, away from a routine and a comfortable bed—The Fray came home.

Originally from Lafayette, the band mates finished their journey with a fun, engaging, sold out performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Instead of the typical, “Hello Denver” opening, Isaac Slade (lead vocals and piano) gave props to all the Colorado areas he grew up amidst. With each town he mentioned, the noise from the crowd grew louder and louder until the sentiment of the evening became wholly apparent: This was personal.

That affection reached a peak when Slade told us, “This is for every Colorado resident that put us on the map” and began their most celebrated number, “How to Save a Life”. While black and white home movies played on an outdoor movie theater-like background, the band gave it their all and the audience sang in perfect time with them. At the end of the tune, the band peacefully listened as the audience sang extra choruses, tying up the significance of the night in a perfect knot.

Isaac Slade, Joe King (guitar and vocals), drummer Ben Wysocki and guitarist Dave Welsh began performing in 2002, and earned their success by playing small, regional venues and gaining the support of area fans, hometown press and local radio stations.

“We will always be local boys,” Joe relayed through his publicist.

Climbing Billboard singles charts, winning awards and going platinum, their “How to Save a Life” single has been featured on many hit television shows, such as Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs. Their songs have inspired the formation of non-profit and charity groups, and their popularity and influence continue to grow.

What doesn’t seem to grow are their egos. Slade talked to the audience as if we were old friends (“I never thought I’d be playing here–this is terrifying.”) and shared stories of his family and the band’s first open mike night. Comments like, “I started in the wrong key then, too” and ”hold on—don’t clap yet—I’m not sure that’s the tempo” endeared him further with the crowd.

The four original band mates then performed a unique and heartfelt rendition of Gershwin’s “Summertime”, re-enacting their first midnight performance in the smoky bar. The young men crowded around one microphone with Ben Wysocki kneeling at times to use Slade’s guitar as percussion while Slade strummed along. The compilation of the story, the dramatic performance, the sound and the emotion, transported the audience and we felt as if we were listening to the band present themselves onstage for the very first time, witnessing greatness evolving.

The group followed with songs devoted to Slade’s mother, watching proudly from the front, and for Nathan, an audio-visual crewmember, both of whom celebrated birthdays this week. The audience was prompted to cheer for Nathan to dance, and he responded in kind with a wonderfully funny and enjoyable show.

After their monumental homecoming show, I asked Joe what emotions he felt wrapping up this tour at Red Rocks. He told me, “It was a bittersweet experience. It was kinda like Christmas when I was 6 years old, except 10,000 people were in my living room when I woke up.”

Joe and his band mates gave us a glimpse into their lives, a connection to their experience and an evening of unexpected fun. They proved that they are not a passing phase, but a group of real kids, turning into men who have formed something extraordinary. They’ll be “in recording mode now” for a while, and then they’ll be off again. And all the while their local fans will be waiting–loyal and proud–for their next homecoming.