Powellapalooza Review

Review by Corey Blecha

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The last weekend of September marked LakePowell’s annual Powellapalooza Beach Party, and I was on hand to witness the madness. With more people in attendance this year, and a hefty line-up of bluegrass, jam, and electronic artists, the party went off, whether you were soaking up the sun at the main stage, or down at the beach stages cooling off in the perfect 80 degree water. All weekend there were great performances, especially from theColorado bands in attendance. This year, there were over 10 bands from our state, including headliners Yonder Mountain String Band, and other local favorites, Octopus Nebula and Zobomaze. With all the groups playing prime set times and unique stages, our state was well-represented by some of its best bands.

Being one of the headliners, I was very excited to see Yonder Mountain String Band play the main stage on Friday night. They definitely got the party started right with their signature bluegrass fusion sound, urging the wild crowd to kick up bronze beach dust throughout the set. These guys hail fromNederlandand have an energy that matches their ferocious playing, not an easy balance to achieve, yet one they nail with every performance. Yonder has made their rounds at the major festivals, and continue to expand their dedicated following with a passionate live show and clever lyricism in their songwriting. In a lot of ways, “Yonder” has been responsible forColorado’s role in the American bluegrass scene, for their ability to transcend genres and write accessible tunes that hold true to traditional bluegrass roots. I was blown away by their musicianship and interaction with the crowd, shedding a little light on how these guys have risen to such fame from such a small town likeNederland. After their set, the whiskey-tinged crowd made their way back to the desert tent city that had formed around the main stage, exchanging stories and lyrics to kill time before the next set.

On Saturday, there were some great performances byColorado bands, starting with Zobomaze on the Beach stage. It was an afternoon set that afforded them a built-in crowd of beach-goers cooling off from the mid-day sun and recovering from the night before, and they took advantage by blasting off their signature soul-minded “jam” sound. With Zach Simms playing the saxophone and keying in massive bass sounds from his synthesizer, Zobomaze have quickly risen to the top ofDenver’s bursting jamtronica scene. These guys bring a unique outlook to crafting songs and definitely have the technical skill to back up their big personalities.  Look out for them as they continue to grow their fan base and branch out ofColorado.

Later that night, after a day spent at the beach cooling off, we headed back to the main stage area where we caught most of Slightly Stoopid’s set before the firework display that had the entire crowd screaming. This was one of my favorite parts of the festival and was a great introduction to Octopus Nebula, one of my favoriteColoradobands and most anticipated sets of the festival. With a balance in their music that blends electronic influences with traditional jam band techniques, and a stage presence that rivals the best in the scene, “O-Neb” as their faithful fans call them, absolutely kills it every time. Their Powellapalooza set was no different, keeping the late night crowd moving the entire time. I love how they move between genres and styles, yet still maintain the signature sound we have come to expect from them. Over the summer, they played some great slots at festivals all over the country, and this upcoming season I expect to see them break into a nationally recognized touring act, with the ability to headline some of the larger festivals around the country, alongside the likes of scene kings like Sound Tribe Sector Nine and Lotus. Watch out for them this year, and expect some huge things from these guys as they continue to develop their sound and live show.

The entire weekend was filled with performances that fused genres and mixed crowds. In a lot of ways, I believe this is exactly what the organizers of Powellapalooza are aiming for: a diverse line-up that brings all different types of people together in one of the world’s most beautiful settings. I was fortunate to be there, and was very impressed with how the numerousColoradobands represented our state. I definitely noticed a strongColoradopresence in the campgrounds and in the crowds as well, running into several people I know from here inDenver. Our state has some amazing talent and a very open market, and a big reason is the fans who live here and the bands that play here. Without the willingness of fans to travel and support new music, or the band’s ability to push the envelope, theColoradomusic scene wouldn’t be in the great place that it is today!

Category: Planet Buzz, Exclusives