Headstash

Headstash on the Road: Sonic Bloom Day 2

Photo Credit: Tabor Bonde

Welcoming in day two of Sonic Bloom, the day quickly turned extremely hot. With no clouds in the sky to lessen the heat, the sun beat down on hula-hoopers, slackliners, yogis, dancers and musicians alike.

The circus-like Sonic Bloom is the epitome of an adult playground. Having to wait until 3:00 p.m. for the music to start meant there was a lot of time to explore the hidden coves and art installations throughout the grounds. It's obvious that Sonic Bloom went above and beyond in the category of “ambiance.”

Photo Credit: Tabor Bonde

After an afternoon of hiking, we headed over to the Rocky Mountain Hydroponics Dome stage to catch Madeline kick things off. Bringing in her signature drum-step sounds accentuated with smooth transitions and crowd-pleasing builds, her entire set really started things off well. Her beats even drew in fellow performer ChrisB, grooving his way through each enjoyable track.

Bedrockk was up next at 4:15 p.m. on the Bloom Stage. These Denver-based artists brought the heat with zippy sounds, winding builds and dynamic drops. As an up-and-coming duo, Dave Marquess and Phil Swain work together to create sound that fuses heavy bass with smooth melodies.

One of their latest releases, "Purple State of Mind," made its appearance during the set. A melodic track filled with haunting vocals and a full spectrum of synth, the song was a definite highlight.

Wandering back to the Dome Stage for Dayquill at 5:00 p.m., we were able to catch his remix of the ever-overplayed song "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Goyte.

Photo Credit: Tabor Bonde

When it began, not another remix of this song came to mind, yet Blake Weise's take on it was enjoyable. A general chilled-out vibe sprinkled with heavy drops made the remix one of the best we've heard yet. He brought a lot of energy to the stage, amping up the crowd and welcoming in nightfall.

David Block, aka The Human Experience, was next on the Bloom Stage at 5:30 p.m., providing gypsy beats coupled with heartfelt vocals that entranced festivalgoers – it was a rather large crowd for a late afternoon set. The highlight of the set came in the form of a live collaboration with fellow Sonic Bloomer and West Coast bass diva ill-esha, as the two harmonized in perfect synchronicity. 

After a lengthy set delay due to a technical malfunction, festival curator and hammered-dulcimer master Jamie Janover took the stage and thanked the crowd for making the seventh annual Sonic Bloom Festival the largest to date.

Tabla guru Karsh Kale and a female vocalist joined Janover for a largely improvisational set showcasing the finest in ancient instrumentation coupled with the latest technology. It was truly a sight to behold.

Photo Credit: Tabor Bonde

Jetting over to the Dome to catch some of Mikey Thunder's set, we were truly impressed with his excitement, energy and LP scratching skills – not something you see too much of anymore these days. A player in the electronic circuit for over 15 years, Thunder brings the dance party with every performance. He has a knack for connecting with the crowd and serving up some of the most funkalicious beats around.

Playing a multitude of remixes, mash-ups and originals, his set was one of the best of the night. You can't help but catch his infectious positivity radiating from the stage. He even played some balloon volleyball with the crowd mid-set. Thunder is undoubtedly humble and accessible to his fans.

One positive aspect of the delay on the Bloom Stage was the erasure of the dilemma of the evening: whether to see psy-step producer Phutureprimitive or Midwest jamtronica act Papadosio.

Phutureprimitive has been making waves thus far in 2012 with a massive U.S. tour supporting fellow psychedelic bass act Shpongle already under his belt. Yesterday evening in the Hydro Dome, he showed us exactly why. Playing tracks off his most recent effort, "Kintetik" alongside remixes like a chilling rendition of Gary Jules' "Mad World," Rain brought the heat and had the crowd really feeling it.

Photo Credit: Tabor Bonde

The Bloom Stage was packed and the energy was palpable as Papadosio began their set. This quickly rising jamtronica act has made a name for themselves with relentless touring, a DIY attitude (as evidenced in their very own Rootwire Festival) and a tightness that rivals many of the top acts in the scene.

The visuals were top-notch once again and their set provided one of the few alternatives to heavily produced DJ performances. Guitarist Anthony Thogmartin thanked the crowd for "proving that bands playing live instruments still matter!" 

An inspired version of "Find Your Cloud" was the highlight of the set, featuring varied improvisation, soaring guitar solos and eloquent melodies. Papadosio will be around for a long time if they continue on their current path – providing a ray of hope for younger jam fans nationwide. 

One of the most anticipated sets of the evening came when Jantsen took to the Dome Stage, ringing in the wee hour of 2:00 a.m. A fast-on-the-rise producer, you'll frequently hear Rusko and Bassnectar drop a Jansten song or two in their performances.

Photo Credit: Tabor Bonde

Feeding the crowd a remix of Flux Pavillion's, "Bass Cannon," then an original in "Let's Get Ill," Jansten showcased his penchant for heavy beats throughout his entire set. With lasers flying overhead and full LED panels lighting up the Dome, the production enticed a large crowd.

We were impressed by the wide array of sounds he dished out. If you are into dubstep and not following Janten, get on the bandwagon now.

Toughing it out for the beginning of Minnesota's set, we couldn't have been happier to hear his infamous, "California Dreamin'," remix followed by, "Rollin' In the Deep," a collaboration between himself and MartyParty.

If you haven't seen the interactive audio-visual experience that is Akara, do yourself a favor and catch them soon. Although their set began at 4:30 in the morning, crowds flocked in droves across the river, enchanted by the songs of the luminous beings. Composer/producer Joshua Penman, vocalist Femke Weidema and violinist Ilya Goldberg treated fans to an uplifting and intentioned set – connecting not only with the audience’s feet, but with their hearts as well. 

As the morning sun began to peek over the mountains and spill into the valley, sunrise sensei Random Rab took the stage. Random Rab is probably the most perfect soundtrack to a sunrise that one could conceive. His meticulously constructed yet easily digestible downtempo beats saw one of the largest crowds of the weekend thus far.

Rab's lyrics centered around dedication to best friends and letting go led listeners on a journey that was the perfect conclusion to the second day of Sonic Bloom 2012.

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Waking up today, we are excited for Welder, Emancipator, Michal Menert, Heyoka, Of Porcelain and so much more. Check back in tomorrow for our recap of what today will bring.

Stay tuned for more live coverage from Sonic Bloom on our homepage via Instagram and Twitter.

Photo Credit: Tabor Bonde