Saturday night, The Gothic was filled with sounds of funk and hip-shakin’ fans in celebration of Bop Skizzum’s latest album, Coloradical, hitting stores on Oct. 9th. Joining in on the party were supporting acts Rachel and the Kings, Rebel Tongue, In the Whale and Dakar.
Dakar kicked the evening off with their mixture of rock and hip-hop. In the Whale was up next and transition the mood to dirty rock ‘n’ roll with their aggressive brand of garage rock. This two-piece act unconventionally delivers an impressive big sound from just two performers. To close out their set, they were joined on stage by Bop Skizzum’s front woman, Julie Almeria, who brought a softer edge to their song, “I Shall Not Be Moved”.
The night then hit its funk stride. Rebel Tongue’s neo-soul influenced funk had the crowd swayin’. The soulfulness of track “Do for Love” immediately had the crowd chanting along, “What would you do for love”. Main support, Rachel and The Kings, opened their set with the premier of their video for “Not Giving Up.” The professional and well produced video very well showcased the powerful song with great imagery. Check it out here: http://youtu.be/Vwt_dFdGCMw.
Bop Skizzum then took over for almost 2 hours of infectious funk. They opened up their set with a “behind-the-scene” look at the making of Coloradical, the star of the evening.
This isn’t the Bop Skizzum that has been making music for the last 10 years. With the addition of new members, Almeria and Shane Franklin (aka, SF1) over the last year, comes an evolved sound and new energy for this Denver favorite, which is reflected in the new album Coloradical.
Founder and frontman Andy “Rok” Guerrero captivated the crowd with a charismatic presence and this 9-piece band delivered a fusion of funk, rock, pop, hip-hop and soul. Led by Serafin Sanchez, a sharp-dressed horn section sported Colorado caps, shades and electric color ties.
While numerous covers filled the set, Bop Skizzum is not a cover band. They were able to put their own spin on many songs, including The Pretender’s “Brass in My Pocket,” James Brown’s “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,” and DJ Kool’s “Let Me Clear My Throat”. The crowd loved and sang along enthusiastically to Skizzum’s 90’s medley mix which featured their take on 90’s sitcom theme songs from Beverly Hills, 90210; Fresh Prince of Bel Air; Saved By The Bell and The Golden Girls.
When the crowd wasn’t being treated to original spins on classics, they were given a healthy dose of new songs. Coloradical is a musical love letter to Colorado. The new songs encompass a variety of genres and make Coloradical a funk driven, but still very eclectic listen.
“Do You Want It” and “Don’t Give Up” are both strong new songs that received a enthused reaction from a crowd that danced their way through most of the night.
The night closed out with Bop Skizzum inviting all bands from the evening back on stage for a high energy take on Young MC’s “Bust a Move”.
The night was a celebration- of Colorado, funk and fun.
-Carissa Hughes
