DeVotchKa is Spellbinding

by J.J. Colagrande on July 28, 2009 at 11:20AM

DeVotchKa at Mile High 09

Denver locals DeVotchKa took the stage at 4:15 underneath a tent. They proceeded to mesmerize the Mile High crowd with their melodic music. The 4-member band has a unique sound that fuses Greek, Slavic, Mariachi, and many other styles of music, with a tint of American punk and folk roots. The combination of instruments they used was the most eclectic of the weekend, including guitars, piano, trumpet, Theremin, bouzouki, violin, sousaphone, double bass, and drums.

Devotchka's electic sound may have sounded familiar to folks new to their music. The band composed the score to the movie Little Miss Sunshine. If you've seen the movie, you know that their music music loops throughout, providing ambient texture to the fun flick. DeVotchKa provided a similar service to Mile High, setting an interesting, hypnotic, soundtrack to the warm afternoon.

DeVotchKa's music is not danceable as much as it is interesting. They create more than jam. They have artistic merit, and the crowd reflected this. The crowd appeared older, more sophisticated, perhaps with a higher education and income bracket. Artists and teachers littered the audience, as well as a lot of locals. By the end of their set, their perseverance and ambition won over newbies.

Devotchka is almost symphonic. It would be great to see them in a theater with amazing acoustics, and plush velvet seats, and Renaissance architecture surrounding the stage. It was still pleasant to see them in a tent, outside, standing around sweaty festival goers.

Meanwhile, outside the tent, Dick's Sporting Goods Park celebrated the afternoon.

Sponsors like Coca Cola, Red Bull, and American Spirit cigarettes gave away samples of their new products. Major League Baseball brought a batting cage. PlayStation constructed a lounge for video game addicts. Security ensured our safety. In the VIP lounges, the bars served better spirits. The non-profit Conscious Alliance organized a successful food drive. The Waterworks sprinkler project kept people refreshed. The Windmill Project attracted art lovers. There are so many components of a music festival, and to see it all come together, like it did during the mid-afternoon, was a beautiful thing.

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