[Show Review] Opiuo + Russ Liquid + Project Aspect Bring Surprise Appearance to Knew Conscious Art Gallery | May 9th, 2015 in Denver, CO

Last Saturday thousands of Gramatik fans headed to Red Rocks for a night of funky beats and groovin’ melodies, but were met instead with high winds, icy chills, and delayed time slots. Due to a sudden snowfall, openers Opiuo and Cherub were only able to perform about 20 minutes each, while Russ Liquid was squeezed down to a mere 15 minute set. By the time Gramatik hit the stage, only the die-hard funk fans were left in the stands.

You’ve gotta admire the hardiness of Coloradoans, though – Ice and snow mean nothing when we have our hearts set on a Red Rocks show, and with the concert over three hours before it’s original schedule, there were handfuls of hungry fans and eager musicians ready to throw it down while the night were young. This is where Knew Conscious, a beloved art gallery in the heart of Denver, saved the night by hosting an afterparty we couldn’t refuse! Opiuo, Russ Liquid, and JuBee would be packing into the gallery’s intimate space to play the full length sets our souls had been tingling for, and once we caught word, our entire tribe was heading towards 2700 Walnut street to continue the night’s shenanigans.

Walking through the door of Knew Conscious, it was almost hard to imagine that the gallery would soon be playing host to an underground massive – with a simple layout consisting of polished floors, modern couches and bright studio lighting, the gallery itself was a beautiful sight. The owners and curators of Knew Conscious were gracious party hosts as well, pointing us towards the open bar when we walked in. We spent quite a bit of time admiring the walls along the way, which were full of vibrant geometric paintings and detailed mandalas. The vibes were at an all-time high even without mention of the musical guests that night – the gallery had a home-like charm that was undeniable. It’s a true rarity to find an untapped venue like Knew Conscious, and I’m extremely grateful to have been apart of such an awesome night of spontaneous music. It’s unexpected nights like these that make us appreciate how special the community in Denver really is.

 

Coinciding with the final night of artists Brian Hampton and Eric Howard’s exhibit, local producers Notorious Conduct, GODLAZER, and Atomic Reactor were already getting the late night started with their original beats. The walls were pulsing with bass goodness as people began to file in, stopping to get drawn into the jaw-dropping artwork lining the gallery.

It wasn’t long before Denver native Project Aspect was hitting the decks with his own unique fusion of crunkadelic whomp-hop, and the entire gallery turned into a bumpin’ beat paradise as complimentary liquor and laughs began to flow. At one point an event organizer came on the speaker to ask for a subtle donation, which the crowd happily obliged to. Ten bucks didn’t seem like a huge price to pay for the night’s performers, as well as having access to an open bar in a BYOB environment as well!

When Russ Liquid, MC JuBee and Opiuo all hit the stage simultaneously, it was unanimous that the night had hit its peak. Raging away the cold, the entire venue was gettin’ down to funky sax vibes until the wee hours of the morning. The crowd vibe was on point – Instead of several groups mingling among themselves like at most parties, there wasn’t a single person not conversing or introducing themselves to complete strangers and making them into friends.

What’s happening at Knew Conscious is special, and I can’t wait to hit this gallery more often for their awesome parties, incredible art, and outstanding vibes. Thanks to Euphonic Conceptions for putting on such a last minute get together, and to Kurt Redeker at Knew Conscious for providing the eloquent venue and epic hospitality!

All photos by Danielle Herzog, shot exclusively for Knew Conscious. Thanks for letting us share!