Since this was my first festival in Arizona, I was incredibly excited. I haven’t visited Flagstaff in over 15 years and had forgotten how stunning the city is. Known for its bright desert skies and picturesque evenings, ‘Escape to Coconino’ complements this beautiful desert setting perfectly. As a Texas native, I found the Arizona scene to be quite different.
Everyone was so warm and inviting, giving off this earthy vibe. As I entered the venue on Day I, I was a bit jet-lagged from a late-night arrival and an early start due to the time difference. My Uber driver dropped me off along the gravel path, and I made my trek through the huge pine trees to the Pepsi Amphitheatre. Entering the venue was a breeze; the security and law enforcement stationed at the entrance were so nice and respectful.
Buy the ticket, take the ride.
I picked up my pass from Will Call and gladly stepped into the woodland forest. The deep thump of bass surrounded me as I walked onto the grass, my feet feeling every beat beneath me. The local favorite, Nealson, was blasting through the speakers as I leisurely explored the venue to get a better sense of my surroundings. Tall pine trees stood majestically overhead, while everyone lay out their blankets on the lush lawn. The Flowstars were out in full force, adding to the vibrant atmosphere as I wandered through the crowd.
Neon Toad-like graphics brightened the screen as I gently made my way down into the seating area, eager to explore the bottom. The liquid, earthy vibes of Toadface shimmered beautifully as I strolled through the pit area and settled into one of the stadium-like chairs. His set was wonderfully weird and wiggly, just the way I like it. Fans danced fluidly as the sun shone brightly overhead. Next up was Flamingosis…
Vibe Check
The Flamingosis vibe made me flip my lid; I’ve never heard anything like it before. Coming from the East Coast, it was groovy and chill, effortlessly blending grit and hardcore hip-hop. It wasn’t just a vibe; it was a groove, flowing endlessly like a breeze. I felt like I needed an Acapulco shirt and a fancy drink with a tiny umbrella to match the groovy feel of his set. His music melted away any tension or anxiety, offering a really pleasant change of pace. Then, out of nowhere, he’d throw in Wu-Tang or the Fugees, totally blowing your mind.
Adorned with his signature low-worn baseball cap, YDG stepped onto the stage. Grabbing the reins and yanking tightly, the mood started to shift. A YDG set embodies a true yin and yang; his sound design is quite distinctive. Riddim-driven drops, combined with delicate melodic textures, weave in and out of the performance almost like a male version of ALLEYCVT. Just when he’s got you bouncing off the rails and hanging on for dear life, he takes you away with a melodic pop song, making it very fun to watch.
Maddy the Baddy
Next was Maddy O’Neal. A slightly drunk gentleman behind me was screaming, “Maddys a Baddy” in my ear as she started setting up. He wasn’t lying… A Maddy O’Neal set has a certain bounce to it. Although she’s from Denver, CO, her song selection gives off a distinct East Coast vibe. I remember standing at the rails during her performance when it hit me. “Maddy O’Neal is kind of a f**kin’ gangster,” I thought as she confidently brushed her shoulders off behind the decks. Playing multiple bangers and songs from her latest release, Vital Signs, Maddy surely did not disappoint.
Ignition sequence engaged, Jade Cicada check! Time to blast off into hyperspace! I think I was the most excited for the Jade Cicadas’ set during night one because I had never had the pleasure of seeing him before. I love his new Lunar Fade EP as well as the remix version, so I was beyond excited. Nestled into a chair near the front center, I was ready for lift-off. His background graphics were so cool! All these mechanical mechanisms were twisting and turning like a scene out of The Matrix. His music was perfectly in sync with his visual vibe. Bass blasted through the speakers, gargling through the spaceship. I felt like everyone on the bill brought their own unique vibe for the evening, and Jade Cicada was no different. Too weird for some, but just right for me, I sat perched in my chair with a huge smile on my face until the final note rang out and the stage went dark.
Show ’em how it’s done, Mr. Trees.
Lastly, but certainly not least, was Of The Trees. I’ve seen him multiple times this past year, and I’m always in awe every time his set finishes. What does he have in store for us? I wondered on this brisk, cool evening in Arizona. More than you can imagine, replied the universe. Starting off slow and drawn out, he began to ease the crowd into his set. Think Dark Side of the Moon but the experimental bass version. Building intensity as the night went on, I believe he had about an hour and a half for his set time. Perfect! Some set highlights for me were his Doechii and Gas Pedal edit. I’ve heard a bunch of different Doechii edits, but his was different and more uptempo than I would have thought for Of The Trees.
Then out of nowhere, he blasted us with the New Tape B collab! Holy shit! This new track was incredibly rad; it started off slow and wavy, incorporating “show ’em how it’s done” here and there as the track began to build. Emitting Of The Tree vibes in the opening portion, then the first drop came, and the lasers pierced through the night sky. The crowd erupted with excitement. Then came the second drop… WTF! Tape B’s bass design began to radiate through in the final part of the song. Such a perfect blend of the two’s artistry. Thank you, Mr. Trees, for dropping that off at Escape to Coconino on this beautiful summer night.
Another favorite was his Spanish Moss rework. He seamlessly blended his iconic Spanish Moss track with Kodak Black’s Codiene Dreamin’ track. As much as I am a purist, I loved this new version of the song and was totally blown away. Left feeling dazed and confused about what I had just witnessed, I gathered my belongings, used the bathroom, and made my way to the parking lot to find my Uber driver. Some much-needed rest was in order because we still had day two to attend…