Taking A (Sound)Bath In A Car At ‘Sypherlot’ (Review)
Itchy-O brings back the Drive-In to Denver, with a sonic performance art twist
Parked in two semi-circle rows around a dimly lit stage, 40 cars full of people sit waiting. With our vehicles off or idling, windows down, and radios tuned to the same frequency, a slow-moving procession appears in the distance. The accompanying music drops in frequency and buzzy, low-pitched chants emerge. As the mysterious march arrives, its members disperse across the lot in which we’re parked.
Those wearing drums (about half of the performers) assemble on the center stage, while the others continue to parade around the cars containing their audience. Most of them are carrying, wearing or riding unidentifiable sound-emitting devices — some more sophisticated than others. There are long, dark temple trumpets being honked at the sky and the ground. Some performers are carrying portable DJ stations running computer software that creates distorted, electronic texture on top of the monk-like chanting. There is even a three-wheeled bicycle adorned with red lights, equipped with an amplifier and speakers, transmitting some kind of warning blast.
“I feel like I’m bearing witness to a secret cult ritual,” my carmate said, not five minutes into the show. The costumes concealed identities wholly, and many had an ominous vibe. Some looked like Daft Punk-style musicians playing instruments from the future, while others looked like evil underworld versions of sirens from The Odyssey.
To anyone who knows Denver’s Itchy-O, self-described as an “electronic, percussion-centered experimental orchestra and performance group,” none of this comes as a surprise. But if you’re not familiar with Itchy-O’s special blend of rhythm and spectacle, the beautifully bizarre production may come off as highly stimulating and overly eccentric. Indeed, their novel approach is a fascinating experiment in COVID-friendly concerts.
The safety precautions were clear and abundant from the get-go. Tickets are only available online, resulting in digital tickets that are then scanned (touch-free) at the door. Patrons are instructed to wear a mask upon arrival while interacting with ticket takers and parking attendants. Patrons may not get out of their vehicles except to use the bathroom (heads up: outside toilets only) and must wear masks and maintain social distance in the bathroom line. No tailgating or outside congregating whatsoever.
Doors open a full hour before the show begins, and patrons are expected to arrive no later than 30 minutes before showtime. Once checked in, vehicles are staged in a waiting lot. This is a good time to locate the appropriate radio frequency and chit-chat with your carmates. Our experience of arriving, staging and parking was friendly, accommodating and clearly marked. (Pro-tip: Consider bringing drinks and snacks, and be prepared for some downtime between your arrival and showtime. As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.)
There was an obvious, and much appreciated, staggering of vehicles between the two rows of cars. In the back row, our view of the drumline on stage was somewhat limited, but unavoidable due to the show’s format. The partially obstructed line of sight was crucially balanced by the playful interactivity of the roaming performers: attaching flashing lights to vehicles, drawing on windows with glass markers, spraying quick-evaporating mist on and through windows, suction-cupping noisemakers and instruments to vehicle exteriors, tapping on windows, and ever-so-lightly rocking SUVs.
It was also freeing to not have a storyline to follow. This event was more concert than theater, and the lack of narrative freed up cognitive energy to just soak it all in. As the show’s description accurately depicts, the Sypherlot; Drive-In Radio Bath is “laying waste to notions of concerts in ‘the new normal’ by ushering in a joyful sonic bath of post-apocalyptic unifying magic.” Who are these odd creatures and what are they doing? Why are we here in the midst of their strange ceremony? Are they friendly or hostile? The answers to these questions doesn’t really matter, but part of the fun comes in pondering them with your carmates, or in your own head.
After moving past the initial shock and awe of exactly what happens at a drive-in concert put on by Itchy-O, I found it easy to relax and let the funky, tribal, beat-driven music take me away. I wasn’t dancing on my feet, but I was grooving in my seat — the first time I’d experienced live music since late February. Even if just for an hour, I was able to forget about why I was watching the show from my car in the first place. And for $100-$125 per car, it’s a well-priced, much-needed adventure.
Sypherlot: Drive-in Radio Bath runs Fridays and Saturdays through August in Denver. Tickets are $100-$125.
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