EDM duo Hippie Sabotage, composed of brothers Kevin and Jeff Saurer, took the stage at the Fillmore Auditorium on Feb. 17 to an unbelievably large crowd.
Although the doors to the show opened at 8 p.m., the line to walk into the venue stretched all the way to 16th and Clarkson Street. Fans braced the cold and harsh winds while discussing their excitement about finally getting see the brothers onstage.
Sebastian Paul opened the concert with retro soundscapes and unconventional pop vocals. The Colorado Springs native expressed love for his home state, and, at times, walked into the crowd to sing into their faces or hold their hand. Paul’s set allowed the crowd to sway along and left them wanting more of his music after the show.
Hippie Sabotage was next to take the stage and delivered in a way that was unbelievable to the audience. The duo was able to make their concert fun and engaging by switching from their more chill songs, such as “Devil Eyes,” to heavier, more dubstep tracks, having the crowd repeat, “I don’t give a fuck what” every time they yelled into the microphone. At times, one of the brothers would bring out a case of water bottles and spray water throughout the crowd.
Many people remember Hippie Sabotage best for remixing Tove Lo’s popular song “Habits (Stay High).” Before the duo played the song, they told the audience how they remembered playing the remix at the Bluebird Theatre many years ago and how blessed they were to grow in popularity and artistry since then. During the song, the brothers would mute Tove Lo’s voice to hear the audience sing along to the song. Explosions of smoke were scattered throughout the performance.
Not only did the crowd go wild for the music, but the visuals on stage also brought forth “oohs” and “aahs.” From religious iconography against print orange and pink backgrounds to pictures of outer space, the Fillmore was filled with bright color and flashing lights. It is needless to say that everyone in the audience was spellbound after the show, and excited chatter about how wonderful the brothers’ performance was continued on even outside the doors.
At the end of the show, Hippie Sabotage announced they would be performing at Red Rocks in 2020. If their performance at the Fillmore is any indication, the show will be filled with color, light and dancing all night long.