Does life seem drab and unfulfilling? Are you burnt out by your daily routine and the numbing repetition of pop radio blather? Do you need a new perspective before giving into the soul-numbing monotony? Then maybe it’s time for you to enter the worm hole.
May 31 | 10 p.m.
Crystal Bay Casino | Crystal Bay, Nev.
July 3 | After the fireworks
Tahoe Biltmore | Crystal Bay, Nev.
Sept. 4 | The Great Depressurization | The Bluebird | Reno, Nev.
EDM events production company Wormhole Tahoe got its official start in 2016 with Liam Kelly spinning records at Tahoe City’s Fat Cat Bar & Grill. When Jason Hagar and Garron Johnson relocated to Tahoe’s North Shore they brought with them the vision and ethic of Wormhole Oakland, a loose collective of Bay Area forward-thinking artists and musicians. After connecting with Bass Tribe Tahoe’s Alexa Pace to complete the essential elements of the wormhole, regular shows at Moe’s Original BBQ took place throughout 2017.
Wormhole Tahoe now focuses on producing monthly events that transcend ordinary existence and take listeners on a journey of mind, body and soul.
“It’s about creating an experience that transports you,” says Pace. “You feel like you might be in a big city or at a musical festival or something. We bring this bigger, larger entertainment experience to smaller, live-music venues in North Lake Tahoe.”
Wormhole Tahoe manages its own production and artist bookings while collaborating with regional artists such as painters and craft vendors to create a vibrant, eccentric atmosphere at their one-of-a-kind gatherings.
“This is Tahoe,” says Pace. “There are so many creative people here. Everyone comes together and helps each other to make something special. We are building a grassroots movement.”
The core group of Pace, Hagar, Kelly, Johnson and newest member Amy Archer meet weekly to discuss future bookings and draw up concert plans.
“We choose artists based on how much potential draw they have in the area, but most importantly what style of music they play,” says Pace. “We try to showcase local talent, as well as national and internationally touring artists to curate a lineup that the majority of people in the area will enjoy.”
Pace grew up in Los Angeles attending raves on the weekends with friends. Although she didn’t expect much of scene when she arrived in Lake Tahoe 10 years ago, she was pleasantly surprised to find a tight-knit community of artist and electronic music lovers who congregated for Bass Heavy gigs at The Grid Bar and Grill in King’s Beach and legendary parties of the area godfather Steve Emmerich’s, the Fresh Bakin’ series.
“It’s a really supportive community,” says Pace. “It’s not so competitive. In cities it can be like me against them, but it’s not like that at all in Tahoe so that makes it special. Above all, we love doing it. It’s a business, but our main goal is to be passionate about it. It’s kind of our baby.”
Many of the Wormholers gather each summer at Camp Questionmark in Black Rock City at Burning Man where more than 70,000 people come to see live music throughout the course of the festival. In recent years, high profile DJs such as Skrillex and Diplo have appeared for free alongside local masterminds while lighting designers create a live show from their rocket ship controllers from behind the scenes.
“As the music is going on, the speed, the color, the shapes of the lights, lasers and projections become a visual representation of what you are hearing,” says Pace. “In this day in age, you go to any big festival — people and all of their senses are being hit. We think this makes such an impact on the overall vibe of the thing, hearing the music and seeing the music. It’s kind of like ‘Wizard of Oz’ with the man behind the curtain sort of thing. You’re not just gonna get some guy up there pressing buttons. It’s a visual and auditory show that hopefully moves you.”
If you have second thoughts about what lies beyond the Wormhole, have no fear; it is a welcoming place of beauty, wonder, freedom and love.
“It’s so pretty and kind of weird,” says Pace. “People act funny and different than they would in real life. I love seeing people let loose. Society can be so boring sometimes and humans are such amazingly creative creatures. It’s great to see people just being silly and throw out the rule book for a couple hours. Why not? What else are you going to do? It feels good.” | wormholetahoe.com
