Hailing from upstate New York, Adam Puleo, also known as Wooli, is a dubstep sensation; blending breathtaking, colorful visuals with a distinctive futuristic bass sound. He has risen up the EDM ranks quickly in recent years, gaining headline slots at festivals like Decadence, Lost Lands and Dancefestopia. Last Saturday, EDM fans of Arizona were given a treat when Wooli rolled into town and brought a star-studded lineup featuring Mad Dubz, Automhate, Level Up and Capochino along with him.

Arizona local artist District 13 started the long awaited event with a bang, playing a riddim heavy set to get the early crowd energized for the night ahead. Capochino played a very experimental set, remixing many 2000’s club tracks to create a nostalgic vibe for the evening. His performance was a refreshing spiritual and emotional experience with a dose of unexpected unique bass drops to create a fun and uplifting audio-visual soundscape. 

Probcause has a very similar set, blending vivid colors and mesmerizing visuals with a variety of distinct genres. He was throwing dubstep, experimental bass, drum & bass and riddim together while keeping the sounds flowing smooth and the energy high into the night.

Mad Dubz b2b Automhate, also known as The Poppe Brothers, was next on the lineup and, while they promised a show, it may have been the biggest surprise of the entire evening. The European duo came out sporting matching Irish flat caps and put together a heavy-hitting set that left the speakers pounding and the crowd wanting even more. 

“I loved everyone on the lineup, but there’s something about the unmatched energy those two bring that creates the most naturally intoxicating and fun environment to the crowd,” said thoroughly entertained concertgoer Grant Sneor. 

While most artists on the lineup brought dramatic and vivid scenes in their visuals, the Poppe brothers embraced their cultures, throwing up the Italian and U.K. flags at every free opportunity.

By the time Mad Dubz and Automate concluded, and the temperatures dipped around Rawhide, the energy was just heating up. Level Up was playing direct support, and as usual, she did not disappoint.  Her blend of hypnotizing visuals and signature bass drops makes the crowd feel as though they are transcending across dimensions. “From the second the countdown (for Level Up to perform) started, we all knew what was about to come, heavy dubstep,” exclaimed fellow raver Ariel Regen. 

A dubstep legend herself, Level Up played music that featured her husband, Subtronics, this time around.  Doing exquisite work to forge her own path and fanbase, most of the time she strays away from playing his tracks.  

As the dust got kicked higher and the time ticked later, it was finally time for Wooli to make his appearance. He came out with his new release featuring fellow dubstep DJ Griz titled “Chaos Theory.”  While the track mirrored his Decadance intro, it was a completely new visual package, creating an all new experience for the ravers. He immediately dropped into an original remix of Skrillex’s track, “Rumble” that had the front rails swinging. The entire set was a nonstop energy rollercoaster of bursting colors and melodic chaos. From floating boomboxes to firestacks shooting off, color-changing lasers and of course the trademark Wooli Mammoth; the display of visuals was breathtaking. He played his collaboration with Flux Pavilion titled “On Repeat” and you were hard-pressed to find a dry eye in the venue.

At about 1:15 a.m., halfway through Wooli's set, it became apparent that this emotional and spiritual journey would include some of the hardest drops Rawhide has ever seen. “Titans” featuring Excision pumped on the speakers, and the mosh pit opened up into madness. The performer’s versatility was on full display, as his last 15 minutes were completely freeform. Wooli blended house, techno and pop genres together with original mixes and kept the crowd entertained.

Another extraordinary aspect of the event was the new transparent DJ booth that had never been seen at a Relentless Beats or Aftershock Bass Event.  While it is unclear whether the visual booth is a part of Wooli’s production that was brought to the desert, or if it is a new piece of Relentless equipment, many are hoping it will be present as a part of the Goldrush megastructure this year.

Overall, besides the dust, audiences thought it was an amazing return to the outdoors for the Arizona rave scene. 

“It felt amazing raving outside again; I love these shows. Ultimately, I had a blast and can't wait for the next time we're back outdoors at Goldrush,” said Sneor. 

Ravers will be heading back outside to Rawhide next weekend for Arizona’s yearly landmark festival, Goldrush.

(Photos courtesy of Talia Arnon)