If you follow the Florida festival scene, you’ve likely seen the name Zoogma on a lineup or two. Combining trancy electronica with a jam-oriented, live rock sound, Zoogma appeals to fans of both genres and helps to bridge the gap between the old hippies and the new. But after 10 years of touring together, Zoogma is calling it quits.
On April 5, Zoogma wrote this on its Facebook page: “To our fans, friends & family…As we enter our 10th year as a band we have been reflecting on all the amazing times that we've shared together over the years, and all the joy it has brought us as a band, company, brothers and musicians. We want to let you know that we will be taking an indefinite break from Zoogma.”
Included at the bottom of the lengthy and heartfelt post was a list of their final planned shows as a band. Of the seven shows listed (Zoogma inferred in the post that it would likely schedule more to fill in schedule gaps,) Tampa was one of the chosen destinations.
The show doubled as a rain check to Zoogma's Irma-canceled September show at Crowbar, as well as the pre-party for Brainquility Music and Arts Festival in Safety Harbor on April 21. Zoogma's headlining started at about midnight and didn't end until a little after 2 a.m. The energy it cultivates in a venue is electrifying, and Zoogma really brings in some of the nicest crowds in Tampa. Everyone in attendance was all smiles, and compliments were being handed out like tickets to the free L. Ron Hubbard movie down the street.
One thing about Zoogma that you might not realize at first glance is that all four members of the band have laptops next to them on stage. No, they aren’t looking for new jobs on Craigslist, they’re actually expertly tuning and sequencing their instruments to make the band sound as full and dynamic as it possibly can.
On its website, each member of the band is listed with their main instrument first, then either live sequencing or synthesizer second. Between Ryan Nall, the bassist, and the two guitarists, Justin Hasting and Brock Bowling, Zoogma had five keyboards on stage that were all played at some point or another. Even drummer Matt Harris had a full kit, a laptop with sequencing software and a full beat pad.
Zoogma’s set flowed effortlessly through a large array of genres; from hip-hop to jam-rock, from reggae to psybreaks, and from jazz to bluegrass. At one point, Justin Hasting put his guitar on the table and pulled out a glass slide while Zoogma served the crowd a nice helping of electric bluegrass.
The band came out for three encore songs after an initial bow, and the crowd was not eager to let them go for good. By "for good," I mean for good. With only four planned shows left to go until its indefinite break, Zoogma said goodbye to Florida for the last time late last night, or at least the last time for a while.
But don’t fret too much, Zoogma fans. After the show I asked bassist Ryan Nall about the possibility of Zoogma returning to Purple Hatter’s Ball in early June. He replied, “You know, we’ve been flirting with the idea of coming down for Purple Hatter’s again this year for one final sendoff. But we’ll announce it on our Facebook if we decide to.”
After an incredible set at last year’s PHB, all fingers should be crossed for a final Zoogma send off at this year’s festival.
Zoogma had Bells & Robes open for the shows in Gainesville, Jacksonville, and last night in Tampa. Named loosely after a quote from the Zen Buddhist teacher Ummon, this Atlanta-based duo has been showing up on more bills in recent months. Bells & Robes served as an incredible appetizer for Zoogma, donning a similar electronic and jam fusion sound.
Always trying to accommodate more heady artists with a mini-music festival set up, the Crowbar's patio was set up with a taco vendor, Cosmic Collective, spray paint artists, and surreal live painting by Ania Amador. If you don’t know who that is, look her up. She works as the art curator for some of the biggest festivals in the southeast including Hulaween, Okeechobee, and Purple Hatter’s Ball. She can also be seen live painting this year at festivals like Brainquility, Bonnaroo, and Summer Set in Wisconsin.
This article appears in Apr 12-19, 2018.