It was apparent that Wonderland wanted this show to stand out from the previous years before this, solely based on her posts 0n social media leading up to the day of the show. The first step in order to do that was starting with her line up. Everyone who follows AW closely knows her and Valentino Khan have a tight knit friendship. He's been an opener, if not supporting act for many of her shows -popularly and more commonly for Temple of Wonderland.

Exactly one month before the show the artist posted a reel featuring herself and close friend/manager Garth discussing the lineup for the show, specifically mentioning (and also featuring) Khan and his "rejection" of being on the lineup (it's actually quite funny if you haven't seen it). From there she announced a contest in search of finding the opener for this year's show. The prize not only included the opening slot; but a delivered $1,000 show fee, four guest passes, and a song released on AW's record label FMU Records. Avello was chosen and announced just a few short weeks after. Wonderland was so impressed with the entries and the last three finalists that she decided to offer them a song on her label as well.

October 11th had finally arrived. Her fans, known as "Wonderers" traveled from various areas throughout the country started trickling in and lining up for entry hours before doors opened at 6pm. Once doors opened the fans poured in, filling the venue fairly quickly. The seats were filled by the beginning of the second act, which isn't too common. As someone who shoots at least one show every weekend during Red Rocks concert season, I can say from experience that it takes at least until the last half, if not the last quarter of the second act and most times even the third to see seats filled the way I'd seen on Friday. After Avello opened and started off what was going to be one of the most memorable nights of many people's lives (including my own), Dabow followed up before Dimension really set the tone for the queen's performance, we'd all been waiting for since the date had been announced. I'm pretty sure everyone knew this year was going to be special and, in more ways, than one.

After set change and crew members gave the green light, the lights dimmed, and the overhead music came to a silence. Fans screamed, awaiting the set to actually start - which felt like one of the longest moments of my life. The time it took for anything to happen after any music for the set itself started, felt so long and it built up the anticipation so much more than where it had already been at. It was definitely intentional and it was a great way to dial in fans more than they already were during that moment. After what felt like five minutes of darkness with overhead sound, visuals finally came to play. Colors of light flashed between what looked to me like new visuals (note: I wasn't able to attend Temple of Wonderland year six since I was hired to shoot a wedding, so the last set I saw was Whyte Fang the day before TOW six and before that was her set on year five, following North Coast just months before). The beginning visuals alone had me going and eventually there she was!

Her production was insane. For starters, she brought lasers this year (that was an obvious new addition to this year in comparison to the last years) and they were beautiful and set off at the perfect times for the right durations throughout the set. As I mentioned, there were tons of new visuals and I can confidently say that there was, despite the amount of time that had gone by since I'd last seen her. She dropped a ton of unreleased tracks; including several collabs with artists such as Subtronics, Kaskade, and Dimension (which of course she brought out since he was already there as they shared a cigarette). Wonderland shared many thanks and appreciation throughout the night, giving the biggest thanks to her team and her soon to be husband as well as dedicating a song to him and thanking him for making a baby with her.

I felt her set was too short, but maybe it felt that way because the night ended earlier than normal (especially for a Friday night Red Rocks show), however it was argumentatively fulfilling. She played basically all of my favorite songs, specifically "Down the Line" (that one always hits the feels). I, along with many others probably could have spent hours upon hours and maybe even days in that moment, that night. Never wanting it to come to an end. Temple of Wonderland is always a "sacred" place. Not because it's "Temple" of Wonderland, "Church" or anything other saying or word that's used as a term for an Alison Wonderland event... but because she's built up a community that's brought so many people across the world together and has made her shows a safe place and a way to escape reality in a unique way.

I cannot wait for year eight as well as catching her performances in between now and then. Year seven was my ninth time seeing her and each time I do it's an experience that's so hard to explain because no matter what I say or how descriptive I am it will never compare. It's simply something you have to attend and being a part of her tight knit fan base/community is a whole other aspect that is beautiful on its own.

Year after year Alex never fails to top whatever it was that she did the year before. I'm excited to see what she does and thinks of next.