Troutzillafest 15: Built by Two, Carried by Everyone

Troutzillafest is one of those nights that doesn’t just end when the last note is played. It lingers. In your head, in your body, in the quiet after the chaos. It’s the reminder of why this thing exists in the first place, even when it’s hard, even when it’s exhausting, even when it feels like too much for just two people to carry.

You have to understand, Troutzillafest isn’t run by a big team. It’s just me and Damien. That’s it. He’s usually the one physically handling setup and logistics on the ground(sometimes I am helping wire the stage and carrying things) while I’m on the other side booking bands, coordinating everything, making sure riders are met, making sure everyone is where they need to be, and taking care of the artists from start to finish.

And it doesn’t stop there. I make sure the bands are taken care of in every way....hotel check-ins, timing, needs, problems, anything that comes up. Because to me, this has never just been about putting on a show. It’s about people. It’s about relationships.

But I’ll be honest, sometimes I don’t even get to sit and just hang out the way people might think. I’m always watching the crowd, watching the bands, making sure everything is running right and nobody is causing problems. When there are only two of us running the entire thing, your attention is always split. It’s not just enjoying the show, it’s making sure the show stays safe and keeps moving.

And more than anything, I listen. I hear the stories, the struggles, the things most people never see. I could probably write an entire book just from those conversations alone. Some of these artists become more than just bands on a lineup....they become family. And when that happens, you get protective, because in this industry musicians get taken advantage of all the time...whether it’s by the industry itself or even sometimes by fans, agents, people who say they book shows etc. It happens more than people realize. I do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen on my watch.

This year we had over 200 people come through, new faces mixed with familiar ones who’ve supported this from the beginning. I was happy with the turnout. Even if it doesn’t quite have that same fairgrounds feeling, we still made it work. We always do.

From the outside, it probably just looked like another night of music, movement, and energy. But underneath that, there was a lot going on. Personally, I had a lot on my mind throughout the day, things that happened, things most people would never notice. I’ve gotten good at carrying that quietly while still showing up for everyone else. But even through all of that, the music cuts through it.

And that’s the part that always sticks with me, the younger kids discovering it for the first time. Standing at merch tables, watching bands up close, feeling something they didn’t know they needed yet. That’s the spark that keeps all of this alive.

The night opened with User Friendly Killer Robots, and they didn’t ease in....they came out swinging. Pure punk energy, no filter, no hesitation. Loud, raw, and alive in the way that immediately pulls people into the moment and doesn’t let go.

Driving Dawn followed and carried that momentum perfectly. A straight-up rock set that was tight, engaging, and fully locked in with the crowd. It wasn’t just performance....it was connection. The kind of set where the audience slowly stops watching and starts becoming part of it.

After both of those sets, something I always notice is how they show up afterward at their merch tables. User Friendly Killer Robots and Driving Dawn both take the time with fans, whether it is talking, signing, taking photos, and really being present in those moments. I notice that every time. Those interactions matter just as much as what happens on stage, even if most people don’t think about it that way. That is what gets you more fans, that is how it is done. Bravo gentlemen.

Then came Creep, the Stone Temple Pilots tribute, fronted by Mick Blankenship. And it needs to be said clearly.....this isn’t just a tribute performance. Mick’s vocals go beyond imitation. He doesn’t just cover these songs, he inhabits them. There’s a weight and emotion in his voice that would make Scott Weiland proud, and you feel it every time he steps up to the mic.

Backing him was an absolutely phenomenal lineup—Dave on guitar, Justin on drums, Taylor on bass, and Josiah handling tech duties while also playing a major role in Mick’s solo work. This same core band also powers Hollow, and they were locked in from start to finish. Tight, powerful, completely in sync. And beyond the talent, they’re just genuinely good people, the kind of crew you want to be around on and off stage.

And then they did it again.

Mick returned fronting Hollow, the Alice in Chains tribute, with the same band behind him. Mick stepping into one of the most demanding vocal roles in rock. His voice doing Layne Staley is unreal.....there’s really no other way to say it. He doesn’t imitate it, he channels it. It’s emotional, raw, and it lands in a way that stays with you.

The crowd felt it too. They weren’t just watching, they were singing every word, completely locked in from front to back.

Doing this show every year always makes me miss doing shows myself. I love being around music that much, it never really leaves you once it’s in you.

This year I took the guys from Hollow and Creep out to dinner and we walked down to Trout Town Tavern. And they don’t realize this, but I’m taking all of that in. Those conversations, the laughter, the small moments in between everything, it all becomes part of my life journey. My musical journey. My memories. That’s the part people don’t see, but it means a lot to me.

Credit where it’s due....Driving Dawn and User Friendly Killer Robots, you both do it right. You take the time with fans, you stay grounded, and you bring your souls to the stage every time. That matters more than people realize.

Hollow and Creep—thank you. What you brought wasn’t just performance, it was presence. It meant something. It was a moment in young and old lives that will stick with them forever.

To the National Trout Festival board, thank you for allowing ODP to be part of this for the past 15 years. To Green Pharm, thank you for being a sponsor and supporting the event. And a huge shoutout to Guy from Rock 105 and the team there—you’ve always had our backs when we bring in the big ones, and that kind of support means everything.

Troutzillafest 15 was something special.

And now it’s time to start thinking about Troutzillafest 16. I’ve heard it may be returning to where it all began.....the fairgrounds. If that’s the case, then we’re not just building another show… we’re stepping back into history. And it’s time to make it bigger, louder, and even more unforgettable.

Here’s to new beginnings—and to a little nostalgia.

And most importantly, thank you to everyone who showed up, supported, played, worked, and believed in it. This doesn’t exist without you.

Make sure you head over to www.obscurrus.com and grab a Troutzillafest T-shirt designed by my son Austin through Austin Miller Designs. There’s no year on it, so you can rep Troutzilla anytime. We also have coffee mugs available as well.

Peace, Love and Loud Music,

Mickey