Saxsquatch, The Baddest Sax-Blowing Bigfoot, Comes Out Of Hiding For Concert

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — There wasn’t much explanation given by Bigfoot on Wednesday night as to why he came out of hiding to perform a concert in Fort Collins or even how he came to be a talented saxophonist, but maybe no explanation was needed.

Seems it’s now clear why he spends so much time isolated in the wilderness — he’s practicing.

Bigfoot — aka Dean Mitchell, who goes by the stage name “Saxsquatch” — delivered a thrilling blast of saxophone-infused solos played over a mix of legendary pop hits and his own electronic beats at a show at the Aggie Theater on Wednesday.

Denver resident Lee Dees said she didn’t know what to expect going into the show, saying the show could be either really good or really bad, nothing in between.

Despite all the prior hoopla about the Bigfoot mystery, Saxsquatch strolled onto stage as if none of that existed, standing about 6 feet tall with his tenor saxophone. The crowd went wild for the performer that was not quite man and not quite animal, but 100% musician. 

Saxsquatch said little about his background during the show, but expressed gratitude for the full house of around 650 concert-goers who came out to watch him play. There weren’t many clues offered in his stage design either, which consisted of nothing more than four small pine trees scattered around in a circle around the furry performer.

“I’m so grateful to be here tonight and out of the woods,” Sasquatch proclaimed.

No one in the audience seemed to question the remarkable spectacle beyond the music itself.

Fort Collins resident Jason O’Donnell was at the concert with his son Ian. Ian, a lover of all things Bigfoot, was excited to hear what his folklore hero would do with a jazz instrument in his hands.

Fort Collins residents Amie Wilson, Andrea Ellingwood, Tallie Johnson and Jen McNeil decked themselves out with LED lights, bright clothing and fanny packs for the occasion. Ellingwood said Saxsquatch already liked and shared a post they made about going to the show on TikTok.

“We’re Saxsquatch believers,” Wilson said.

He Can Play

When Saxsquatch first took the stage, a montage of audio recordings taken from various news reports discussing Bigfoot’s existence were played overhead, prompting a man from the audience to yell out, “I believe!” Saxsquatch thanked his audience numerous times throughout the evening for believing in him, which may have been more of a comment on their willingness to pay money to see a man dressed in a Bigfoot costume wearing neon yellow sunglasses play the saxophone on a Wednesday night. 

“I hope you had the craziest Wednesday you’ve ever had in your life,” he yelled out at the audience with his baritone voice

And play well, Saxsquatch most certainly did over the course of his 75-minute set.

He captured the hearts and minds of the audience early on, delivering a stunning solo over George Michael’s 1984 hit “Careless Whisper,” laden over a new electronic beat.

Saxsquatch also provided solos over other well-known hits like Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky.”

He also played his own songs as well like “Swamp Wise,” a lively, bass-laden electronic riff accented by his own jazz notes. Another song, “Never Stop Believin” leaned heavy into a thumping electronic beat, accented by Saxquatch’s horn.

Wednesday wasn’t Saxsquatch’s first foray in public by a longshot. He first gained viral notoriety for his 2020 cover of “One More Time” by Daft Punk.

In 2021, Saxsquatch and John Oates collaborated to create an electronic dance music cover of the Hall & Oates' 1982 song “Maneater.” The next year he also appeared on an episode of “That’s My Jam,” a show hosted by comedian Jimmy Fallon.

Crowd Loves A Sax-Blowing Bigfoot

Although he didn’t do much dancing, holding a rather stiff position in his hulking frame, Saxsquatch went into the crowd at one point and played.

Greeley resident Greg Larue was watching the show from the balcony section, wearing a sweatshirt from the One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company in Thermopolis.

“He was nice and loud, it was a good time,” Larue said. 

Fort Collins resident Steve Dewey wore a gigantic monkey mask throughout the concert as a showing of solidarity with Saxsquatch. Making masks like these is a pastime for Dewey, who wears a large variety of masks to different shows he attends when not performing with his dance company LuneAseas. 

Before he finished, Saxsquatch thanked his audience again for believing in him, and told them he believes in them as well.

“Wherever you go tonight, I’ll be squatching you!” he warned.

Contact Leo Wolfson at leo@cowboystatedaily.com

Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.