Classixx made a name for themselves via their in-demand DJ sets and through a string of memorable remixes for artists such as Mayer Hawthorne, Yacht and Major Lazer.
Earlier this year, they released their debut full-length of original material and something about it caught my ear. Their blend of disco, house and electronic music, married to a keen sense of lush pop songcraft was instantly appealing to me. Barring Disclosure‘s phenomenal Settle, no other dance release this year functioned as well as a coherent album statement. I was pretty curious to see how Tyler Blake and Michael David would bring these songs to life in a performance setting, especially without the aid of the album’s myriad of guests.
Opening for the duo was Washington D.C.’s GEMS, a boy-girl dream pop band that was not on my radar. Lindsay Pitts’ synth and vocal work was nicely contrasted by Clifford Usher’s affected guitar work. The reverb and delay-drenched guitar lines sounded great against the band’s airy programmed beats. As usual, the SAT’s fantastic P.A. did great services to the band’s sound. GEMS played a selection of r&b influenced tracks from their recent Medusa EP and managed to keep me intrigued the whole time. I look forward to hearing more from them.
After a brief DJ interlude from Lebaron, Classixx took the stage, the band members flanking a large classically-shaped TV monitor that would display an array of visuals for the length of their set.
They opened with Hanging Gardens, the opening title track from their new record, and a truly effective mood setting piece of music. Blake was surrounded by an array of computers, MOOG synthesizers and percussion instruments, while David alternated between electric guitar and synths. They crafted near flawless reproductions of their album cuts, although infused with a slight bit of live performative energy. Synth lines were a little looser, guitars a little more raw, the bangers a little more bangin’, so to speak.
They played a number of songs off of Hanging Gardens, interspersed with some remix work like their version of Phoenix‘s Lisztomania. When it came time to perform All You’re Waiting For, Hanging Gardens’ best track, LCD Soundsystem‘s Nancy Whang, who takes the lead vocal on the song, appeared on the central TV screen in day-glow colours to croon her parts. It was an inventive way to overcome the void left by absent guests.
While the SAT was nowhere near capacity, Classixx still managed to invoke a sweaty dance party from the few hundred attendees. Their performance was energetic, and the live interpretations differed just enough from the recorded tracks to make them effective party starters. A great set all around, and a great reason to stay up way late on a Saturday night.
Review & photos – Jean-Michel Lacombe
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