Los Angeles’ nu-disco duo, Classixx, headlined The Red Bull Sound Select Tour that traveled through Arizona last weekend making three stops in Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff. Offering free admission with an online RSVP, Red Bull’s Sound Select initiative celebrates local music by breaking down boundaries and working to bring artists and fans closer together on a national scale. Being an avid follower of Classixx’s contagiously groovy, Saturday-Night-Fever style, I eagerly RSVP’ed for the chance to party down with them for free.
Friday night the tour bus pulled up to Phoenix’s intimately hip Crescent Ballroom ready to fill the venue with ultra smooth, electro funk. From the lavish Red Bull sponsored cocktails to the charismatic crowd, Crescent’s homey ambience was amplified becoming the ideal venue for a night full of blissful, disco vibin’.
The night’s progression into a ruthless boogyfest began with a sequence of emerging electronic trio bands: Hustle and Drone, The Flavr Blue, and Superhumanoids. L.A.’s dream-pop new-wave band, Superhumanoids took the stage and effortlessly readied the anxious crowd for Classixx.
As Tyler Blake and Michael David, better known as Classixx, prepared their delightfully minimalistic stage setup, the anticipation in the room was amplified and the crowd’s growing energy became apparent. By the time their ultra-catchy “Is This How You Feel” Remix was finished playing, Classixx had every fan in the room captivated. Vivaciously implementing bouncy synths, soulful guitar riffs, and progressive basslines live, they sparked a dance party with the entire audience inherently gettin’ down.
Classixx brought their unmistakable fusion of 80’s synth pop with indie-rock to Phoenix causing the walls of the Crescent Ballroom to overflow with disco fever inspired house music. Looping through their catalogue of familiar and celebrated remixes combined with fresh originals, Classixx nostalgically enchants a vast array of audiences.
Robbie Agar
Brooke Smith