You couldn’t get more funky last Friday night at the historic Globe Theater in DTLA, with a DJ set by Battlecat, followed by neo-soul group Tuxedo. Hailing from South LA, Battlecat is a legend in the West Coast rap community, producing everyone from Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Dr. Dre and Michael Jackson. Currently the official concert DJ for Snoop Dogg and a production member for Dr. Dre’s show The Pharmacy, Battlecat brought a trunk-load of 90s hip hop, soul and Gangsta-funk mash-ups that got the crowd on its feet.
Don’t let Tuxedo fool you, they may be sharply dressed, tuxedo-clad white boys from the Northwest, but this band is so steeped in soul, funk, 80s Boogie, and G-funk, you might think you’ve turned back the clock to 1986 Lower East Side. Duo Mayer Hawthorne and Jack One combine elements of Chic, Shalamar, Parliament, The Time, Egyptian Lover, Midnight Star, Rick James, and Zapp & Roger into a synthesis of thick synthy basslines combined with babymaking lyrics that will have you Cabbage Patching and Roger Rabbiting until exhaustion. Lead singer Hawthorne, originally from Ann Arbor Michigan, is a Grammy-nominated producer, singer and songwriter with a flair for performance and stylized choreography. One, originally from Seattle is an accomplished songwriter and producer (see: De La Soul, 50 Cent, Drake, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross, etc. for production credits) and provides the backbone for Tuxedo’s non-stop dance extravaganza. Hitting the floor with their addictive single “The Tuxedo Way” and continuing their non-stop concatenation of bangers, including “Number One” “Shy” “Second Time Around” “Fux With The Tux” “Do It” and “So Good,” then finishing with a bottle service toast and Hawthorne-penned jam, “Henny & Gingerale,” this outfit will have you singing their songs for a week straight. Their new album Tuxedo III was released in July 2019 and if you need 35 minutes of unadulterated, throwback dance fun, this album is for you. Dress code is not required.
BATTLECAT
TUXEDO
GALLERIES + REVIEW
AUGUST 23RD, 2019
GLOBE THEATRE, LOS ANGELES, CA
PHOTOS BY FIESTABANPHOTO!
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