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The Fixx Takes Los Angeles Back In Time

  • Writer: Heather Vandemark
    Heather Vandemark
  • Aug 6
  • 3 min read
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • Ozomatli
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx
  • The Fixx

The Fixx, with support from Ozomatli, came to The Belasco in Los Angeles on July 30th. This gorgeous venue has had many lives. In 1926, it started as a performing arts theater, then to an adult movie theater, then a church (hence the room the Confessional), and finally a music theater. I love the slanted floor, even if the tall dude is in front of you, there’s a better chance to see. In between bands you will see people looking all around and then up and just in awe of the ceiling, it’s absolutely gorgeous. 


Ozomatli, the three time Grammy award winning band, who also played for President Obama, opened the show. This was my first time seeing them and they got me doing some salsa moves, which is not easy to do. There’s no way to stand still with their energy. For their last song, they walked off the stage, down the stairs with their instruments in hand and into the middle of the floor, which at other shows is a mosh pit, but tonight we did the hokey pokey, for real. Ozomatli is known for their political stance and there were chants of “No ICE” out there. I’m a new fan and will definitely catch them next time they are in town. 


In between sets I was leaning against a wall, just observing my fellow Gen X folks, stretching their back, checking their watches, and looking for a space on the wall to open up, the struggle was real. Concerts are not the same as way back then when we could go until the wee hours of the night, but we still show up to see our favorite bands. 


Walking on stage one by one, the Fixx are one of the few bands that still have the original members and they exude such class. While they have eleven studio albums spanning across the last 45 years, I think their familiar sound takes us back in time, like an old friend that has always been there for us. Reminiscing back to the 80s, the new wave genre was introduced and each band had their own unmistakable distinct sound. The Fixx were one of the first videos I saw on MTV and I was intrigued with them. Hearing them live is a trip back in time to the MTV videos, while middle school and high school memories flood our minds. 


Their music is beautiful, meaningful, self-reflective and hopeful for the world. Let's just be here in the moment and soak in this vibe, the lyrics and be present. Lead singer Cy Curnin will talk a little bit in between songs and I think yes, this is why I love this band, we are together, we are one here. A few of the things I remember Cy said: 

  • when he wakes up he doesn’t wake up to doomscrool, he doesn’t look for news, he looks for things he loves. 

  • “If you had spent one million dollars every day since 1981, you still wouldn’t have spent one trillion dollars, the wealth is so disproportionate” 

  • We’re clinging onto hope with a little candle in the dark. 


My favorite part of the night was finally hearing “Opinions” live. The last time I saw them it was on the set list (as a photographer, I can sneak a peak) and it got scratched for some reason. It was so beautiful, I teared up a bit. For the encore Cy brought out a huge old cell phone with a long antenna and then played “Saved By Zero” to close out the night. I was standing in the back watching people lose their minds when the song started, they danced and sang all the words. The Fixx always put on an amazing, classy, beautiful show.


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