It was only night two of tour, but X Ambassadors sounded just as much in the groove as if there hadn’t been a live music hiatus at all. Out on the road to support this year’s The Beautiful Liar, the New York based trio stopped at Tempe’s Marquee Theatre on Saturday night with Taylor Janzen and Scarypoolparty—the “next generation of artists,” per the band.
Taylor Janzen kicked things off, equipped with only a guitar and a powerhouse voice. She’s already making waves in emerging pop, and she sparked curiosity in the appreciative crowd. Many fans, however, had a soft spot for Scarypoolparty and egged him on to his utter delight. His short set covered a startling range of genres, and he was clearly having the time of his life on stage.
And for the main event, X Ambassadors brought the house down with a solid mix of old favorites, new cuts, and even samples from their sizable catalog of collaborations. Frontman Sam Harris was full of energy, bounding across the stage as the strobe lights flashed. He explained the setlist throughout and of course thanked everyone for giving the band a chance to play live. They’re performers through and through—sealed with the final bow at the end.
Check out more photos from the show!
Story and photos by Taylor Knauf
