Why do you go to the club? To dance, to laugh, to cry? What if I told you there was a show that embodied “yes…and,” a place to dance, cry, and let it all out—introducing “Le Youth &,” a cathartic and unique show featuring Le Youth and a rotating cast of incredible artists. Massane joined the ticket on the night of November 16th in Durham, North Carolina with Le Youth while on the road for his Visage Tour—a combination that stormed through the Fruit, with an energy that had attendees leaving it all on the dancefloor.
LewieTodd opening the night with Morning Choir at The Fruit
Raleigh-based, but New York-raised artist LewieTodd started the show with a simmering, extended 105-minute set. He seamlessly wove melodic house, deep house, and techno into a rich sonic tapestry, embroidering soul with smooth saxophone and woodwind samples over a thick, sturdy kick drum. The set moved through time, starting with slower melodic house tracks in the first half and transitioning to a high-octane, tech-forward sound by the last hour. Memories of sneaking into raves with his cousins in New York inspired Lewie and exposed him to the world of early progressive and big room house music at a young age. Bits of these formative experiences carry through in his sound today, deep-rooted even as he has grown and evolved over the years.
Le Youth is a musician who also knows a thing or two about musical evolution. His sound has changed a lot since the 2013 release of “C O O L” (sampling Cassie Ventura’s pop/R&B track “Me & U”). His latest releases through the This Never Happened label lean more heavily into sentimental melodic house and deep progressive textures. “The time has flown by,” he remarked, reflecting on the past 11 years of Le Youth. Le Youth is a project and a name he feels deeply protective of, one where he seeks to make music that people connect to—and connect they do. Equal parts angst and revelry, his set was raw with emotion as the crowd screamed every word along with him. An artist who performs with every ounce of himself, one not afraid to push boundaries or dance among the crowd from the middle of the dancefloor—that’s Le Youth.
Le Youth in Durham
As a bridge between Le Youth and Massane’s set later in the night, Massane joined Le Youth for an energetic back-to-back set. This performance marked Massane’s first in Durham, and the crowd was loving every minute of it. His tech and melodic house-inspired sound blended perfectly with Le Youth, bringing a more upbeat and celebratory vibe to this portion of the show. The crowd was locked into the music, continuing to press in towards the booth.
The back-to-back transitioned seamlessly into Massane’s solo set. He brought a more techno-forward sound to the early morning hours through staccato synth stabs and infectious percussion. A multi-talented producer and instrumentalist, Massane is known for playing the guitar live during his sets. Though he didn’t on this night, he shared a bit about his early guitar inspirations, citing pop and rock, as well as the band Jungle. This wide array of influences sets his sound apart and gives his music a distinctive edge. Through a yellow-washed room, the crowd enjoyed themselves until the last possible minute, soaking in the sounds and energy.
Massane dropping 'Closure' at the Durham Fruit
Emotion—the defining feeling. It’s what separates human from machine, and keeps us coming back again and again to our favorite songs. It’s what makes a show special, something to remember long after it ends, and it’s something that this one nailed. At the intersection of music and emotion, “Le Youth &” proves that the best nights are the ones that touch our hearts and keep us dancing, long after the last note plays.
