Fronted by the tattooed, pierced and suspendered Travis McCoy, Gym Class Heroes are known for hip-hop smashups with catchy choruses, and last night’s show at L.A.’s Key Club – part of SPIN, adidas Originals, and Citi Private Pass’ Ruby Series partnership — was no exception.
The band kicked off the show with “Home,” a song of their new album, The Quilt. “I don’t think we’ve been to the Key Club since Snakes on a Plane was out,” McCoy tells the crowd, who squeals with delight at his every move. “So I want to see you get sexy, Los Angeles.”
This starts what can only be considered a game of hip-hop Simon Says: hands up, jump up, clap slow, clap fast, sing. At one point, we’re ordered to hug our neighbors. We’re even dared. “Los Angeles, I double dare you to try and stay quiet during this song,” says McCoy. The song: “The Queen and I.” Do they stay quiet? Hell no.
The band pounds through a series new songs and a medley of old ones, including “Peace Sign/Index Down,” “Blinded by the Sun” (dedicated to Bob Ross and his “sweet afro”), the hit “Cupid’s Chokehold,” and “Simple Livin’,” with a couple of surprise guests including T-Pain. At one point, a lady tosses a pink bra onstage that McCoy slings over his microphone stand as Stephen Tyler would a tie-dye scarf. The night’s surely about feeling good: McCoy himself admits, “You know what else feels good? That my president is black.”
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Check out our photos of the show after the jump!
Gym Class Heroes Show Off Their Fan Memorabilia / Photo by Gregory Bojorquez
Disashi of Gym Class Heroes Woos the Crowd / Photo by Gregory Bojorquez
T-Pain Takes the Stage / Photo by Gregory Bojorquez
All smiles on Thursday Night / Photo by Gregory Bojorquez
T-Pain and Travis McCoy Post-Show / Photo by Gregory Bojorquez
