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Classless Act play Washington and these guys are good

Classless Act brought their Welcome To The Show Tour to Washington DC in support of their 2022 album, Welcome To The Show, a 12-song hit machine full of big choruses and hooks. This is an album that, for days, you will find yourself listening to all the way through, over and over again.

Classless Act – Welcome To The Show Tour

Songbyrd Music House – Washington DC – 11 December 2022

Words and Photography: Mike Sprouse

Classless Act - Songbyrd Music House - Washington DC - 11 December 2022
Classless Act – Songbyrd Music House – Washington DC – 11 December 2022. Photo: Mick Sprouse/MetalTalk

Classless Act were formed in 2019 in LA by five guys from all over the world who met via Tik Tok and Instagram. Their sound is a modern update of the rock ‘n’ roll sounds of the ’70s, replete with gorgeous harmonies and hot guitar licks.

Welcome To The Show is packed with great songs full of infectious melodies and attitude to spare. The disc features guest rockers Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe (on the eponymous track, Classless Act) and Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, who provides a searing solo on the song, This Is For You.

Classless Act - Songbyrd Music House - Washington DC - 11 December 2022
Classless Act – Songbyrd Music House – Washington DC – 11 December 2022. Photo: Mick Sprouse/MetalTalk

If the album is great, live Classless Act is a spectacle to behold. Lead singer Derek Day is a hyperactive, magnetic frontman who spent his early days busking in LA. Singing, dancing or howling at the moon, it really didn’t matter as long as he had your attention.

Hella Rock Festival

Nothing has changed from the moment he exploded onto the stage to the final bow. He had the full attention of everyone in the crowd and never let go. He sounds just as good live as he does on their new album.

Classless Act - Songbyrd Music House - Washington DC - 11 December 2022
Classless Act – Songbyrd Music House – Washington DC – 11 December 2022. Photo: Mick Sprouse/MetalTalk

Featuring the Thin Lizzy-esque shredding dual guitar attack of Griffin Tucker and Dane Pieper, along with the rock solid rhythm team of Chuck McKissock pounding the skins and Franco Gravante on bass and keyboards, Classless Act are the future of rock and roll, no matter what Gene Simmons has to say.

Classless Act - Songbyrd Music House - Washington DC - 11 December 2022
Classless Act – Songbyrd Music House – Washington DC – 11 December 2022. Photo: Mick Sprouse/MetalTalk

The intimate crowd at the newly relocated Songbyrd Music House in Washington DC were treated to a fun spectacle as the band played all 12 tracks on their new album as well as a cover of the mighty Zep’s Rock And Roll, where the band members all traded instruments, showcasing their musical versatility. They even debuted a new song, never before played live, called Home.

Classless Act - Songbyrd Music House - Washington DC - 11 December 2022
Classless Act – Songbyrd Music House – Washington DC – 11 December 2022. Photo: Mick Sprouse/MetalTalk

At one point in the set, singer Derek even jumped off the stage to dance in a high-speed circle with several lovely ladies in the audience before leaping back on stage. The tough life of a rock star, but I guess somebody’s got to do it.

Classless Act - Songbyrd Music House - Washington DC - 11 December 2022
Classless Act – Songbyrd Music House – Washington DC – 11 December 2022. Photo: Mick Sprouse/MetalTalk

The boys closed out the evening with a seasonally appropriate, rocked-up cover version of It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Merry Christmas indeed!

A dream tour would be Classless Act and Dirty Honey together (the Dirty and Classless tour?), rampaging around the world. Let’s hope it happens because these guys are good, and the world needs more great new rock ‘n roll music.

Catch Classless Act when they blitz your town.

Classless Act - Songbyrd Music House - Washington DC - 11 December 2022
Classless Act – Songbyrd Music House – Washington DC – 11 December 2022. Photo: Mick Sprouse/MetalTalk

Classless Act – Set List

Haunting Love
Walking Contradiction
Made In Hell
All That We Are
On My Phone
Time To Bleed
Home
Thoughts From A Dying Man
Circles
Storm Before The Calm
Give It To Me
This Is For You
Classless Act
Rock N Roll

Sleeve Notes

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