Stopping off at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theatre early on their VHS (X) tour, Ithaca powerhouse act X Ambassadors performed a show that emphasized their decade in the spotlight this weekend in front of a dedicated fanbase. Celebrating 10 years since the release of their breakthrough record, VHS, the group performed the career-defining album in its entirety, as well as many of the numerous other singles that have kept their work at the forefront of listeners’ hearts and minds throughout the years.
As the lights dimmed over the crowd, the fans could hardly contain their excitement from the opening moments as frontman Sam Harris led his brother Casey to his spot behind a keyboard, and the group began their performance with their energetic 2015 anthem “Jungle.” Fully intending to showcase all they have learned in a lifetime around music, the opening number included several instrumental changes by Harris, including a bass and saxophone, a theme that proved to be a consistent theme throughout the evening. The energy only intensified as they followed this up with “Loveless,” which led straight into “Hang On,” all of the same album. The energy and tenacity of the artists proved unparalleled, as Harris and Company took every opportunity to utilize every inch of the stage during their performance.
Harris finally gave the band a moment to catch their breath as he addressed the audience. In making it clear that the evening would be centered around the work of their monumental VHS album, he said, “We’re going to play the whole fucking album for you tonight,” a promise the band lived up to by the end of the evening. In showing how the group has grown throughout the decades, Harris took a moment to reflect on the group’s seminal work after so much success, saying, “It was a little tricky going back in time. You know when you look at old pictures of yourself? It’s like that, but an album everybody knows.”
Unafraid to give a raw and revealing account of what their music has meant to them as they’ve grown as artists and as people, Harris took a moment to reflect on how much of themselves they all gave to VHS’ initial release, saying, “It was kind of freeing to give that vulnerable 26-year-old kid a pat on the back.” Determined to give fans a new experience with every opportunity, he reaffirmed this commitment by agreeing to perform songs on this tour that the band had never previously considered performing live. Singles like “Feather” were well-received as the crowd was greatly appreciative of the chance to hear music that felt so familiar, but at the same time, delivered with a novel approach.
In the vein of delivering familiarity with an updated hook, the group performed a truncated segment of The Beatles’ 1967 classic “With a Little Help from My Friends,” with Harris singing various verses directly to other members of the band. Juxtaposing this directly with their next song, “Naked,” the influences that shaped their musical tastes were clear and present, with similarities in the structure and musicality.
A string of heartfelt ballads followed and showcased Harris’ vocals as the audience clapped along to the group’s rendition of “Gorgeous,” followed by a heartfelt and piano-centric cover of their narratively-driven single “Unsteady.” The segment highlighted Harris’ continued commitment to vocal clarity and proved a refreshing reminder of the old adage that music conveys feelings that words alone can not.
Ending their playthrough of VHS, Harris spoke briefly about the journey of writing and recording their breakthrough single “Renegades,” confiding, “It was an afterthought,” and spoke to the band's surprise when fans found a connection to the lyrics after its release. “We’ve all felt like outcasts looking for our place in the world,” he stated before grabbing an acoustic guitar and performing the commercially defining hit.
As the band walked offstage and back on for their encore, they gave fans a taste of the success they have had in the decade after the release of the Freshman album they came to celebrate, as they played a string of more recent hits. Harris regaled the crowd with a long speech commending the work and career of their opening act, Delacey, before performing their 2017 single “Home.” Omitting the contributions on the commercial recording from Machine Gun Kelly and Bebe Rexha, the piece displaying a more stripped-down and acoustic flair than fans might have been expecting.
Continuing the sentimental spirit of the encore, the band dedicated their next piece to all who have helped them along the way, with Harris stating, “This song is dedicated to our friends. Where the fuck would we be without them?” as he covered their 2023 collaborative hit with Medium Build, “Friend For Life.”
“And we’re 37 years old now. We need to sit down,” Harris joked as he took a seat to introduce the final selections of the night. A heartfelt article of recognition to his brother behind the keyboard, Casey. He gave an empowering speech on the writing process of his recent ballad “Follow the Sound of My Voice,” in a gutwrenching display of the artist’s commitment to giving credit to those who have been with him his whole life. His brother next to him playing the keys throughout the monologue, Harris joked, “This is the opposite of an Oasis show.” Ending the set with heart in abundance, the band sent audiences off into the night with their 2019 hit “HOLD YOU DOWN.” The lyrics “We’ll be the last ones dancing when the lights go out,” seemingly directed toward the fans who stayed until the end of the hour-and-a-half-long performance, it proved a moving sendoff to the dedicated Southern California crowd.
Check out more photos of X Ambassadors at The Wiltern.
