Synthpop duo Haute & Freddy’s latest single “Freaks” is something of a thesis statement for the project, with the refrain “All the pretty girls and all the pretty boys / They get dressed up and go out dancing” summing up their live shows pretty succinctly. Not only do Haute & Freddy take their clown-centric stage wardrobes plenty seriously at each performance, but their audiences seem eager to join in on the fun, as well.
The duo just wrapped up their first-ever North American set of dates, with the “Tiny Grand Tour” taking them to iconic stages like The Bowery Ballroom in NYC and the Troubadour in LA. With only a few singles to their name at this point, the duo managed to sell out shows on the strength of a slew of hits and the guarantee of a good time at their vibrant gigs, each night featuring a costumed guest “specialty act” doing a one-song routine ahead of their set.
Haute & Freddy were kind enough to document the tour for us in photos—check out all the outfits, guest performers, and local eats (including the Austin restaurant that Haute once worked at) from the string of dates below.
Tour officially starts in Austin, and the mandatory first stop is where Haute used to work: Chuy’s, where the band orders boom boom sauce and margs.
First night of the “Tiny Grand Tour” at C-Boy’s in Austin, and the Austin Fou’s join the band for a back-porch photoshoot before they warm up the crowd with acrobatic buffoonery!
Days before tour, Haute dyes the cat suites for NYC’s broadway dress code, suffers second-degree burn to middle finger, and carries on bravely.
Haute & Freddy beam while meeting the Chicago royal courtiers who stood in the longest line of the tour.
Chicago dressing room: Pasha, Freddy’s sister, on the left; Haute and Jack Powers clowning about in the background.
Chicago pre-show H&F handshake for good luck; MATS’s beauty rightfully pulling focus.
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Backstage DC at the Atlantis. The dresscode: “Vampire’s Feast.” Haute puts in her in-ears, ready to slay (vampiric pun intended).
Backstage at The Bowery, the band’s faces get painted by the iconic Sterling Tull and Laurel Charleston!
Fou York joins the band backstage at The Bowery in NYC in a merry photo before taking the stage to perform their delightful clown routine to “Do You Want to Touch” by The Runaways.
NYC Bowery merch table meet-and-greet gets catty—but in a good way.
Post-Bowery backstage merriment is had with Fou’s and team! NYC was one of our favorite tour dates—the energy the Big Apple royal courtiers brought was out of control, and we like that, of course.
Post-Bowery show late-night bite at Lil’ Frankie’s. Honestly our favorite meal of the tour.
NYC and the theme is “Broadway bash,” so the band is in full Jellicle garb in honor of the musical that inspired Haute’s love of music and theater. Brian, our tour manager, seen leading the pack of strays down the Bowery stairs to the stage.
Troubadour costume contest winner gift: a gift certificate to the band’s favorite vintage clothing store, Playclothes in Burbank.
Troubadour aftermath: dressing room hugs and happy tears. Iyana and Kyra seen on couch having a much-needed rest after blowing the roof off with their dance to “Big Spender.” Melissa Maskan, our manager, seen in full jester get up happily following the night’s dress code. Haute’s mom in full embrace of Haute after traveling from Texas. Brian, our TM, seen beaming with glee in the background. Freddy with pure delight seen on right hydrating.
(Left) Freddy successfully takes a nap while the caravan makes its way up to Northern California and beyond; (right) Haute unsuccessfully attempts a nap while the West Coast leg commences.
Back stage Cafe Du Nord, post soundcheck: our TM Brian enjoys a cold one and attempts to wear Freddy’s top hat, but it seems Freddy’s top hat wore Brian instead.
A big part of this tour for us has been the specialty acts that we have do a one-song routine before we play. We wanted it to feel like you get a true taste of the circus before the music happens! San Francisco’s was the dazzling Jane Dowe, seen here in a momentous selfie.
Backstage Holocene with the glamorous Fou’s, who traveled all the way from Austin—do you recognize some from our C-Boy’s Austin show that kicked off the tour? Some iconic lore here: Fou Fou Ha was started by Maya Culbertson-Lane, a.k.a. Mamafou (seen here lower left) in 2001 as part of a puppet supper theater ensemble at the Cell Space in San Francisco. It has now become a multi-city community of psychedelic dancing clowns, and we were insanely honored to have them warm up our royal courts in Austin, NYC, and Portland.
Portland was an extra special show because in addition to the Fou’s joining, we had Paper La Shay, who has this insane routine where they emerge from a trunk in contorting splendor. It set the tone for a crazy-wonderful night to be had.
We had to take a little stairwell photoshoot in Seattle before our last show of the tour at Barboza.
The Seattle fans came in their fanciest pirate garb and received all the signatures and photos they wished! It was such an honor to meet everyone.
