Playing as Le Youth at the Sky SLC Nightclub in Salt Lake City, Wes James brought out true passion and an almost mystical love from his adoring fans.
By John Lavitt
Salt Lake City, Utah (The Hollywood Times) 01-04-2025
Over the holiday season, in the snowy cold of Salt Lake City, a packed house filled the Sky SLC nightclub to see Wes James, better known by his stage name Le Youth, perform. As an American electronic musician and DJ, James has built an enthusiastic following, and the crowd was on fire in Utah. Based in Los Angeles, Le Youth has built a international following.
In 2023, Le Youth released the double album About Us. The album features collaborations with fellow melodic house producers, including Lane 8. However, Le Youth did not need to collaborate with anyone at Sky SLC. On his own, spinning electronic discs on stage, Wes James captivated the crowd into an almost religious fervor. Such a night reminds us that live music performances are the closest we come in the twenty-first century to ancient pagan festivals.
How does Wes James fuel his crowd into such an adoring frenzy? Beyond the music, he generates an almost spiritual connection. His positive presence and boundless energy prove to be contagious on stage. Indeed, everyone, both men and women, want to touch the performer and experience this magical power firsthand.
Wes James shares his passion for playing live with a handsome smile and humble excitement. He loves being on stage and experiencing the ardor of his fans in technicolor. There is no fear or worry when Wes dives into the crowd and surfs the waves of their hands. Indeed, he knows the crowd is his true home. They reflect his soul, and he revels in the adoration generated by performance and expression.
While performing in Salt Lake City, Wes James helped remind us that he is but a vessel for the audience to fill with their passion fueled by an almost desperate need for a deeper connection. In a time when so much of our society feels shallow and empty, Le Youth specializes in creating a connection between performer and individual.
Although such a connection might be fleeting, it engenders each time he performs a momentary transcendence. Indeed, the love between the performer and his fans becomes something holy, verging on the creation of the sacred in locations far from sacred.
Photos by Chris Reddish for The Hollywood Times
