By Zelenny Lozano / Pink B
It was an unseasonably hot night on September 20th when I went to see Haute & Freddy at the Scoot Inn. This was a rare early evening show by the alternative pop duo. I had heard their live performances were quite spectacular and my anticipation was running high.
Haute & Freddy debuted in October 2024 with the release of the single “Scantily Clad” followed by the release of their first album Big Disgrace. I first heard of them when Lady Gaga used their song “Shy Girl” in a Tiktok in celebration of her 40th birthday. The duo is a fusion of modern artists such as Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan, as well as 20th century artists, such as David Bowie, Queen, and Pet Shop Boys.
Although they’re a newer act, the two artists that comprise Haute & Freddy are not new to the music industry. Houston native and vocalist Michelle Buzz (“Haute”) has written songs for Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue. Lance Shipp, percussionist and drummer, has written and produced music for artists like Calvin Harris, Rauw Alejandro, and Bebe Rexha. The two met in Los Angeles while working on their respective music careers.
Through their first singles “Scantily Clad” and “Anti-Superstar”, Haute & Freddy began to build an ornate universe around their artistry. Their album Big Disgrace, invites the listener into a fictional world of jesters, carnivals, and rebellion against the upper class nobility. Their visual style blends theatrical elements from different eras, which gives them a more surreal and whimsical feel. Now, they’re inviting their fans into the universe with The Big Disgrace Tour, their second, and biggest, headlining tour to date.
The opening act was a Boston-based musical comedy duo: The Rubin Brothers. They appeared on American Idol in 2024. Their whimsical comedy mixed perfectly with the Haute & Freddy universe. The show included various circus acts such as juggling, unicycling, and acrobatics. They sang jazzy, humorous songs. Quirky examples include, loving cheese even when it doesn’t love them back, or using peanut butter as a metaphor for women. They ended the show with a quick lesson on Vaudeville and emphasized that immigrants made major contributions to the art form.
The headliner’s set began with a pre-recorded monologue that described Haute & Freddy’s lore as runaway carnies. The audience was invited to join them on their journey. Then they emerged from the theater curtain to a set piece at the back of the stage. “Anti-Superstar”, one of their first singles, was the opening number.
Each wore extravagant, black and white outfits with striped pants and ruffle collars. Haute wore a corseted cream-colored dress and a pointy, black sequin jester hat. Freddy opted for a more Shakespearean vibe, with a sleeveless black vest and a large white feather in his hair.
The duo’s talent was evident in their performance. Haute’s vocal abilities were stellar. Her singing was theatrical while she maintained beautiful technique and control. Freddy was masterful on live drums and electronic production. He particularly shone during the show’s interludes when he would jam solo and occasionally perform circus acts. Both perform with an infectious joyous energy. They were completely at-home on the stage.
For certain songs, Haute & Freddy were joined onstage by a clown duo from the Fou Fou Ha! performance collective. They embellished the performances of songs (i.e. “Scantily Clad” and their latest single “Touch Touch”) with their dancing and miming. They wore elaborate garb, with giant red headpieces that resembled roses, black and gold embellished dresses, and glamorous clown makeup. They definitely added a layer of whimsy to the universe and performance.
A key element to a Haute & Freddy performance is audience interaction. For “Scantily Clad”, they brought up fans on stage to play the various characters in the song (a queen, a king, two knights, and a Pope). Later in the show, Haute interviewed an audience member and improvised a short song about them. She also polled the audience to find anyone celebrating a birthday. Then, using descriptors the audience shouted out, she dedicated an improvised song about Virgos. As a Virgo myself, this made me feel pretty special!
On behalf of the duo, Haute expressed gratitude to their “Royal Court” (the official name for Haute & Freddy fans). She shouted out an intimate performance at C-Boys Heart & Soul Bar in October 2025, the night before their first ACL performance. Apparently, that show was a key milestone on their artistic journey that validated them as artists. They were touched by the fans’ energy then and continued to be nearly a year later at Scoot Inn.
The Royal Court did appear to be a very loyal fanbase. Despite the heat of a daytime concert, many fans dressed up in elaborate costumes that fit into the Haute & Freddy world. They wore Renaissance Fair inspired outfits such as feathers, ruffles, sequins, clown makeup, and voluminous silhouettes.
The grand finale of the show was a performance of “Shy Girl”. As a self-identified shy girl myself, this is the song that struck me most and made me into a fan upon first hearing it. This closer had the biggest crowd response, and was as popular as the song “Freaks” and “I Like My People Weird”. It was clear that behind all the costumes, makeup, and theatrics, Haute & Freddy foster a safe place for weirdos who feel like they don’t belong.