Roosevelt’s new album Embrace was released on September 22, and he and his touring band hit the road, with a daunting 40 dates across the US. The 41st stop will be in Mexico City, then the show is off to entertain crowds with 12 stops through Europe. For now, the tour will continue across the Midwest and then off to the East Coast.
Australia’s Touch Sensitive (Michael Di Francesco) was the opening act for the Des Moines show and his one-man synth/bass extravaganza got the Tuesday night crowd moving. You may know him from his work as a member of Van She, although he has been releasing solo work as Touch Sensitive since 2004. Now based in Los Angeles, Di Francesco is back to touring and loving every minute. We chatted prior to the show about life, music, and the opportunity to bring his music to Roosevelt’s audiences.
During a chance meeting at a nearby restaurant having a pre-show dinner, I noticed a very new John Travolta Saturday Night Fever tattoo on the arm of the other bar patron, who happened to be Touch Sensitive (his Dad played the soundtrack on repeat), which started a conversation about music, the frustration of losing career momentum during the pandemic but alternatively finding love, marriage, and starting a family.
2023 is all about touring for Touch Sensitive, with opening slots for Classixx, Neil Frances, and Roosevelt, while working on new tracks, like the disco-infused “Telephone Line” with Your Smith.
Des Moines was the 24th stop on the US tour. Wooly’s is an intimate downtown venue, and the crowd could comfortably be seated or stand for the show with the freedom to dance. Roosevelt started the set with a recent release “Ordinary Love” from 2023’s Embrace and then jumped back to 2017 with “Moving On”.
The touring band is Roosevelt (Marius Lauber), with Antoine Katz on bass/keys and Rex Detiger on drums. The band plays a tight 13-song set, with Tuesday night’s encores “Forevermore” from Embrace and 2016’s “Night Moves” to close out the show. Over a little post-show pizza, Roosevelt said he’s enjoying seeing more of the US on this tour and thinks the band is playing like a well-oiled machine.
With 16 dates left on the US tour, there are still plenty of opportunities to see this great band live, so get out there and support live music!
Dance music lover, Mid-Century Vintage Shop Owner, Magnetic Magazine Disco & Funk Chart Editor.
