The Fixx came out of London's post-punk scene, blending airy guitars, steady grooves, and sober, literate hooks.

From pubs to airwaves

The classic lineup still plays with calm control. On a bill labeled Rock of the 80s, they usually anchor the night with a tight, song-forward set. Expect staples like One Thing Leads to Another, Saved by Zero, and Red Skies, with Stand or Fall sliding in early.

Songs that still cut clean

Crowds tend to be a mix of long-time fans comparing tour shirts and younger listeners who found the songs through playlists and film syncs. You will notice people timing photos to those chiming guitar breaks instead of phones up the whole night. A neat tidbit: the band began as The Portraits before taking the name The Fix, later The Fixx, and several classic records were cut with the same producer across albums. Another small detail: the group often lets the drums count a heartbeat into quiet parts, which keeps the room still and attentive. Note: setlist picks and staging details here are educated guesses, not confirmed plans.

The Fixx scene, up close

This crowd dresses for comfort with intent, think vintage band tees, muted blazers, and a few neon accents from the era.

Raised on hooks, not volume

You will hear quick cheers for deep cuts, not just the big singles, and the room tends to go quiet for intros before jumping back in on choruses. On One Thing Leads to Another, people clap the off-beats and shout the title line, while Stand or Fall turns into a steady chant on the outro.

Retro taste, modern manners

Merch skews toward clean retro graphics, tour posters with minimal color, and soft tees that look pre-worn. Between sets, fans trade notes about first shows in small theaters and which version of Red Skies they prefer. It feels social but respectful, with lots of smiles and people giving each other space to listen.

How The Fixx build it live

The lead vocal sits slightly behind the beat, giving the songs a relaxed but focused pull.

Clean lines, big space

The guitar favors clean tones with chorus and a clipped attack, letting the synth pads fill the space instead of heavy distortion. The rhythm section locks into unhurried tempos, so when they push a bridge, the lift feels earned. Live, The Fixx often open Saved by Zero with a long, delay-soaked intro and end Red Skies on a drum-led breakdown that tightens the last refrain.

Subtle shifts that matter

Arrangements avoid busy fills, using small dynamics like dropping keys for a verse or muting guitar on a pre-chorus to make the hooks hit harder. Lighting tends to echo the music, cool blues for the reflective moments and warm ambers when the grooves open up. A small nerd note: the guitarist sometimes swells chords with a volume pedal to mimic string pads, which thickens the chorus without adding players.

Kindred artists for The Fixx fans

A Flock of Seagulls share the blend of echo-drenched guitar and synth hooks, and their shows draw fans who like melody first.

Neighboring sounds on the road

Wang Chung appeals to the same crowd that enjoys sleek rhythms and a danceable backbeat done by a live band. Modern English brings a moodier edge, but the shimmer and pacing line up with how The Fixx structure a set. Howard Jones suits fans who want polished keys, optimistic phrasing, and sing-along choruses without bombast.

Why the overlap makes sense

If you follow those acts, you likely move easily between steady mid-tempo grooves and bright, chiming textures, which is where The Fixx live. These overlaps make a mixed bill feel natural, with songcraft and clear hooks as the common thread.