We made our annual pilgrimage to the great state of Texas this past weekend for the annual Austin Music City Limits Music Festival once again. Three straight days of amazing music (and food) catered to everybody with it's spanning musical genres. Friday night was highlighted by acts such as Andrew McMahon and The Wilderness who played to the early masses. Electro-pop darlings Crystal Castles got our dancing shoes moving with one of the better sets of the weekend, perfect mix of showmanship and dance influenced material had the Honda stage raging. Pop-rock siblings Brian D’Addario and Michael D’Addario of The Lemon Twigs put on a remarkable live set reminiscent and influenced by the likes of Queen and David Bowie. The late afternoon blessed us with the winner of this years Mercury Prize (an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland), Skepta who's London Grime sound has received worldwide acclaim. His set was on point and delivered just as we had expected. Other worthwhile sets included The Revivalist, Bonobo, Eagles of Death Metal and The xx who headlined the Honda Stage. One of the most anticipated sets of the day belonged to Solange (who was running late to her scheduled time). Her set provided a perfect segway to her Brother-in-laws set, Mr. Sean Carter aka Jay-Z. The New York rap legend performed in front of a 40-foot inflatable dog balloon designed by Jeff Koons. He played all of his major hits and even had Damian "JR Gong" Marley join him for "Bam" off his latest album 4:44. His set included well known hits including crowd sing-a-longs such as "Empire State of Mind", "Big Pimpin", "Run This Town", and many more. He ended his set with a touching tribute to the late Checter Bennington of Linkin Park with his rendition of the hit mashup "Numb/Harcore" before closing out the night with "99 Problems". A great first day to kick off the festival.
The xx Made Their Triumphant Return To Denver
What was originally scheduled as a Red Rocks show got moved to the 1st Bank Center due to snowy weather (leave it to Colorado for it to be clear after all) The XX still managed to play an amazing set for the less than sold out arena (many got refunds due to venue switch). Riding the wave of their recently released third studio album I See You, the band played a majority of newer material. Opening things with their much acclaimed "Intro" Romy Craft directed the attention as she wailed away to the opening riffs of the classic from their first album. Flanked by founding members Oliver Sim and Jamie xx the band ripped through an almost two hour set. Sim at one point acknowledged the crowd as to the unfortunate factors that caused the venue change exclaiming that "Mother Nature is a bitch" and almost certainly said they would return to the majestic venue.
The band definitely is at full speed when Jamie xx is on his game as he plays the role of conductor throughout the entire set with his array of instruments that give the band the true organic sound. Highlight of the night was as Croft and Sim left the stage with only him at the helm, he went into his recently released version of "On Hold" that went straight into the original version as the rest of the band came back out on stage to finish off the number before Romy shined on "Angels" to end the night. A perfect ending to an otherwise unexpecting 48 hours.
Openers Perfume Genius put on an amazing show that surely garnered some new fans judging by the reaction during their set.
Setlist:
Intro | Crystalised | Say Something Loving | Islands | Lips | Dangerous | I Dare You | Performance | Infinity | A Violent Noise | Brave For You | VCR | Fiction | Shelter | Loud Places (Jamie xx cover) | Encore: On Hold | Angels
Words and Images: Robert Castro
Music | Jamie xx | The 1UP Colfax | Review
It was hot, it was packed, it was sweaty and it was sold out. Jamie xx brought his musical skills to the 1Up on Colfax on Tuesday night. Currently riding the success of what we consider one of the best albums to come out this year In Colour, also the name of his current tour, Jamie xx played a two hour set of pulsating, transcending array of dance music that translated to a full out dance party from the front of the venue all the way to what seemed like the pinball machines in the back of the venue. He played a few of the standout tracks from In Colour which seemed to gain the most response from the crowd only assuring that the album is pure gold. Unlike many DJ's Jamie xx let the music do the talking without any banter in between sets. This show could have easily sold out a venue like The Bluebird on a Tuesday night, many were left out without a ticket and unaware of the show taking place. Luckily for us we got to witness one of the better shows of this year.
The xx | The Fillmore Auditorium | June 3
The xx has been a band that I have listened to since its humble beginnings. The last time I saw them was on a grassy knoll in Austin, Texas for SXSW with maybe 100 people gathered around a lawn. How times have changed, their current tour is full of one of the most orchestrated light and visual productions I have ever witnessed. Their music has always been dark and moody with a hint of dance that seems to tip toe along the boundaries of mainstream.
Their latest album Coexist made it to many top tens lists last year, including mine. With Jamie Smith orchestrating the musical element, it's the dual vocals of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim that bring the musical act to life. It's the perfect balance of Croft's guitar and Sim's swaying bass lines that make The xx a truly enjoyable live act. Did I mention lasers? The band has stepped it up a notch when it comes to their live production, with lasers of all shapes and sizes adorning the venue including two lasers crossing each other forming a glowing "X" that perfectly complimented the bands name.
Opening with the waning riff of "Try," the flashing strobes flashed mere silhouettes of the band as Croft and Sims exchanged lyrics. Notable favorites such as the bass friendly "Crystalised," and "VCR," were brought to life with the array of flashing colored lights that reflected off the venues famous hanging chandeliers. I don't know of many bands that can incorporate a single encore based on an song primarily considered an intro, yet when they came back for their encore, the opening riffs of "Intro" blasted from the stage sending the crowd into it's most animated reaction of the night. Throngs of cell phones were raised in the air as an extended version of the popular song paved way for the evenings final song which silenced the crowd for a full chorus sing a long of "Angels". Check out more photos here.
Castro
Setlist: Try | Heart Skipped A Beat | Crystalised | Fiction | Night Time | Shelter | VCR | Islands | Infinity | Encore: Intro | Angels
The xx | Together
The xx give us a new track from the forthcoming motion picture The Great Gatsby. The soundtrack executive produced by Jay-Z is to include artist such as Florence and The Machine, Beyonce, Jack White and others (see track list).
01 Jay-Z -”$100 Bill”
02 Beyoncé & Andre 3000 – “Back To Black”
03 will.iam. – “Bang Bang”
04 Fergie, Q-Tip, & GoonRock – “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)”
05 Lana Del Rey – “Young And Beautiful”
06 Bryan Ferry With The Bryan Ferry Orchestra – “Love Is The Drug”
07 Florence + The Machine – “Over The Love”
08 Coco O. Of Quadron – “Where The Wind Blows”
09 Emeli Sandé & The Bryan Ferry Orchestra – “Crazy in Love”
10 The XX – “Together”
11 Gotye – “Hearts A Mess”
12 Jack White – “Love Is Blindness”
13 Nero – “Into The Past”
14 Sia – “Kill and Run”
The xx | Last Christmas (Wham! Cover)
Here is a pretty sweet cover of "Last Christmas" by The xx. A stripped version of the Wham! cover we have all come to love. Enjoy!