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