popwreckoning

For two sold-out nights, Londoners The xx proved that a minimalist approach can work, when it’s done well.

Having just arrived on the scene in 2009, The xx have earned a great deal of buzz and, judging by the crowd response, a sizable faction of ardent fans. Appearing shy, unassuming and a bit goth in their solid black attire, Oliver Sim on vocals and bass, Romy Madley Croft on vocals and guitar and Jamie Smith on percussion played to a packed house at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall.

To start the show, I was excited to see Phantogram, a New York duo that I have been hearing so much about lately. I had heard about comparisons to Portishead, influences from Serge Gainsbourg and descriptions of their energetic live show. Based upon the crowd response, I don’t think I am alone in my assertion that the performance was a disappointment. The band’s point of reference seems good but there was simply no cohesion and each track seemed sloppier than the one before. There was no trace of an energetic live show and their lighting, which consisted of little more than the incessant, annoying flash of strobes, certainly didn’t help things.

The xx, on the other hand, conveyed exactly the opposite effect. Stacking detached, hazy vocals and thumping bass parts along with “live” drum machine beats, each sound seemed as it were specifically selected to enhance the vibe. Sounding like something that Robert Smith, Ian Curtis and Peter Hook might have cooked up in long-forgotten shed during the wee hours of night, The xx delivered an hour-long set consisting of most of the songs from their eponymous 2009 album. From the syncopated, overlapping lyrics of “Crystalised” to the half-awake “Islands” and “Shelter” the band gave the crowd a peek into their natural, more-mature-than-it-should-be style. The set continued with “VCR,” the R&B influenced “Basic Space” before closing with an energetic version of “Infinity.”

The show felt very intimate, as if the crowd was voyeuristically peeking into their dilapidated practice space while the band played simply for their own late-night enjoyment. That’s really what is so striking about The xx and their music: it’s seductive and tense there’s nothing pretentious about it. You’re left feeling fortunate that you’ve experienced it unfolding before you, as if it could vanish in an instant. Showing the band’s great mastery of restraint, all of the parts have an organic space between them, letting the tracks breathe and evolve in a very satisfying way.

It’s certainly impressive to see such a young band have such a brilliantly realized sound. Making unique noise from pedestrian instruments, these newcomers just might be on to something.

Judging by the line that had already formed a hour and a half before doors opened at the 9:30 for a sold-out gig Saturday night, this was going to be a unique night. In all the time I’ve gone to gigs in Washington, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such devoted fans. A group of kids and an older man (probably a dad or uncle acting as chaperone) were camped out outside the box office for who knows how long, looking comfy with collapsible chairs, blankets, and provisions. Four teens caught my eye with their faces, bodies and clothes covered in Xs (black Sharpie) – obviously diehard xx fans. Both Hot Chip and their supporting act for the night, the xx, played well-received sets at the hordes at Coachella the previous weekend; they were two of a handful of acts that happened to be on the right side of the pond before the Icelandic volcano madness that grounded other English bands.

This was to be the third Washington appearance in 5 months for the xx, and from the vocal fan greeting, xx-mania in America is all systems go. The band looked weary and said little in between songs: singer/bassist Oliver Sim told us, “we’ve been here in the States touring for about 6 weeks now, and we go home tomorrow. So I’d like to thank you, Washington, on behalf of America. Thank you so much for an amazing tour. And thank you to Hot Chip, they’re gonna blow your mind!” Even though I’ve seen this band more times than I can count on one hand, I’m still in awe of Romy Madley-Croft‘s guitar-playing and her and Sim’s vocals, just fantastic. Their short set was punctuated by an instrumental added to the end of “Infinity,” which saw Sim ditch his bass in favor of hitting a high-hat with unbridled energy, all the while programming / percussion guru Jamie Smith providing even heavier driving beats.

Despite exhaustion, the three clad in black seemed unfazed by playing to their biggest crowd in D.C. yet, soldiering through most of the songs from their debut album from last year, xx. I can’t really pick out any particular crowd favorites, because from where I was standing, I was surrounded by fans who flailed and waved their arms to the sultry rhythms of every single song from this trio from London. Usually stoic Madley-Croft gave us a grin when a girl near me shouted, “Romy, smile!” The xx have a lot to be happy about – a dedicated and growing fanbase and North American success.

The xx Set List:
Intro
Crystalised
Islands
Shelter
VCR
Basic Space
Nighttime
Infinity

Hot Chip‘s set began with mood music that is better associated with the circus than as an intro for a celebrated electropop / dance band from London. Dressed nattily in a white suit jacket and blue and white stripy shirt, primary singer Alexis Taylor thanked us all for coming before launching into “Hand Me Down My Love,” an r&b infused track from their latest album, One Life Stand. I was most looking forward to hearing the title track, and it didn’t disappoint: guitarist/singer Al Doyle played a steel drum, which added a tropical feel to the band’s famous collection of synthesizers.

I’m still not keen on “Brothers” or “Alley Cats,” but I’m guessing I’m in the minority. This was a hands in the air/bodies bumping kind of night. When the band came back for an encore, they began with the great “I Feel Better.” Every time I hear this song, I can’t help but think of (and laugh about) the promo video they did for the song. Directed by Peter Serafinowicz, it shows the band’s evident joy in poking fun at the hugely popular (and unfortunately BRIT-winning, depending on who you talk to) boyband JLS.

Hot Chip – I Feel Better

I’d never seen Hot Chip prior to this, so it was cool to see these almost cartoony characters I’d only seen in pictures come to life, performing on the 9:30 Club stage. It was fabulous to see and hear the audience reaction to the newer songs that dominated Saturday’s set list, which appeared to be no different and not any less enthusiastic compared to the reception of the obvious favorites “Over and Over” and set-ender “Ready for the Floor.” Speaking of the latter, that song was only the third time ever in my life when I actually feared for my life at a concert. Word of warning: Hot Chip shows are not for the faint of heart. If you’re not prepared to be swept up by a pulsating mob of giddy, drunk dancegoers, then stand in the back (or if you’re at the 9:30, watch from the balcony). But if you’re in the mood to get sweaty, let your hair down, and shake a tail feather with excited, like-minded individuals, a Hot Chip gig is the place for you.

NPR broadcast the concert live last night but in case you missed it, they have audio that you can stream now on their site. Enjoy!

Hot Chip Set List:
Hand Me Down My Love
One Pure Thought
Thieves in the Night
Brothers
One Life Stand
Over and Over
Alley Cats
Boy from School
Take It In
We Have Love
Hold On
//
I Feel Better
No Fit State
Ready for the Floor

Hot Chip: website | myspace | One Life Stand review
The xx: website | myspace | @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | @ DC9 | @ Paradise | @ Newbury Comics, Boston | @ Sixth and I Synagogue

Even though I’m not terribly religious, I’m kind of a geek when it comes to houses of worship because I respect the traditions and what the buildings represent to its people. And for me, it’s even better when the house of worship in question hosts concerts because music means so much to me. Philly has its First Unitarian Church and D.C. has 6th and I Synagogue. The synagogue’s interior is a beautiful mauve, with blue and purple stained glass windows. I’d say without a doubt that it’s the prettiest place I’ve ever been to for the expressed purpose of a gig. For the xx‘s headlining gig Sunday night, I thought to myself that it was almost a shame that the altar was obscured by a huge black sheet with an X in the middle of it. I say “almost” because as you will read, we were in for a big surprise at the end.

Los Angeles electronic producer Nosaj Thing (real name Jason Chung) was the first of two opening acts for the evening. Media outlets have compared Chung’s sound to fellow Californian Flying Lotus because both incorporate hip hop into experimental, electronic sound and also utilize glitch-hop, a genre I’m not familiar with at all. I thought he was an interesting choice to open for the xx, since they brought London electronica artist Jon Hopkins with them last time they toured North America. Augmented by serious hip hop beats and what sounded like birds scuttling from a Macbook, Chung punched keys, twisted dials, and generally looked like a man possessed by the music. Overall, he was an enjoyable opening act.

Next, was the mysterious Swedish duo jj. Inbetween the sets, I talked to a friend of mine and he said jj was so mysterious, no one knew much about them because they don’t tour very much at all. I only knew one of jj’s songs, the ethereal “Let Go,” a song from their second album jj nº 3 released in early March. So seeing singer Elin Kastlander, with her curly blonde hair falling past her shoulders and dressed up like a hippie and standing on stage by herself, I had no idea what to expect. Then she opened her mouth and this gorgeous voice came out, fully complementing the Balearic beats emanating from a laptop next to her. Judging from audience’s enthusiastic clapping and catcalls, there were many jj fans in attendance that night.

As much as the audience was feeling the music, I felt bad for Kastlander though: she barely made eye contact with the audience and looked very uncomfortable standing there by herself as a light projector changed colors that reflected off her face and on the synagogue’s walls. What made things even weirder was her jj partner Joakim Benon, getting up several different times from his seated position on the stage and giving Kastlander hugs, as if for a job well done. I guess Benon does all the programming and such and maybe didn’t need to perform for performance’s sake, although at one point he did stand up and strap on an acoustic guitar to play a couple chords, to the crowd’s applause but yes, to say the least, the setup was strange.

The xx played two shows at Sixth and I on Sunday because the evening show had sold out so quickly, a matinee earlier in the day was quickly scheduled to meet ticket demand. It’s not often that any band will have a big enough demand to fill two shows in one day in Washington, so you know this band is something special. Their star just keeps on rising, with their songs appearing in an AT&T commercial during the Olympics and on “Gossip Girl” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” They haven’t really taken a break from touring, except in February when they canceled some European dates when guitarist Romy Madley-Croft‘s father passed away.

Having seen this London band several times already, I know why I keep coming back: vocals and guitar by Madley-Croft, vocals and bass from Oliver Sim and programming and percussion from Jamie Smith come together just right to make music that nearly brings tears to my eyes every time I hear their songs. “Heart Skipped a Beat,” with Madley-Croft singing, “It’s been a while / and you’ve found someone better / but I’ve been waiting too long to give this up / the more I see I understand / but sometimes I still need you,” should make your heartache. I know that’s the effect their music has on me. I noticed Madley-Croft has a new guitar, but her playing is still the same – spot-on and still incredible, sounding great against Sim’s bass lines and the percussion taps of Smith’s.

They’re a soft-spoken band to begin with, so it was nice to see bassist Sim loosen up after gauging the audience’s enthusiasm for their band and chat a bit with the audience between numbers. Before starting to play “VCR,” Sim smiled at us and said, “So nice to be back here on our first U.S. headlining tour!” (I guess the one they did here last November was a trial run?) He made everyone laugh when he continued with “[I'm] starting to feel that chili dog I had earlier…” Of course someone in the audience yelled out, “Ben’s?” Sim replied, “Yes, Ben’s Chili Bowl!” The place erupted in cheers. Before an absolutely gorgeous rendition of “Nighttime,” he commented with a grin, “This venue’s incredible! I feel like a religious figure!”

When the band returned for an encore, the backdrop with the X emblazoned on it became a sea of stars, perfectly suited to end the show with the wonderfully sensual “Stars.” While they might not be religious figures in the conventional sense, the xx always deliver a mind-blowing show, and this is one devotee who will keep coming back for more.

The xx Set List
Intro
Crystalised
Islands
Heart Skipped a Beat
Fantasy
Shelter
VCR
Do You Mind (Kyla cover)
Basic Space
Nighttime
Infinity
//
Stars

Tour Dates
Mar 31 – Webster Hall / New York City
Apr 02 – Paradise / Boston (2 shows)
Apr 03 – Metropolis / Montreal
Apr 04 – Phoenix / Toronto
Apr 05 – Wexner Center / Columbus
Apr 06 – Buskirk Chumley Theater / Bloomington, IN
Apr 08 – Lincoln Hall / Chicago (two shows)
Apr 09 – Varsity Theatre / Minneapolis
Apr 12 – Showbox SoDo / Seattle, WA
Apr 13 – Commodore Ballroom / Vancouver
Apr 14 – Crystal Ballroom / Portland
Apr 15 – Fox Theatre / Oakland%
Apr 17 – Coachella Music Festival / Indio, CA
Apr 19 – Riviera Theatre / Chicago%
Apr 20 – Koolhaus / Toronto%
Apr 22 – Terminal 5 / New York City%
Apr 23 – Sonar / Baltimore
Apr 24 – 9:30 Club / Washington, DC%
% supporting Hot Chip

The xx: website | myspace | @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | @ DC9 | @ Paradise | @ Newbury Comics, Boston
Nosaj Thing: website | myspace
jj: myspace

Since I was already scheduled to be in Boston for the second-to-last date of the Nylon Magazine Winter Music Tour, finding out that the xx would be doing an in-store performance earlier on the same day was just icing on the cake. I had gone to pick up my wristband for the event early Friday morning. When I asked the clerk on duty how many wristbands were left, she gave me this “are you out of your mind?” look, saying, “we just started giving wristbands out half an hour ago. We have plenty.” This gave me what turned out to be a false sense of security (figuring that maybe, just maybe not too many people in Boston knew who the xx were), so my friend and I would have plenty of time to get to the in-store at 5 and wouldn’t have any trouble having a good vantage point to take photos from.

When we arrived to line up outside the Newbury Street store at 4:30, there were at least 50 people in front of me. As quickly as the sun set and disappeared, the line on the sidewalk outside the store grew and grew until it went all the way down the block. I started chatting with other people in line, finding out that I was in the minority (being the owner of a coveted ticket to the sold-out Friendly Fires / the xx gig later on) and that many of them had shown up for the free in-store simply for a chance to see the xx. They appreciated finding out from me that the xx would return to Boston to play the Paradise again on April 2.

Five o’clock came and went, and I started to lose feeling in my feet and arms despite it being unseasonably warm for a winter evening in Boston. Someone asked staff who was monitoring the front door why we weren’t allowed in, and we were told that the band’s equipment hadn’t arrived yet. At about 5:50, the main door finally opened and fans trooped into the store. People and their winter coats were crammed into the store between the CD racks and unusual merchandise. A bit stifling.

A short while later, the xx appeared and the crowd that assembled for them cheered. They launched into the instrumental “Intro.” Unfortunately, I couldn’t see much with many taller people in front of me, but I could occasionally make out bassist Oliver Sim and electronic percussion / synth player Jamie Smith as heads bobbed up and down to the music in front of me. I was skeptical about how the band would sound in small record store, but as soon as the band started into “VCR,” I knew this was going to be one great performance.

The sparseness of the xx sound sounded gorgeous in the cramped, enclosed space. Several in the crowd shouted for “Islands,” which began beautifully with Romy Madley-Croft‘s tender voice that was later joined with Sim’s. “Crystalised,” the first song by this band that I’d ever heard, was spectacular. Interestingly, this song was left off their set list at the Paradise three hours later, so if any of my new “friends” I met at Newbury Comics that night are reading this: you got a special treat!

My impression of the crowd was that it was a mixture of fans and others who looked upon the xx as a curiosity. Either way, there was little doubt in my mind that each person left that night thinking, “Wow, I need to make sure I get a ticket when the band comes back here in April.” You can catch the band on a short headlining tour of America in March and April (touring with mysterious Swedish electronic group jj), followed by a turn as the opener for Hot Chip in late April.

Set List:
Intro
VCR
Basic Space
Islands
Crystalised
Nighttime
Infinity

Tour dates:
Mar 22 – Spanish Moon / Baton Rouge*
Mar 24 – Earl / Atlanta*
Mar 25 – Cat’s Cradle / Carrboro, NC*
Mar 28 – Sixth & I Synagogue / Washington, DC*
Mar 29 – First Unitarian Church / Philadelphia*
Apr 02 – Paradise / Boston*
Apr 05 – Wexner Center / Columbus*
Apr 06 – Buskirk Chumley Theater / Bloomington, IN*
Apr 19 – Riviera Theatre / Chicago%
Apr 20 – Koolhaus / Toronto%
Apr 22 – Terminal 5 / New York City%
Apr 24 – 9:30 Club / Washington, DC%
* with jj
% supporting Hot Chip

The xx: website | myspace | @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | @ DC9 | @ Paradise

Performance photos: Julie Stoller

The inaugural Winter Nylon Music Tour stopped by Boston’s Paradise Friday night for an absolutely, positively sold-out show. If it is humanly possible, both the headliners Friendly Fires and the opener, current darlings of the blogosphere the xx, keep getting better and better with each additional time I have the privilege of seeing them perform. Both are young bands from England, yet with all the globetrotting they’ve done this year, they’ve honed their skills so that every performance will leave you wanting more. When I heard and subsequently groaned inwardly that the Nylon tour would not be stopping by Washington, I decided a trip up north was in order.

In the case of London’s the xx, their sound is relatively simplistic, but they are extremely successful in bringing out the emotions of anyone who’s ever felt anything for someone else or perhaps more accurately, the xx make you feel you aren’t alone when you’ve lost that magical thing called love. I still can’t get over how guitarist Romy Madley-Croft and bassist Oliver Sim‘s voices, though gentle, can be so poignant and achingly beautiful, causing you the listener to feel the same yearning that exists in the heart of their songs in your bones.

This was the first time the band had ever played in Boston (not counting the in-store they played three hours earlier at Newbury Comics), and the excited crowd was certainly appreciative of their visit. They took to the stage on time at 9. The extended live version of “Basic Space,” their second single released on Young Turks in the UK in August, confused some members of the audience, some of them prematurely clapping while the band headed into an outro not on the album. “Fantasy,” starting off with Sim’s spare, scorching vocals paired with Madley-Croft’s fantastic guitar playing, was a major highlight, as was “Nighttime,” with such monstrous beats from Jamie Smith that you felt the backbeats pounding through your body.

“Infinity,” an example of serious yearning turned into an xx song, starts with guitar work that is as sensual at those in Chris Isaak‘s “Wicked Game.” But what the xx’s tune has over Isaak’s are the call and response lyrics of “I can’t give it up / to someone else’s touch / because I care too much” between Madley-Croft and Sim, punctuated by Smith’s drum machine and cymbal crashing. Talk about dramatic to the max and perfectly suited for their usual black attire and minimalist stage set-up. Be sure to catch this trio when they tour America starting in March 2010, first on a short tour of their own on the eastern half of the U.S., followed by a couple of dates opening for Hot Chip.

The xx Set List:
Intro
VCR
Basic Space
Fantasy
Shelter
Islands
Nighttime
Infinity

Like clockwork, crew set up quickly for the main event, St. Albans’ own Friendly Fires, so that they were ready to roll punctually at the Paradise-appointed time of 10:15. This band’s shows are 100 times better than their records because you get the full audio and visual experience right in front of you. On this particular night, multi-colored lights flashed feverishly across the stage, lending a carnival-like atmosphere quite appropriate for this kind of music. On stage left is drummer Jack Savidge on his riser, beating on his drums at a furious pace that it’s a wonder he ever manages to leave a gig with his hands intact. In the center of it all is lead singer Ed Macfarlane with his bevy of synthesizers ever at the ready, in front of touring bassist Rob Lee and their touring brass section (trumpeter and saxophonist). And lastly and certainly not least, on stage right is guitarist Edd Gibson shredding it on his axe in a way that should inspire generations to pick up a guitar and try it for themselves.

Having not seen them in about four months, I’d nearly forgotten just how tremendously punishing physically their set is on all the players. This was their second to last date on a grueling 3-week tour of North America, and I’d heard that everyone by this point was exhausted (and understandably so). However, I didn’t see any indication that the band wasn’t giving their usual 110%. When it came time for Macfarlane to break out his now world-famous dance moves, the man showed no sign of fatigue, most memorably on the wonky-waltzy “White Diamonds,” to which he threw his whole body into the song. “Photobooth,” an ode to young lovers taking an innocent photograph together, was preceded by him saying, “Are you going to join us [in the revelry and dance]?” Thanks to a long guitar cord, throughout the set Gibson was able to run back and forth across the Paradise stage, climbing on top of a speaker in front of Savidge several times to serenade those up in the balcony. So very rock ‘n’ roll.

While the throng was vocal in their appreciation for the Fires’ music, some people in the crowd clearly needed to loosen up, so much that Ed Mac had to implore, “Come on Boston, dance with me, please!” When they played “On Board,” then “Paris” (the obvious crowd-pleaser), the audience was finally moving and grooving in a way that the band approved. While it was disappointing that they played the exact same set list that I’ve gotten used to and we didn’t get a preview of the four songs Friendly Fires have already finished for album #2, we’ll have the new material and a brand-new set list to look forward to the next time they visit us stateside. The band’s sophomore album is expected to be released in May 2010. I can’t wait.

Friendly Fires Set List:
Lovesick
Jump in the Pool
Skeleton Boy
In the Hospital
White Diamonds
Strobe
Kiss of Life
Photobooth
On Board
Paris
//
Ex Lover

Friendly Fires: website | myspace | Friendly Fires review | Remix Monday: “Skeleton Boy” | @ Black Cat | @ Dot to Dot Festival | interview with pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 | Mercury Prize Nominations Announced | New Video on MTV, To Play Jimmy Kimmel and Winter Nylon Tour, Release Expanded Version of Debut Album | @ Lollapalooza 2009 | @ le poisson rouge | @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | on Jimmy Kimmel | Remix Monday: “Paris”
The xx: website | myspace | @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | @ DC9

Losing a band member for any reason during any point in a band’s history can be traumatic, even devastating. In the case of the xx, losing fourth member and guitarist/synth player Baria Qureshi happening at the exact same time while the band’s meteoric rise in profile and acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic appears seemingly unstoppable is probably even more traumatic. The first sign of trouble was when the band had to cancel a couple European dates last month, Qureshi citing “exhaustion”; this seemed reasonable, considering how much the band has been touring since they were tipped by various media outlets and people in the business for being the next “it band.” But then a few days ago, the band announced that Qureshi had left the band permanently, owing to “personal differences,” leaving those of us already devoted to the xx wondering, “are they going to soldier on with a replacement, or is this the end?”

But the band has decided to continue as a trio. Having seen the xx as a quartet three months ago in New York in a supporting slot and having enjoyed their set, I hoped that having one less member wouldn’t affect the sound – at least, too much. I am happy to report that the xx sound excellent in their current configuration and, if anything, I think the trifecta of Romy Madley-Croft (guitar/vocals), Oliver Sim (bass/vocals), and Jamie Smith (percussion and electronics et al.) sounded even better to this night than they did previously.

Sunday night was a London doubleheader with the opening act, electronica artist Jon Hopkins. Here in front of us was not your run-of-the-mill mixmaster DJ. The lanky Hopkins effectively threw his body into his performance, all the while a master of his machines, adding layer upon layer of sonic goodness by manipulating his synths full of buttons, switches, dials and knobs. He said nothing throughout the set, instead preferring to reach for and occasionally take a swig from a well-placed bottle of Budweiser between the seamlessly segueing tracks. “Vessel”, with its dramatic, haunting piano arpeggios, was especially intriguing to me (as I’d been trained in classical piano when I was younger), especially so because it was played among songs that could be regarded electro mini-symphonies to tracks that ring out like they’d feel at home in outer space, like “Insides”. The crowd was quiet but that was probably because everyone’s eyes were glued to Hopkins’s hands during his set. Interesting choice for an opener.

Okay, so I get that the xx band uniform is black clothing from head to toe. I suppose this is a nod to the minimalist approach to their music, as is their generally unshakeable, unemotional manner when performing. Singers Romy Madley-Croft and Oliver Sim sport metal chains with charms around their necks, though I wonder if these chains are to aid the audience in seeing the two of them onstage. For both Jon Hopkins‘s set and the xx‘s, the club was very dark, and both professional and any kind flash photography were not allowed. The only two bright lights on at all times on stage were the two “X”s carved out of the front of Jamie Smith‘s desk of electronic wonder. At one point, Madley-Croft had to ask for the lights onstage to be raised slightly, probably because she couldn’t see the strings of her guitar. Funny. After their second song, “VCR,” Sim announced, “this is a special night. This is the first time we’ve played in Washington!” His comment was met with universal cheers from the crowd.

The set list featured two covers, “Do You Mind?” by Filipino R&B/soul singer Kyla and “Teardrops” by Womack and Womack, the latter causing Sim to admit bashfully (but with a grin as he fingered his black bass guitar) that he was embarrassed that they had to play another cover and that he wanted to run and hide himself in the crowd. Aww. To be honest, they played exactly what I expected for a band with only a debut album to their name, playing every song on xx with growing conviction. Each song combined the gorgeously emotional voices of Madley-Croft and Sim with the perfectly spare instrumentation from the three of them, so much that just hearing everything together might make you cry. So to me, the covers were just icing on the cake. Further along in the set, Madley-Croft’s usual steely demeanor gave way to a smile. I was glad – she and her band mates are talented folks and have a lot to be proud of.

For the lack of banter between the acts and the audience at DC9, this show might have been subtitled “The Quiet One.” But in the end, it was what we’d all shown up at the club for – great music – that triumphed over everything else. If you didn’t get the chance to catch them on their short headlining tour of America this fall, catch this band opening for Friendly Fires on the Nylon Winter Music Tour before the end of the year or supporting Hot Chip next April.

Set List:
Intro
VCR
Heart Skipped a Beat
Islands
Basic Space
Fantasy
Shelter
Do You Mind? (Kyla)
Crystalised
Teardrops (Womack and Womack)
Nighttime
Infinity
Stars

Tour Dates:
Nov 17 – 529 / Atlanta#
Nov 19 – Mohawk / Austin*
Nov 20 – Casbah / San Diego*
Nov 23 – Independent / San Francisco*
Nov 24 – Sacramento State University / Sacramento*
Nov 25 – Doug Fir / Portland*
Nov 26 – Commodore Ballroom / Vancouver*
Nov 27 – Neumo’s / Seattle*
Nov 30 – Triple Rock / Minneapolis*
Dec 01 – Bottom Lounge / Chicago*
Dec 03 – Les Saints / Montreal*
Dec 04 – Paradise / Boston*
Dec 05 – Webster Hall / New York City*
Apr 19 – Riviera Theatre / Chicago%
Apr 20 – Koolhaus / Toronto%
Apr 22 – Terminal 5 / New York City%
Apr 24 – 9:30 Club / Washington, DC%
# with Jon Hopkins
* supporting Friendly Fires on the Nylon Winter Music Tour
% supporting Hot Chip

The xx: website | myspace | @ music hall of williamsburg
Jon Hopkins: website | myspace