In 2005, four schoolmates—Romy Madley Croft (vocals and guitar), Baria Qureshi (keyboards and guitar), Oliver Sim (vocals and bass) and Jamie Smith (beats and samples)—who shared a similar taste in music, from the Cure to the Pixies to Missy Elliott, joined together to form the XX. The band’s self-titled debut, marked by quiet vocal duets and an efficient use of samples, came out earlier this year to much acclaim. Last month, Qureshi left the band, citing exhaustion. But the show must go on, so the XX continues as a trio. They open for Friendly Fires this Saturday at Webster Hall, but that show is sold out (although you can try to Grow a Pair of free tickets). Fortunately, the XX will be back on April 22nd at Terminal 5. Check them out, above, playing “Night Time” on Later…with Jools Holland.
Posts Tagged ‘the XX’
The XX Marks the Spot
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009A First Date with the XX
Thursday, November 12th, 2009The XX/Jon Hopkins - The Bowery Ballroom - November 11, 2009
(Photo: Mina K)
The XX show that sold out Mercury Lounge last night, and then subsequently The Bowery Ballroom, was one for the pretty people. It was a scene, but it was all the better thanks to the eye candy! Pretty people have good taste in music, too. Anyhow, Jon Hopkins, the opener, definitely deserves a mention because his fantastic mixing of melodies and crazy beats was unassuming, yet it totally entranced the jaded hipsters (some of whom even danced!) waiting for the headliners.
It was my first time seeing the XX live, in spite of the number of shows they have played in NYC over the last few months. At the start of their set I thought they sounded a bit forced, almost metronomic, and I kept wanting them to slip up. This distance, however, seems to be a calculated effort. Their seductive vocals are perfectly counterbalanced by the bass and synth beats, so seeing them live is, in the words of a friend, much like a first date—the initial impression is great, but the future potential is all in your imagination. This dynamic creates a very interesting energetic suspension, particularly on songs like “Basic Space,” and their closer, “Stars.” Listeners are drawn to the songs but slightly rebuffed before they can get inside them. Overall, the appeal of a band like the XX is much like the promise of a kiss (or more) at the end of the night—always something to look forward to, whether or not it actually happens. —Anna Loosli
(Jon Hopkins opens for the Asteroids Galaxy Tour tonight at Mercury Lounge.)
The XX - Music Hall of Williamsburg - October 23, 2009
Monday, October 26th, 2009
Photos courtesy of Mina K
CMJ Music Marathon Starts Today!
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
The CMJ Music Marathon starts today, and The Bowery Presents has plenty of choices for you with multiple shows all week long at The Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge and Music Hall of Williamsburg. Check out what some of the people at The House List are most excited to see:
Having had “Crystalised” playing on repeat for at least two straight weeks, it’s an understatement to say that I am looking forward to watching the xx perform at CMJ (Music Hall of Williamsburg, Friday). I have also heard there is some great hair I should try to catch on camera. ZAZA is on the wish list because I have yet to witness the atmospheric magic spun by my enchanting friend Jennie. I’ll also try to make the Screaming Females show (Mercury Lounge, Wednesday). I saw them last on Valentine’s Day, when that itty-bitty girl shredded her guitar into itty-bitty heart-shaped pieces. Her vocals hark back to the Dead Kennedys, which wins my deepest reverence. —Mina Kim, Photographer
I’ve got a list of bands I will try to see, among them Bang Bang Eche, an energetic electro-rock group from New Zealand. Check out their new single, “Fistful of Dollars,” and you can catch them around town on Wednesday. (Plus they’ve got shows next week at Music Hall, October 26th, and Mercury Lounge, October 27th.) Fanfarlo’s dreamy melodies and aching lyrics should be a big hit this year. They’re playing Music Hall tonight and The Bowery Ballroom tomorrow. The other group I am desperate to see is School of Seven Bells—playing Music Hall on Friday—who will blow your mind live. This band put out one of my favorite albums last year and is definitely worth checking out if you can make it. —Anna Loosli, Writer
I’m most excited for two Bowery Ballroom shows—Deer Tick on Thursday and then Portugal. The Man on Friday. I must admit that I love Deer Tick. With their tight songwriting and loose live performances, they’re a must-see band every time they play NYC. I’ve only had the chance to see Portugal. The Man twice, at Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, but each time I’ve found them eminently listenable and intriguing, and not just because of their strangely punctuated band name. —R. Zizmor, Editor
Sprawling, Freewheeling Music on a Friday Night
Monday, August 10th, 2009Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros/the XX - Mercury Lounge - August 7, 2009
It’s not every band that schleps its own upright piano onto the Mercury Lounge stage with them…or has a tall blonde in evening wear playing an accordion for that matter. Then again, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros aren’t just any band. Falling somewhere in the spectrum between Rusted Root and the Polyphonic Spree, their show was more like communal living through music, a tribal ritual rather than a rock concert. High energy and positive vibes flowed from percussion, guitars, bass, piano and vocals, as well as ukulele, trumpet and, yes, an accordion, which were all eagerly consumed by the crowd. Was that eight people onstage? Nine? 10? Frankly, there was no border—the band extended all the way to the back of the room with the audience playing its part with sing-alongs and masterful clap-along breakdowns in many of the songs. With microphones planted all over the stage, harmonies came from anywhere and everywhere. This was irony-free Free to Be…You and Me: The more upbeat, the better it sounded.
The XX played an earlier set that was plagued by sound problems. The quartet dressed almost entirely in head-to-toe black, and their music was a surprising drug. Narcotic melodies lay softly on a bed of drum machines and synthesizers like something out of a tripped-out prom scene in a John Hughes film. Tunes were short-lived and punctuated by Explosions-in-the-Sky-esque guitar riffs. And then the amp gave out altogether. —A. Stein
© 2009
