By the time you
read this review, you're probably sick of hearing about The xx.
The English
outfit combines pop, R&B, and electronica with a dash of several other
music genres in a minimal composition to result in one of the most unique albums
in recent years (QRO album review).Touted by many music publications as
the debut album of the year, if not one of the best albums of the year, their
hype has made them one of the busiest bands in the biz.So busy that it has caused
keyboardist/guitarist Baria Qureshi to quit the band couple of weeks ago,
claiming exhaustion.So how well
the twenty-year-olds handle their live shows without their fourth member, in
front of an audience who are all older than them?The xx are, in every way, a reflection of their self-titled
debut album: cool, calm and collected with unusual precision and sophistication
beyond their years.
The night before
Thanksgiving, on November 25th, The xx opened for their fellow countrymen,
Friendly Fires (QRO photosQRO review)
at the ever so hip Doug Fir Lounge.The young south Londoners quietly entered the stage, knowing this was a
job and not a party.Predictably,
they opened their set with "Intro".Oliver Sim (bass) and Romy Madley-Croft (guitar) sang as if they were
whispering in a bedroom next door to their parents, who expected them to be in
deep sleep.We were voyeurs
outside their open window, eavesdropping in their lulled conversation about sex
and relationship.And somewhere
between the audience and the performers of this late night broadcast was Jamie
Smith, controlling the rhythm and providing soundtrack with his synths and
gadgetry, propped up by big boxes, displaying the title: XX, or is it this
film's rating?Well, at least there
was nothing x-rated about their stage attire: all three members were well
covered by black outfits with Sim and Madley-Croft adorning the trademark load
of chains around their necks.The
bands name perfectly packages their music and image, which is all about giving
the audience their basic space for them to ponder and come to their own
conclusions.
The small stage
at the sold-out venue didn't quiet suit the atmospheric sound of The xx.In order to facilitate Friendly Fires'
entrance after their set, the trio were pushed to the left half of the stage.And if you leave it up to the Doug Fir
lighting tech, you'll get a rainbow of saturated colors with favoritism for red
and green which makes a photographer with no flash very frustrated.The xx were drowning in Christmas
colors, instead of cool blue and white light their music conjures up.A bit of fog machine action to match
Sim and Madley-Croft's smoky, sultry voices would have set the mood nicely and
perhaps influence some audience members to keep their chatter down.
With only one
album under their belt, The xx treated the audience with all the highlights
from their self-titled debut.Popular singles "Crystallized" and "Basic Space" as well as other
notable songs like "VCR" and "Islands" played out like sub-chapters in one
seductive new wave film.In
between songs, Sim humbly thanked the audience and shyly cracked little genuine
smile.At least the suave
singer/bassist seemed to be happy to be in the world's most hyped-up band.For the finale, Sim rattled on the
crash cymbal to prolong the closing on "Infinity".The lassie and the lads exited the stage as quietly as they
arrived.Nice to see such young
talents take their job very seriously, but hopefully The xx knows that
perfection, after awhile, leads to boredom.
The xx playing "Islands" live @ Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, OR on November 25th, 2009:
window, eavesdropping in their lulled conversation about sex
and relationship.
The small stage
at the sold-out venue didn't quiet suit the atmospheric sound of The xx.
seductive new wave film.
Electric President sing you a sweet indietronic lullaby on their sophomore full-length, Sleep Well.
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