all photos: Jeff Martin
all words: Nina Slesinger
The xx has always been night music for me. It's minimalistic and moody and perfect for all-by-myself headphones listening. So, I had my qualms about A) Seeing them live with a crowd, and B) Seeing them at four in the afternoon.
Opening act Nosaj Thing helped kill these worries. I imagine that watching a DJ screw around on a laptop and sampler for thirty minutes could be boring, but Nosaj Thing's one-man-show was as interseting to hear and watch. As he built electronic soundscapes from clicking beats and atmospheric noise, he was lithe and made even turning a knob look pretty darn cool.
After a few false alarms of lowered lights, the three young members of The xx finally came on stage dressed in all-black, each sporting a haircut more androgynous than the next. Behind them hung a huge backdrop with their "x" logo. Bass player Oliver Sim said, "Shalom" and smiled slyly. Sixth & I Synagogue was a great setting for this band. There was incense out which not only gave the space a distinct perfume, but also provided wispy trails of smoke for the lights to accent. At one point, Sim said he felt like a religious figure on that stage. I imagine that the sold-out crowd, squeezed into pews, mesmerized by the band, would agree.
From the first notes of "Intro," I was totally captivated. It was one of those shows where when the music starts, you just exhale and smile because you know it's going to be something special.
Listening to The xx's album is already a sensual experience but hearing them live is like being inside a body--the slowly sliding bass is the heartbeat and the low, breathy vocals are the inhaling, exhaling lungs. Combine the impact of the music with the very well-done lighting, and this made for a very intense late-afternoon.
One highlight (of many) came in "Shelter." Before launching into the song, percussionist Jamie Smith pounded some bass so low and so loud that I felt literally swallowed in the sound. It was amazing to be enveloped in such a vibration before a song about finding a safe space. The xx literally created one right there.
They closed the set with "Infinity," which included the most intense pounding of a cymbal I've ever heard. The fact that The xx is such a minimalistic band makes every other moment (such as the playing of a guitar chord, instead of a single note, as my friend observed) that much more intense and shocking. At one point, Jamie came up front to completely demolish a snare drum with a mallet.
The crowd gave a standing ovation when the group left the stage but thankfully they returned shortly to play "Stars" for an encore. The backdrop lit up with hundreds of little lights (stars!) and the show closed out on a beautiful note. This was probably one of the best shows I've ever seen, and it was completely unexpected. I left feeling emotionally worn but utterly impressed.
Previously in Live DC:
- 2/9: LiveDC: Theophilus London @ 930 Club
- 2/9: Best Weekend Bets
- 2/8: LiveDC: Kathleen Edwards @ 930 Club
- 2/8: LiveDC: Thurston Moore/ Kurt Vile @ Black Cat
- 2/8: LiveDC: Thurston Moore/ Kurt Vile @ Black Cat
- 2/7: LiveDC: Demetri Martin @ Warner Theatre
- 2/7: LiveDC: Augustana/ Graffiti6 @ 930 Club
- 2/6: LiveDC: All Things Go Presents: Reptar/ Casual Curious/ Fort Lean @ Gibson Guitar Showroom
- 2/6: LiveDC: TYCHO/ Beacon @ RNR Hotel
- 2/6: LiveDC: The Kills / Jeff The Brotherhood @ 9:30 Club
God loves a cheerful giver.
Jeff... incredible photos. Really top notch. Nina, wonderful review.
I went to the later show and it was absolutely incredible. I was fortunate enough to get to cover the XX at the DC9 show and I thought it wouldn't be topped (small space, sold out, intimate intimate intimate...) but the XX really stepped up their performance game. Great show. Oli's got to stop making those allurring looks though... they make a girl weak in the knees.
Nina,
Solid review! Do you know what cover they played?
Alan - I think it was "Do you mind" by Kyla
Thanks Shauna! It must have been crazy to see them at DC9 just as they were starting to realize that they had a shot at a big U.S. tour...
This show was such a great fit for the synagogue. I heard some weird stuff about the JJ opening at the later show, anyone see that?
Also, check out Nosaj Thing's "DISTRO" as the beat under Kid Cudi's "Man on the Moon"
Great photos!
Great review.
One of the covers that they played was Do You Mind? by Kyla. I think they played another cover - of an 80s synth-pop type of tune - but I can't remember the song.
JJ doesnt seem like they are totally comfortable playing live. It was just Elin singing over the prerecorded music on the laptop. I thought her voice was great, but she didnt look like she wanted to be there. Joakim came out to give her hug in the middle and then again at the end. He picked up a guitar, played a few notes and then it was over.
Did we see the same band? One of the most awkward live shows I've ever seen.
Love these photos, interesting choice in venue but the show looked great
Oh yeah it was definitely awkward. Im not sure if its from lack of experience or not. I dunno why they wouldnt be able to translate that music better live.
Talking to some friends who caught the 8PM show, I think Nosaj Thing was the more engaging opener. Weird, considering the hype around jj.
JULES!! I am with you grlllll.
The sound quality and the atmosphere were mysterious and lovely at times, but homeboy on the bass looked like he was about to give a cymbal carcass sacrifice to the god of experimental minimialist vampire music. Beating the SHIT out of a cymbal makes me feel a mixture of blown away and terrified, with a twist of WTF. And if that is your thing, along with a 19 year old Christopher Walkin playing the bass, cool.