The xx @ Metropolis: April 3rd, 2010

The power of the blogosphere can be a very under-appreciated thing. When used correctly, it can lead an unknown project from the underground to millions of hard-drives overnight. This was exactly the case as The xx brought their brand of atmospheric, down-tempo rock to Montreal. The band was virtually unknown when their debut album dropped in August of 2009, but thanks to the web The xx saw their first headlining show in Canada entirely sold out. In fact, the band has seen such a surge of popularity that half of the shows had to be moved to larger venues. While the sudden expansion of their fan base is a great thing for the band, there is a lot that comes with it that they may not have been ready for. For one, their music (and their low-key style of performance) does not seem like it was originally intended for filling clubs on a Saturday night. The intricate space and haunting vocals are more fitting for a small seated venue where the reverb can be allowed to expand.

Nevertheless, The xx put on a great performance: Romy Croft’s minimalistic guitar playing echoed throughout Metropolis, perfectly complemented by Oliver Sim’s dark voice. The light show was also quite impressive, and helped bring a sense of life to the music. Although the band is still in their infant stages, as they get more comfortable playing these bigger venues, there is no doubt that they will slowly learn how to perfectly fill the space in these big halls. After such a successful start, there is no telling what they will be capable of once they get a full taste of the road.

Intro – The xx

You’ve Got The Love (Florence & The Machine Cover) (The Very Best Remix) – The xx <– That’s The Very Best‘s remix of The xx’s cover/remix of Florence and the Machine’s You Got The Love.

❤ SHNZR