By Chuck Cox
Staff Writer
As you guys might have noticed, I’m a bit of a music fan. And as much as I try to keep up with all of the cool music out there, sometimes certain bands just slip through the cracks. That’s when it helps to have friends who are also very passionate about music.
Up until two weeks ago, I knew absolutely nothing about London trio the XX. But thanks to a friend who offered me a ticket to the first of the band’s two sold-out shows at the Granada, I got to experience the band live on Wednesday night.
And what an experience it was. I leaned over to my friend about halfway through the band’s 75-minute set and told him, “This is the most mellow non-acoustic show I’ve ever been to.” The band, with its moody, hypnotic setlist from its two albums, “xx” and the latest, “Coexist,” had the crowd at the jam-packed Granada eating out of the palm of its hand from the word “go.”
Having listened to the band’s two albums leading up to the show, I was somewhat familiar with the material. But it was truly amazing to see a band every bit as focused on the presentation as it was the music. The intense light show had concert-goers looking up at the beautifully decorated ceiling on numerous occasions, as they sang along with every song.
The band, which said it had gone to its first Dallas Mavericks game early in the evening (and brandished a Mavs foam finger during the encore twice to prove it), was as gracious to the crowd as any band I’ve ever seen. Guitarist and vocalist Oliver Sim repeatedly thanked the crowd and told it how much the band loved playing Dallas. With Sim and Romy Madley Croft trading and sharing lead vocals, the show played like the soundtrack to a laid-back night at a club. Practically everybody around me was actually quiet and listening to the band play. Imagine that.
Toronto’s Austra opened the show with a perfect half-hour warm up for the main attraction. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the Granada so packed. Since the second show on Thursday is also sold out, you’ll have to wait for the band to come back around to catch them. That might not be too long, considering the XX just announced a co-headling tour with Grizzly Bear.
There’s nothing like discovering new bands. Especially when you get to do so seeing the band play live. I’m glad I got to check out the xx.
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