The xx Mesmerize their Philly Crowd

Known for their dream pop sound, The xx smoothed the stage over with pure sex appeal on March 29 when they performed at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia.
The group made their presence known very quickly, thanks to their stage setup. When they tiptoed on, swirling patterns of rising smoke and the smell of incense permeated the stage.
The shadow and silhouette of The xx filled audiences with expectation, and their sexy swagger was irresistible right away as they opened with the patient "Intro" and moved into their signature "Crystallized." Bassist Oliver Sim literally swung with his bass notes in "Basic Space" as he and lead singer-guitarist Romy Madley Croft sang together in perfect harmony.

The xylophones in "VCR" created a playful aura in the church, but the most moving piece was a cover of Kyla's "Do You Mind," in which drummer Jamie Smith built up patterns of sound that came together perfectly near the end of the song. Croft sang sincerely into her microphone, and mid-song, they broke out into a huge jam, with Sim banging on a massive drum.

In the bouncy "Islands," Croft and Sim sang "I am yours now," and Croft's guitar solo was paired with Smith's sweet beats. Smith paced his way through "Infinity," mixing drums and synchronizing their intensity with the refrain "Give it up/I can't give it up."

Two very eclectic opening acts preceded them during the evening. NoSaj Thing, from Japan, opened the show with sneaky beats and quirky sounds on his laptop, giving a dramatic prelude to what would eventually be a very chill evening. Next came jj, a blonde duo hailing from Sweden, who both entered and exited the venue unfashionably. Singer Elin Kastlander trudged on stage alone and sang a melancholy melody while playing guitar. The unknown piece was met by hesitant nods from the crowd who were waiting for the duo's other member, Joakim Benon, to stop drunkenly playing air drums, guitar and piano.

Even after the two unique opening acts, The xx made sure the tension in the audience was washed away with layers of subtle, whispery rock — and their jamming helped get rid of any doubts about them being able to play passionately. They sent tremors through the venue, made eye contact with people seated in the church, and immersed everybody in sexy vibes.