04/16/2017 – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA.
It was the second night of their three-day residency at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California, the London indie-pop trio The xx drew another sold out crowd to their concert. The xx consist of vocalist-guitarist Romy Madley Croft, vocalist-bassist Oliver Sim and producer Jamie xx. After a melodic and soulful set from london based artist Sampha, The xx kick off their 19 song set with “Say Something Loving” from their third and latest album I See You. The group then moved to the more popular and percussive gems “Crystalized” and “Islands” from their first album xx. In all honesty, Romy and Oliver have never been powerhouse vocalist, but make up for it with authenticity and sound so honest as they blend their voices and words telling stories of heartbreak. Well into The xx’s set, all the house lights are on Romy before she plays “Performance” solo. “I’m going to play this one on my own which makes me very nervous,” she says in a nervous low pitched voice before her unbelievable and emotional solo version of the track. The London-based group eventually closes their main set with an upbeat dance version of “Shelter” then light up the auditorium with rainbow colored lighting and finish with Jamie xx‘s track “Loud Places”.