English indie rock band The xx graced Charlottesville for the tail end of the North American leg of its Coexist tour last week.
The night started on a low note, with a 30-minute delay due to technical difficulties, but Chicago-based downtempo electronic musician Mister Lies eventually opened up the show with an arrangement of hip beats and hypnotic techno sounds. As a musician who is relatively new to the industry, Mister Lies embraced the Pavilion’s energetic audience and mystified the crowd with his upbeat tempos.
Though Mister Lies’ half-hour set was a truly unforgettable experience, the second half lacked the excitement of his opening sequence and sounded like a never-ending repetition of noises that lost the crowd’s interest. Before Mister Lies’ set ended, viewers began getting anxious for The xx.
After his set wrapped up, yet another hour passed before The xx even came to the stage — the delays prompting audience members to leave before even hearing the main act.
Though the mood was slightly tense, the eventual arrival of the band made everything all right. They filled the next hour with amazing lights, booming bass and beautiful music. Not all bands sound better live, but this concert proved that The xx is among those fortunate few.
Their newest album, “Coexist,” has a very relaxed vibe — raising concerns about the energy level of a live show. But the powerful bass and energy created a surreal atmosphere. They paired the best hits from “Coexist,” — “Angels,” “Sunset,” etc. — with their older tracks, notably “Intro” and “VCR.” Technical difficulties aside, the 75-minute set was top-tier, and showcased all that is great about this innovative band.
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