British band The xx performed in Hong Kong for the first time ever on Wednesday night. KITEC’s Star Hall was packed with enthusiastic xx fans who constantly cheered and applauded, occasionally even drowning out the band!
Though they have just two albums under their belt , The xx have an impressive number of hits and a devout following. On Wednesday night they wound their way through all of their most well known tracks, starting with “Crystalised”.
Instead of just rehashing the familiar album versions for the sold-out show, the ambitious trio performed interesting variations on their big hits, often changing the arrangements, the notes, and even the speed of the songs.
Though a very young band, The xx are seasoned performers, holding the attention of the crowd, maneuvering gracefully onstage, and engaging with a few choice words to the packed audience. During the show they made snappy transitions between songs that kept the energy high and the crowd rapt with attention.
The sound in the large hall was, for some reason, far more clear than usual, and the voices of the two singers, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, were just as vibrant as on their albums – an extremely rare feat. Their harmonies, backed by clean, crisp instrumentals and catchy melodies, made for beautiful music.
In the background, group member Jamie Smith provided percussion, keyboards, effects, and other enhancements throughout the show, occasionally taking the limelight.
From the very first song until after the encore, The xx kept the sold-out crowd in awe!
Here’s a video of the encore:
A big thank you to the promoters – Untitled Entertainment for bringing The xx to Hong Kong! And a special thanks to all the fans who bought tickets and showed that Hong Kong is ready for more progressive international acts.
