The xx

After witnessing bad (SALEM), worse (jj) and even worse (GZA) sets at the Young Turk's Thursday showcase, I was pissed and tired. Never mind that amongst the crap, I had seen the promising First Aid Kit and the incredibly awesome Holy Fuck; I really just wanted to go home and sleep. But I stuck around, in hope that The xx would raise the level of the night's showcase from "disappointing" to "pretty good." No such luck. The xx sounded great, just like their album. But their performance did not add a single element to their recorded sound, and their ultra-stylized, we're-cooler-than-you-and-way-too-cool-to-smile attitude was simply annoying. Plus the Mohawk was way too crowded with bandwagon fans. I would have been better served by skipping out and listening to their album in the comfort of my bedroom.