06. The Crowd Sings Happy Birthday To Oli From The xx

And for once, a song at an xx concert was performed in a major key. KIDDING. “VCR” is in a major key! But yes, it was Oli’s birthday on Friday night, and the xx’s meticulously manicured, perfectly produced midnight set was all the more memorable for the band’s resulting breathy banter. As in when he asked the crowd in sultry hushed tones and bedroom eyed, “Would you mind if I took a picture of you? I want to remember you.” I MEAN. Banter aside, each stage movement, and every forlorn glance at each other or the field or the floor was too sensually dramatic (and effective) not to be choreographed at least a bit. It all culminated in a set of lasers forming an overlapping “xx” at the front of stage, a powerful closing image that inspired talks about how this band has been the total package right out of the box, and somehow gets even more dialed in with each year. Aspiring rock svengalis, study up: the xx are a worthwhile model. And happy birthday Oli, you minx.