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The XX Bring Explosive Show to Pop Montreal, Will Break After Tour

The XX Oliver SimTabatha Fireman, Redferns / Getty Images

This year's Mercury Prize winners the XX have skyrocketed from playing small clubs to elegant theatres in the span of a year, but the transition between standing crowds to seated audience couldn't be more smooth and fitting.

Though still minimalist in musical styling, a trio playing barebones synth-and-beat indie rock, the band's elaborate light show at their Pop Montreal set Friday night transcended the performance to another level by projecting striking visuals that highlighted the simplicity of each song.

Singers Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft both have shy, sultry voices that echoed throughout the cavernous venue, filling every corner of the theatre with songs from their debut record, including "Islands," "Crystallized" and a cover of Womack and Womack's "Teardrops."

The band evidently played an identical setlist to the one they've presented in previous rounds of touring, but it's through the impression of improvement and growth, for those who've seen them before, and the initial reaction to the stunning live renditions for first-timers, that the audience continues to be blown away by the XX's shows.

With two standing ovations at the end of the night, it was evident that regardless of the size in venue, the XX has come to hone their art and perfect it on all levels.

Sim reveals to the audience that the band will be taking a break from touring after this, having spent two years straight on the road. But before that, the band plays a handful of US dates, ending in Dallas, TX on Oct. 9.



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