The xx have always thrived off intimacy, with Romy Croft and Oliver Sim trading hushed lyrics like midnight confessionals between two lovers. That sensual approach initially fit smaller clubs with the release of their self-titled debut in 2009, before the trio volleyed into concert halls and festival circuits for the rest of their career. The group’s two-date stop in Forest Hill, New York last week demonstrated how their aesthetic has adapted to larger stages. The sold-out crowd witnessed illuminated floors, giant mirrored panels and a transparent booth helmed by anchoring beat-and-sample maestro Jamie xx. It’s a perfect example of a band embodying its creativity on every level, with the sleek visuals matching a setlist that pulled heavily from 2017’s LP, I See You. Photographer DeShaun Craddock captured the ornate pageantry in the gallery above, including opener Sampha. The xx are hitting European festivals all summer before returning the United States for dates in late September and October.
Song Highlights
“Performance”
“On Hold”
“Dangerous”
“Intro”
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Sampha at Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY, 5/19/2017
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Sampha at Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY, 5/19/2017
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Sampha at Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY, 5/19/2017
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Sampha at Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY, 5/19/2017
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Sampha at Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY, 5/19/2017
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Sampha at Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY, 5/19/2017
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The xx at Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY, 5/19/2017
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The xx at Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY, 5/19/2017
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The xx at Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY, 5/19/2017
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The xx at Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NY, 5/19/2017