Xiu Xiu Live Show Review: Brutal Catharsis for the Masses

Sure, members have come and gone over the years, but the quality of the Bay Area-based band’s music and performances have never truly faltered.

Days before the release of the group’s 17th studio album, 13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips, the trio descended upon The Vera Project, Seattle Center’s all-age non-profit dedicated to “youth-driven engagement in music and art.”

For over an hour, Stewart, Seo, and Kendrick performed masterfully, as one would expect from a group of seasoned veterans. With a setlist that spanned the group’s entire discography, Xiu Xiu’s brief stop in the Emerald City was a noisy, yet memorable one.

Beeps, Boops, Glitches, and Bugs

The show started off a bit rocky, with Olympia-based opener Human Joy. An aptly fit band for the occasion, they performed well under harsh circumstances. Whether it was presets not loading or certain conditions not being met for their instruments to work properly, a solid chunk of the second half of Human Joy’s set was plagued by technological errors and few workarounds.

Fighting through these technical difficulties, their unique blend of harsh synth noise, almost spoken word-like vocals, and electric bass provided a solid palette cleanser from the normalities of everyday life – or, rather, a wake-up call to transition into a different, more welcoming environment for those repudiated by society.

While the gorgeous, haunting noise brewed up by the other two members’ synthesizer and electric upright bass could have carried them through for a bit longer, Human Joy’s set was ultimately cut short, as their lead vocalist could not fix the previously-mentioned problems with his synth and thus could not perform their songs.

Although an unfortunate situation all around, Human Joy excelled at setting the stage for the main act, while also showing enough promise to make them a name worth keeping an eye on.

Enraptured by the Sight

Similar to Nirvana’s “MTV Unplugged in New York” session, there was an overwhelming sense of awe in the faces of those in the crowd, as Xiu Xiu launched into their set. It’s not very often that one experiences this level of connection with an artist or group. Having been to quite a few concerts, it’s not always as common as one believes.

Sure, one’s level of fandom and appreciation play a major role in an individual’s experience, but this evening felt entirely different. With each track’s natural crescendo and decrescendo, one could not help but be mesmerized by every action the members took. Hard slams of individual cymbals from Seo, the piercing cries of Stewart mimicking a newborn, and quaker-like dancing all mixed together to create a truly unique and deeply emotional experience.

There were moments between each track when Stewart kneeled down, took three deep breaths, tossed back a swig of water, and gargled once, before standing back up to continue on. A clear breathing technique to help his vocal chords, these tiny moments not only provided Stewart a second to alleviate future ailments, but they also gave the acclaimed singer and the youthful – yet tired – crowd a brief intermission to center themselves.

Xiu Xiu’s music is often quite intense. Their songs deal with heavy subject matter, incorporate distressing compositional elements, and affect even casual listeners at an emotional level.

This is why Stewart’s brief pause was all the more important. Life, like Xiu Xiu’s music, is often quite unpredictable and more times than not, a bit grueling, but the crucial point is that we are still here. If all else fails, we still have ourselves.

Mutual Catharsis

With so much chaos and noise swirling around the minute venue, Stewart’s moment of peace signaled a greater sense of cathartic release, seemingly shared among everyone in the crowd. Maybe it was the sense that a band full of adults who created an album titled Dear God, I Hate Myself nearly 15 years ago also went through the same struggles and difficulties that many of the youth in the audience face today.

Or, maybe it was the idea that all of the harsh noise, brutal drumming, and yelling fully consumed everyone’s auditory senses to the point of calming down thoughts of worry, fear, and what else might await us outside of The Vera Project’s sacred walls.

Whatever it was, it worked. As the masses trickled out – and many awaited a moment at the merch table to chat with the acclaimed group – it felt as though one had taken a satisfying breath of fresh air.

With our minds refreshed and our spirits thoroughly calm, our small, yet intimate collective went our separate ways. And while we may never see each other again, Xiu Xiu provided us a chance to be ourselves and be at peace for a much-needed moment, before raging into the storm and carrying on the fight outside.

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