Jamie XX live in Toronto: All under one roof raving, sorta

People were slow to arrive on this cold January Tuesday trickling over the two-hour opening set by a local DJ, Chinelo. The theme of this set was hard to pinpoint. Feeling much like a walk through a music festival,  hearing sounds from different stages spill out and mix together. With a slight delay, Jamie XX joined Chinelo on stage for a joined transition causing a wave of cheers in the now thick and excited crowd.

After a sampler opening, teasing the crowd, Jamie went straight into this recent album, In Waves, a record seemingly designed for a club. The set was divided into what felt like an experimental portion of the show followed by an engaging dance session that kicked in well past the hour. Mixing and remixing his own songs and spinning covers like Chuckie & Gregor Salto’s “Get Ready”  and Ruff Kru’s “T.H.C” between “Still Summer” and “The Feeling I Get From You”. The repetitive beats and techno patches took us to a dark under-the-bridge type of rave but with a much less lively vibe.

The first notes of “Oh My Gosh” trickled through as a slower, darker remix eventually returning to the upbeat version that made it a repeat track in many households. The mood immediately shot up as the previously still bodies began to move in unison. This dance stream smoothly rolled into a remix of Fat Boy Slim’s “Right Here, Right Now,” spreading smiles across the faces of the elder Millennials in the room.

As the dance pace picked up under History’s spectacular disco ball with tracks like “Loud Places” and a few other covers a stage-size screen turned on behind the DJ table reflecting the crowd in real-time. The realistic dimensions of this live reflection created an illusion of a centre stage surrounded by people in a complete loop. The energetic multiplied crowd dancing to “All You Children” was a sight to behold.

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The next morning I had the urge to listen to We’re Here Now, Jamie XX and Gil Scott-Heron collaboration album and one largely forgotten by most Jamie XX fans.