From the Front Row - Xylos 7/28
There is really something to be said for gender equality in band. A certain balance exists in a lineup that includes both guys and girls, and Xylos' performance at the Mercury Lounge is a testament to this. The band is comprised of two guys on guitar, a guy on drums and girls on both bass and keyboards. Vocals are shared by the girls and the male guitarists.
While the songwriting and instrumentation was strong, what really grabbed me were the vocals. It's great to a band that has people who can really sing. The harmonies were all solid and in particular the bassist had a beautiful voice with just enough of an edge to it to make it work in a rock band. In addition to the vocals, the Brooklyn quintet's mix of tropical vibes and dreamy synths have garnered a lot of buzz over the past year, earning them a spot on L Magazine's annual "8 NYC Bands You Need to Hear" List.
Their songwriting is strong, with clever lyrics and interesting rhythms, and there is a good dynamic between the band's elements. A pleasant surprise was how the drummer stole the spotlight during the second half of the show with some seriously funky beats.
The enthusiastic home-crowd gobbled up the performance, which featured tracks from the Xylos' debut EP Bedrooms (available for free download on their website), as well as some new demo tracks like "Not Enough". For such a young band, their material was quite consistent, with these demo tracks being just as strong as their seasoned stuff.
Be sure to stay on the look out for further shows in the area by this great live band. In the meantime, check out this track from their EP Bedrooms:
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