Xiu Xiu/Sunset Rubdown @ Troubadour, 4/24

Jamie Stewart must be one of the most serene people on the planet. With his band Xiu Xiu, Stewart goes through such intensely personal confessions on record that he can't possibly have any demons left to exorcise during his days. Somehow though, Stewart finds emotional scars to rip open every night on stage - watching a Xiu Xiu live shows sometimes feels like paid voyeurism, as we watch Stewart flail about, barely keeping his shit together as he shrieks, moans and cries his battered heart out. Behind it all is a strange concoction of synthesizers, percussion, flutes, guitars and samplers, giving aural manifestation to the horrible things that happen in Stewart's head. And somehow, it all comes across as beautiful. Pained and awkward, yes. But also very, very beautiful. Opening is Sunset Rubdown, fronted by Spencer Krugman of 2005's Canadiennes du jour, Wolf Parade. (ER)
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