Does the thought of spending yet another Saturday night dancing to generic top 40 music at a State Street bar make you cringe?
If you love live music or are just looking to switch up your usual weekend scene, then make sure to head over to the Undergrounds this Saturday night at 10 p.m. Presented by Binghamton Underground Music Presents (BUMP), indie rockers Xiu Xiu will be performing along with openers Beach Babies and Forest Fire. With tour dates scheduled for all over the United States and Europe, it’s an honor that these hard rockers were able to fit Binghamton University into their busy schedule.
Hailing from San Jose, Calif., Xiu Xiu is comprised of front man Jamie Stewart, keyboardist Angela Seo and percussionist Ches Smith. With a unique style that transforms each song into a different work of art, its sound can be described as experimental, indie, art rock and synth pop. Xiu Xiu has been making music since 2002 and has released eight full-length albums. They have also released several EPs, singles and collaborations. The most recent album in their nearly decade-deep discography, ‘Dear God, I Hate Myself’ has been described as the most playfully arranged and colorfully textured in the band’s catalog. Ranked as its most listener-friendly music yet, the band’s newest album strays away from its typical style. In contrast to Stewart’s usual piercingly distorted sound, filled with eclectic heavy synth overdubs and trilling vocals, ‘Dear God’ is much less abrasive than his previous work. Mostly built around sequences and beats instead of guitars, ‘Dear God’ is very experimental, and even features songs that were written with Nintendo DS programming.
If Xiu Xiu’s performance is even half as eclectic and entertaining as its high-energy and unpredictable beats, then the band’s Saturday night performance will be one show that you don’t want to miss.