I had all but given up hope of seeing one of the CMJ marathon’s most highly buzzed bands. Seeing that the venue was full, I walked away from Williamsburg Music Hall, the faint sound sound of The XX opening for School of Seven Bells fading into the background. Just as their songs begin with melodramatic minimalism and suddenly explode into excited exuberance, however, my spirits were lifted when I received a text, inviting me to an after party with the London quartet themselves at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. What sort of a place for a new wave/indie concert is a upscale hotel in one of Manhattan’s trendiest yuppie neighborhoods? I soon found out as I descended through their gorgeous lobby into the intimate ballroom underground. The walls were pitch black glass, and the almost nonexistant lighting turned the New Yorkers with their penchant for wearing all black into a dark morass of people; I literally had to feel my way to the bar. No one knew when the band was showing up and if it weren’t for the euqally black and shiny X’s that adorned the walls, I would have had my doubts. Around 1:30am the band took the stage, illuminated by eery orange lighting at their feet. They told us that the Tribeca Grand would be their last show in the US before they headed back to Europe. They played through their entire dreamy, atmospheric record before promising to be stateside again soon. XX will be back at Neumo’s on 11/27, don’t miss out!