Xiu Xiu

The line between noisy pop and avant-garde noise gets smaller with every release from Xiu Xiu. They mix up folk, punk, and ambient noise with slices of almost everything else you can think of to create music that's catchy and personal while at the same time feeling icy and distant. It's difficult to love someone when you're not sure they feel the same way about you. You get sucked in by their openness and unflinching forthrightness, but after a bit you may begin to question whether they haven't shared too much, too soon. The subject matter is heavy (AIDS, suicide, war, just to name a few) and peppered with snippets of life (presumably singer-songwriter and sole remaining original member Jamie Stewart's) lived in the darkened corners of society many dare not illuminate. In truth, the distance their music creates is something of an illusion; it's not really so detached. Like viewing animals at the zoo, you're only safe because the glass doesn't break. But wouldn't that experience be quite a bit more thrilling and/or scary if the animals could break the glass from the other side? You might escape, but you'd hardly remain unscathed. With Prurient, Mary Halvorson, and Jessica Pavone. All ages.
Sat., Sept. 6, 5 p.m., 2008