The xx returned to the stage on Friday, April 3, marking the xx’s first show in eight years as a full trio. Performing at the Pepsi Center WTC in Mexico City, Romy, Jamie xx, and Oliver Sim reunited to deliver a career-spanning set that balanced the minimalist intimacy of their early work with the polished electronic textures of their more recent explorations.
The appearance ends a prolonged hiatus for the group, who have spent the intervening years focusing on solo projects and individual artistic growth. The performance, which spanned 19 songs, served as both a retrospective of their three studio albums and a glimpse into a recent era the band has teased as a “next chapter.”
Positioned against a hazy, dark backdrop and backlit to maintain a sense of atmospheric mystery, the trio navigated a setlist that touched on every major milestone of their discography. They opened the evening with the sharp, rhythmic tension of “Crystalised” and concluded the main set with “Infinity,” even as the encore provided a rare moment for long-time fans with the first-ever live performance of “Season’s Run.”
A Career-Surveying Setlist
The evening was structured to honor the evolution of the band’s sound, drawing from their self-titled 2009 debut, 2012’s Coexist, and 2018’s I Witness You. By blending hits like “Intro” and “Angels” with deeper cuts and remixes, the trio demonstrated how their shared chemistry has evolved even after years of separation.
The setlist reflected a deliberate attempt to bridge the gap between their collective identity and their individual journeys. The group integrated songs from their solo repertoires, including Romy’s “Enjoy Your Life” and Oliver Sim’s “GMT,” acknowledging that the members are no longer the same artists who first emerged from South London over a decade ago.
Jamie xx’s solo contributions received significant prominence during the show. The group performed his collaboration with Gil Scott-Heron, “I’ll Capture Care Of U,” as well as “Loud Places.” They also played “Waited All Night,” a track from Jamie’s 2025 album In Waves that features both Romy and Sim, effectively blurring the line between a solo project and a band effort.
The Full Mexico City Setlist
| Order | Song Title | Original Source/Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 01-05 | Crystalised, Say Something Loving, Islands, Angels, Fiction | The xx |
| 06-08 | I’ll Take Care Of U, Shelter, VCR | Jamie xx / The xx |
| 09-11 | Loud Places, GMT, Enjoy Your Life | Solo Works |
| 12-15 | Wanna, Waited All Night / On Hold (Remix), On Hold, I Dare You | The xx / Jamie xx |
| 16-19 | Intro, Night Time, Sunset, Infinity | The xx |
The Road to 2026 and New Music
The Friday performance was the first of three scheduled shows in Mexico City, establishing a residency that allows the band to regain their footing before heading into a high-profile global circuit. The trio has already secured several headlining slots for 2026, including appearances at Lollapalooza, Primavera Sound, and Outside Lands, as well as a slated performance at Coachella.
While the band has yet to officially announce a successor to I See You, the signs of a new project are mounting. Reports indicate the group has been working on a follow-up album since 2023, a claim supported by studio footage the band shared earlier this year. This momentum follows the release of a deluxe version of their debut album last year, which featured new bonus tracks and a cover of Aaliyah’s “Hot Like Fire.”
For many stakeholders in the indie and electronic scenes, the return of the xx is more than just a tour; it is a litmus test for whether the group’s signature minimalist tension still resonates in a vastly different musical landscape. By incorporating their solo work into the live experience, the band is signaling a more flexible, inclusive version of their collective identity.
The immediate focus for the group remains their remaining Mexico City dates, which will serve as the final rehearsals before they transition into the 2026 festival season. Any official announcement regarding a new studio album is expected to coincide with these upcoming headlining appearances.
Do you think the xx can recapture the magic of their debut in a new era? Share your thoughts in the comments or share this story with other fans.
