For a while, Jamie did not let up on the gas. It was difficult to tell when certain songs began and ended, as Jamie melded his tracks together with fast drum patterns and booming bass. The 2022 loosey single “KILL DEM” contained a vocal sample that was part goofy gibberish, part call to dance harder. He also snuck in a version of the 2021 track “Found It” by Pinty and Tomos.

On a more melodic note, Jamie brought out a remix of the In Colour track “SeeSaw” from 2016, which featured vocals from bandmate Romy and co-production from fellow UK electronic icon Four Tet. By this point, the floor audience had lost themselves in the nonstop beats and stop-motion lighting, which flashed in all ‘colours’ and directions. A familiar vocal clip exclaimed “Oh my gosh,” and the crowd cheered in realization that they were about to experience the intro track to In Colour. For longtime Philadelphian fans, this was likely the first time they had been able to see Jamie xx live in about 9 years; he last played here during Made in America in 2016 (though fans dedicated enough for a short road trip may have seen him in Delaware at the final Firefly Festival in 2022).

Following the epic sirens of “Gosh,” he broke down into a 90’s-esque hip-hop beat that eventually bled into the steel drum intro of “Obvs.” The downbeat tempo of this song was a bit of a breather for fans, which Jamie appropriately followed with “Breather” from In Colour, which contains a spoken segment that seems similar to something you would find in an existential yoga routine. However, it wouldn’t take long for the energy to return, this time in a slightly-frightening swarm of lightspeed drums and yelps during a mix of “Is This All Real” by Siu Mata & Amor Satyr.

Jamie xx | photo by Gavyn Green for WXPN

Apart from a spare stage set that simply had a table and many pieces of DJ equipment, one visual effect that stood out was a live video feed of the crowd that began playing on the screens behind the DJ about halfway through the show. The stream would sporadically change angles, surrounding Jamie in a sea of his dancing fans. As time went on, he returned to the new album with the more melodic cuts “Still Summer,” “Falling Together,” and “Waited All Night,” the latter featuring lead vocals from The xx.

Jamie highlighted one more random track with a mix of “The Lady with the Braid” by Dory Previn, before giving the audience what they wanted. The venue’s disco ball sent shimmers across the crowd as they sang along to “Loud Places,” the Romy-assisted, indietronica club classic. The euphoric hook gave the fans a needed second wind as the clock neared 10:30 p.m., and Jamie laid into the final leg of the set by bringing out banger after banger from the new album. “LET’S DO IT AGAIN” led into the Avalanches collaboration “All You Children,” which soared into the blaring horns of “Life” with Robyn. The triumphant finale was the single that restarted it all; “Baddy On The Floor” closed out the set with a celebration. Jamie xx was back and hadn’t missed a step.

Jamie xx | photo by Gavyn Green for WXPN

For the first time in his set, the music came to a complete stop. Everybody cheered, Jamie waved and bowed, but didn’t say a word. He exited the stage, but quickly returned with a 45 single, and placed it on one of his turntables. J.J. Barnes’s “I Just Make Believe” began, and fans started to identify this as the sample behind “Dafodil,” from In Waves. This trip-hop track was the only encore, leaving his popular Young Thug collaboration “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” as a surprising omission from the set.

As 11 p.m. struck, the show ended and a chaotic ‘line’ for coat check ensued. It was difficult to face the cold winds of 7th St. after being engulfed in an all-out dance club performance. In Waves, the long-awaited sophomore album from Jamie xx, is available to stream or purchase here, and his tour picks up next month in Europe. Check out photos from Franklin Music Hall below and visit the XPN Concert Calendar to see who else is coming to Philadelphia.

I’m With Her: Game to Lose (World Cafe Version)