Jamie xx @ the Shrin
Electronic music is back, and Jamie xx stopped by the Shrine on his “In Waves” tour to prove to Los Angeles that dancing really is the best medicine.
In September of 2024, Jamie xx (English musician and DJ, also a member of the indie/pop band the xx) announced his North American tour dates following the release of his newest album, which has received the highest level of critical acclaim since 9/20/24. He had two shows scheduled at the Shrine, located directly across from the University of Southern California, a quick walk for any student who wanted to attend.
At the start of the New Year, Los Angeles encountered major destruction all over including the Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Artists and events scheduled to happen in LA during the upcoming weeks, including The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow” one-night-only tour and various Grammy week events such as Warner Music Group’s Grammy Week Party, were canceled or postponed in lieu of the devastating situation. Jamie xx ticket-holders were unsure if the concert would still be happening, and it was confirmed that not only was he going to play the scheduled two nights, but he added a matinee show at 2:00 pm on January 24th to raise money for the California Fire Foundation, Extreme Weather Survivors, and Clientearth. On the Instagram post announcing this addition, Jamie xx shared “L.A. really has a special place in my heart, the time I have spent there over the last few years and the people that I have met have truly been life-changing for me.”
And so, the night was still on. I got out of my night class, ran back home, put on my most comfortable but still snazzy outfit including my Key West black boots that still lie on the verge of complete collapse, and booked it to the venue, which conveniently was only a three-minute drive from where I live. From the get-go, it was clear that the energy was tremendous. As I looked around at the fans buying hot dogs on the side of the road, finishing the end of their joint, and chugging whatever concoction they had managed to stir up before arriving, I knew I was a part of something that was going to be an incredible memory. I noticed the average age of fans attending seemed to be within the millennial category, late 20s to late 30s. I felt as though I was one of the youngest people there, which I did not mind in the slightest, as this very special group of people, who we like to tease and ridicule for their “cringe” behavior, are the same very lucky group that got to experience both the pre-cell phone clubbing era and prime Britney Spears. I felt honored to be in the same venue as these people, and as I walked into the Auditorium, I knew I was right.
A huge disco ball hung from the top of the ceiling, as fans piled in and found their friends in the General Admission Standing room. I squeezed my way through the crowd to land a spot very close to the disco ball and with a direct view of the stage, where Jamie xx had his DJ equipment ready to go. A little after 9:30, the lights went down and the igniting cheers began. As the legendary DJ made his way across the stage, to my surprise, I noticed that there were very few iPhones up in the air. I was under the impression that this would just be a theme in the beginning as Jamie was getting situated on the Shrine stage, but this trend continued throughout the entirety of the concert. Without introduction, Jamie xx began his unforgettable night with one of his biggest hits from the new album, “Wanna,” and went straight into “Treat Each Other Right,” a personal favorite. Pink and yellow lights flashed from every end of the venue, people climbed onto their partners’ shoulders to get a better view of the scene, and the disco ball reflected off of the audience, who were on Cloud 9 as Jamie alternated between his newer music and old classics that made people fall in love with him as a solo artist. One of the most popular tracks of the night was “Loud Places,” a song from his first solo album “In Colour,” released in 2015. I jumped and swayed and danced with the crowd as if I had known them for years. People were kind, respectful, fun, and knew how to have a good time, without the need to document every moment of it. There seemed to be a mindset that all we have is tonight and after the tumultuous weeks early in 2025, Los Angeles needed a night like this to dance and forget their sorrows, even if it was just for a moment. Some of these people have lost their homes, their memories, their prized possessions, but tonight all that they were required to do was groove to these epic songs, some of which hold immense nostalgia for them.
The night was truly unforgettable. I never wanted it to end. What made the show so special was the fact that Jamie xx seemed to be having just as much fun as his fans. He understands them, what they want, and how to get a “Baddy on the Floor.” Jamie xx is an icon in the dance/electronic world, and his contribution to the music industry is nothing short of monumental. I feel grateful to have experienced a night like that one, and I want to thank him for showing up when Los Angeles needed him most. We will persevere, keep dancing, and keep living. We’re Los Angeles and we’re incomparable. Even Jamie xx knows it.
-DJ Dazed AKA Hazel Sepenuk