X-Wife @ Mercedes in Porto, Portugal 2/23: Guest Blogger, Neat and Polite

Last month, we sent Isabel from the Portugeuse based blog Neat and Polite to report on the X-Wife show in Porto, Portugal. Here's what she had to say:

X-Wife are a kind of synch-punk band from Porto, lead by vocalist João Vieira, also known as DJ Kitten.

The stage at Mercedes is small, as is the whole venue, and it's apparently filled with friends, which is not surprising, being that X-Wife are a local band, and this is a place where they've played several times, even before they were a relatively well-known band (with two albums under their belt now).

Following an opening act by a friend who has 4 songs in his repertoire, X-Wife take the stage. Their music is a catchy mix of punk and electronic, to say the least. Even to someone who hasn't listened to them yet (I'll be honest, I had listened to their first album once), it's pleasant and not hard to get into. And all 4 members (there's a drummer there, even though he's not on the original line-up) seem quite amused at playing. There's the occasional 'dropping to his knees' by the lead vocalist and the constant twiching of the bass player, that clearly shows they're having fun - even if it gets slightly rockstarish after a while. The songs are good, even though to someone unfamiliar with them, they seem quite similar.

The music is quite well balanced, except for a slight negligence of the importance of the rhythm section, especially the bass. Sometimes, the basslines are quite good, but for the most part, they're nearly inaudible. It doesn't mean the songs are bad; just that they could be that much better.

Anyway, they're still at the debut of their career as a band, but you won't regret seeing them, cause they do put on a good show.

X-Wife is about to storm New York and SXSW:
Mar 9 2007 10:00PM, Ruff Club New York
Mar 10 2007 10:00PM, FIXED meets Modular @ Studio B w/ Simian Mobile Disco,(JDH & Dave P) Brooklyn, New York
Mar 11 2007 8:00PM, Club Midway with Metronomy and The Flesh New York
Mar 14 2007 9:00PM, SXSW, Friends (208 E 6th Street) Austin