Thursday 19/11/09 White Lies @Brixton Academy, London

In the time of recession, where new music of quality is a rarity, this night, showcasing a range new and established talent is more, than welcome.

New York new boys Violens are are likely to stir up some interest in the New Year. Their huge sounding indie-rock, fusing Vampire Weekend, The Smiths and healthy dose of shoe gaze, has more than enough quality to it to set it apart from the wealth of other indie try-hards out there. But my goodness is it loud!

An appearance by Asobi Seksu is both a surprise and a pleasure. This alt-rock band, fusing the best of Japanese pop and Mogwai-style psychedelia is a completely mesmerising experience to behold. The contrast of their dreamy and ear-bleeding shouldn't work....but it simply does and is pleasure that should be welcomed to these shores more often.

The main attraction of the night come as a bit of a surprise - if only to this reviewer. While debut album To Lose My Life was stunning in its combination of catchy rock and dark emotional tautness, something suggested it was just another attempt at the broody monotone genre that have propelled bands like Editors and Interpol to super stardom.
Live however, White Lies are something else. Their performance live possess both punk and anthemic qualities, akin to the like of Joy Division, that make their music quite irresistible. Even so , it is a brave move to launch into arguably your best song as your first number. But its clear from the first verse of 'Farewell To The Fairground' that this is as much a way of making a statement as anything else.

Indeed, while what follows doesn't ever surpass that moment perhaps, it comes very close. Singer/guitarist Harry McVeigh indeed is surprising in his strength as a front man. Though his vocals are at times strained during the likes of 'A Place To Hide' – an inevitability of heavy touring – he still unleashes a commanding performance which culminates rather spectacularly in a crowd sing-a-long of 'To Lose My Life'. As catchy as it is, there's still something a little unnerving with a large London crowd jubilantly singing “Lets grow old together/And die at the same time”.
The rest of the debut album is then run through, with some weaker earlier material included some what as a filler.

Yet on the whole White Lies prove that, for a band with a single album and a lot of hype, they've more than learnt their place both on the scene and in the hearts of the masses who've gathered tonight and are giving it more gusto than I've seen in many a gig. A very nice surprise indeed. 

The show in photos: