White Lies end breakthrough year on a high with sell-out Academy show

Dec 7 2009 by Jasbir Authi, Birmingham Mail

White Lies

BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY

IT’S been quite a year for White Lies.

After a number one debut album in January, music press praise and supporting Kings Of Leon and Coldplay on tour, the 20-something trio must be feeling pretty pleased with their 2009.

So the indie outfit received a hero’s welcome when they visited Birmingham for their final show of the year.

The band, who freely admit their sound occupies the darker end of the music spectrum, wore a uniform of black shirt and trousers.

But opener Farewell to the Fairground set a euphoric tone for an hour-long set, while encore track Death showcased Harry McVeigh’s powerful vocal and elevated him above being yet another Ian Curtis sound-a-like.

Best song of the night was anthemic album title track To Lose My Life, which proved the hype was fully justified.

VERDICT: HHHHI