White Lies thrill Birmingham's HMV Institute

White Lies

HMV Institute, Birmingham

words and pictures by James Watkins

Love was in the air when White Lies descended on the West Midlands for a Valentine's gig at the HMV Institute.

The London combo's heart-pounding synths and ultra-tight melodies won the affections of their partisan followers.

Opening track A Place To Hide sent the crowd into a frenzy andthe tempo stayed high throughout.

Though White Lies adorned their microphone stands with roses, don't for a minute imagine their songs dealt with the sort of anodyne, sappy emotions that their contemporaries deal in.

White Lies offer barbed wire love that is as much about the thorns as it is sweet floral fragrance.

Frontman Harry McVeigh's vocals were stunning throughout and the night progressed in mesmeric fashion as White Lies played a virtuoso set.

Playing through the dulcet tones of To Lose My Life and E.S.T, they offered the crowd musical viagra, being never more omnipotent than during Farewell To The Fairground and Death.

Ending the night with the latest single, Bigger Than Us, the crowd were left with plenty of amore in their hearts, knowing that White Lies are looking for a long-lasting relationship as one of the biggest band's of the future.