CityLife

IN the darkness of a sold out Manchester venue, a black-clad four piece perform dark, fluid music with throbbing baselines, lyrics of intense gloom, euphoric climaxes and are fronted by a man with a straight-cut fringe and a booming baritone.<br /> <br /> Luckily, despite the comparisons to that legendary Manchester band, the young men of London-based relative newcomers White Lies have the packed out venue in the palm of their hands as they play their first ever proper sell out headline show on their first proper headline tour around the UK.<br /> <br /> And what a sell out show it is; It’s not just White Lies that make tonight special, but the unquestionable talent of the supporting bill, which may explain why the renowned Oldham Street boozer is busy from the off as fellow London dwellers Post War Years step on stage.<br /> <br /> Achingly cool hipster<br /> <br /> Undeniably likeable, their sound owes much to the same influences that informed Oxford math-rock darlings Foals and, as long as you’re not an achingly cool hipster who despises bands that rise to fame on the coat tails of similar sounding success, then PWY are a real treat for the ears.<br /> <br /> More vocally ambitious than their equestrian peers, all members of the band contribute vocals and, despite a genteel demeanour, have a way with both melody and thumping dance beat, almost straying into the territory of – whisper it – piano house on one particularly fine track. Certainly ones to watch.<br /> <br /> Occupying the hump of the bill are North Wales via London trio The Joy Formidable, who despite singer-guitarist Ritzy being near-on the smallest person in the room, have in her a ferociously intense frontwoman.<br /> <br /> Completed by bassist Rhydian and drummer Justin the trio create a fierce racket mixing psychedelic swathes of reverb with singalong choruses.<br /> <br /> Tight locked groove<br /> <br /> Hurling themselves around the Night & Day stage, there are moments that look as though the assembly may collapse as, tottering on heels, Ritzy’s guitar narrowly misses Rhydian’s face.<br /> <br /> But, as they fall into a tight locked groove on a pounding set closer, there’s little question that The Joy Formidable may just be one of the most promising young finds these Isle currently have to offer. Beautifully brutal.<br /> <br /> All of which leaves the venue primed perfectly for the arrival of White Lies.<br /> <br /> A new band to most, these four Londoners are by no means amateurs, already the survivors of two industry bidding wars.<br /> <br /> With considerable record label money behind them, this first headline tour is likely to have been described in management meetings as the first real Big One, it’s Important, and other such terms that require capital letters.<br /> <br /> Career-destroying explosion<br /> <br /> And so the band come complete tonight with extra speaker towers packed onto the Night & Day dancefloor and – count them - eight stadium-sized lights that dwarf the venue’s standard rig.<br /> <br /> Yes, all of this would be pointless if they didn’t have the performance to match, while the slightest hint of imitation would fuel the Joy Division fire to the point of career-destroying explosion if they didn’t have the songs.<br /> <br /> But they do, and from the off White Lies are playing to a stadium; As someone that witnessed one of Editors first Barfly shows, the difference between Editors’ Tom Smith's nervous approach and WL frontman Harry McVeigh strident control is clear, while the 6Music daytime playlist humping single, Death, proves beyond question they can write a tune.<br /> <br /> Astonishing milestone<br /> <br /> While Unfinished Business’s “blood on your hands” refrain stands out from the shuddering backing, currently every song seems to deal in this kind of lyrical gloom.<br /> <br /> But as the band grow with time, their confidence in performance and the obvious appeal of the tracks seem to suggest that 12 months from now could see White Lies selling out venues somewhat larger than the Night & Day.<br /> <br /> As Harry explains, this is their first ever “proper sold out headline show”.<br /> <br /> An astonishing milestone for what could be a fruitful year ahead.<br /> <br /> What did you think? Have your say.<br />