After White Lies drummer, Jack Brown, claiming that Manchester has the best crowds in the UK, we were expecting White Lies to be particularly charged for this show. With Manchester having such a great musical heritage it’s always a great city to watch great live music, with that comes very passionate crowds who are die-hard fans of the bands they go to see.

The combination of a band who loves to play in Manchester, who won a few awards after their debut album in 2009 including, Best New Band and Breakthrough Artist, and a crowd who is always one of the most energetic and encouraging then it’s clear to see from the start that this night will be something interesting.

Their show, held at Manchester Apollo, looks set to be a good one. White Lies gigs are always electric and exciting and the venue fills up suitably quickly. Packed to the doors with a diverse crowd, from generic indie teenagers to small children and their parents, everyone enjoying the night in equal measure.

White Lies take to the stage around 9.30pm to a patient but eager crowd and it’s clear from the outset that they’ve got a pure connection with their audience, creating an electric energy within the venue. White Lies have a dark sound about them that you only hear from bands sporadically. They’ve been compared to the likes of Joy Division and Editors. There is a vague connection between these bands, but White Lies bring something else. While the verses may seem gloomy and dark, the choruses are quite upbeat and catchy which was evident in the crowd’s movement from the start. There’s a contrast of people standing still and just listening in a calm trance, then dancing around to the catchy riffs particularly during ‘Holy Ghost’. Everyone seems almost hypnotized by the music.

The bands have a sense of seriousness in their stage presence, McVeigh stands poised and proud while not moving around too much except to raise his arms in a God-like stance, or hold his hand to his heart but the crowd eat it up. As the night progresses it’s was clear White Lies create an atmosphere of greatness in their performance with the majority of people in awe of their performance.

White Lies play songs from both ‘To Lose My Life’ and ‘Ritual’ which are both just as well received as each other. They may have had many mixed reviews, some love them and some hate them, and that may come with any band and music taste. However, there seems to be an emphasis on White Lies. Love them or hate them it is undeniable that White Lies put on a great live show with an atmosphere to match. They have a bright future ahead of them.

Words and photos by Cait Maxwell

For a photo gallery of the night, click HERE.