White Lies: Create a melancholy moment at T
Displayed on screen in black and white, the sharp-suited White Lies are now visually representative of the brooding Joy Division era from which they've evolved. With both the moon and the sun still in the sky, their haunting sound and ghostly glow of strategic spotlights offer a deeper commitment from the pre-headline slot tonight.
At a time where the majority of the crowd are well on their way to inebriation, their contemplative stadium sound had to work hard to keep the impatient masses on side. Face paint, wigs and gender-crossing attire showed their audience to be far from serious.
New album Ritual has failed to make the same impact as their stunning debut, To Lose My Life. This is evident tonight from the widespread reaction to their euphoric anthems, crafted live as a five-piece for uplifting builds bigger live than on record. Highly controlled onstage, 2009 single, To Lose My Life grabs the quiet crowd, shaking them to a roar to stay mostly onside for the remainder of the set.
Harry McVeigh's signature vocal resonates throughout the field and I'm really not sure whether the crowd are lacking interest or in fact lost in the euphoric psychadelica of newer material. From the look of the pints in the air glory it could perhaps, on this occasion be the latter.
This being their third T in the Park from their debut in 2008, White Lies mention their love of the festival even standing before the quietish crowd this evening. From the safety of their first album The Price of Love, A Place To Hide and Death finally render the smile-inducing reaction this band deserve with their tales of joyous woe medicinal rather than depressive.
A performance perhaps better suited to the natural gloom of a tent, White Lies stood strong on their high-billing slot tonight but didn’t quite get the reaction you’d expect from Friday night Balado. With the stage time however, perhaps the crowd were suffering from their post-dinner digestive slump or simply the effects of a 6 hour alcohol binge.
