Wednesday 2nd December 2009 @ Academy, Bristol
With support From: Violens, Asobi Seksu

Despite the fact that it was another wet miserable day here in Bristol, the Academy was already heaving by the time I arrived to see the first support act. Through the dry ice and thick stench of beer, Violens were giving it their all with a well balanced set of 60s inspired pop and flashing psychedelic riffs.

The main support band Asobi Seksu shuffled onstage looking ever so slightly nervous but as their first song burst into the chorus, a mad explosion of strobe lighting and heavily delayed guitar riffs set them off on a head banging frenzy. The rather unusual falsetto vocals formed a pleasant contrast against the heavy textured keyboard and this progressive pop sound allowed all 4 band members to fully express themselves onstage. After a most exiting out-ro they exited the stage, leaving a very impressed audience behind.

The crowd burst into cheering as the bewildered roadie sauntered on stage - apparently he was not the lead singer from White Lies. When at last they did jump out onto the stage, the audience was already jumping up and down to the drummers warm up fills. The set started with their unique post-punk rock sound and as the first song came to a sudden end, a heavily intoxicated (or extremely tired) young male was carried out by security. Halfway through their set they played a slightly more mellow number with some sweet, melodic vocals and slow warm bass lines. Harry McVeigh proved himself to be an excellent front man which compensated for the rather dull stage presence of the other members. The set was brought to an end with the hit song Death played as an encore to the now exhausted fans.

www.whitelies.com

Thomas Dunn