White Lies in The Ambassador on 03162014 By Yan Bourke 016-banner

White Lies in The Ambassador Theatre, Dublin, 16th March 2014

The folks at Jameson have really spoiled us this Patrick’s weekend. Aside from bringing three top-quality indie bands in the form of Darling, Funeral Suits and White Lies to the Ambassador, a venue unused for a good few years now, they also supply a complimentary drink and hotdogs…really good hotdogs. Thanks for that Jameson.

On the music side of things, Darling are first up, and the band strike fast and hard with Echoes, a fast-paced song filled with boundless energy and catchy riffs. The group maintain this liveliness for the duration of their show. Sail Away slows the tempo just slightly, and this slow rock style suits the band a little better perhaps than the giddy indie pop of their other tunes. An interesting cover of The Sound Of Silence is a bold move, but the band do just fine and Darling’s eye for a catchy riff ensure they leave a lasting impression.

The same can’t be said  for Funeral Suits unfortunately, who appear to have fallen victim to the sound issues that befall a venue unused for years. The overall sound is a muddy, gloopy mess, with the vocals behind the music and the band members lost behind a veil of smoke, a trick that serves only to alienate them from the audience. Even the glorious riffs from All Those Friendly People are lost beneath the overwhelming wall of sound. The band may not be at fault for this performance, but it is very disappointing nevertheless.

With just an hour-long set, White Lies waste no time in deploying their best tunes from the start. To Lose My Life captures the essence of the band, with a slow verse exploding into a massively uplifting chorus. Farewell To The Fairground makes an appearance just three tracks in; with the sharp snare snaps serving as the ideal background for the almost ghostly lead riff and anthemic chorus, it is no wonder that this is the band’s signature tune.

The band lurch into something of a mid-set blip with the next few songs, with McVeigh’s voice not sounding quite as impressive when rumbling down low instead of belting out at the higher end of his register. Catchy choruses and intelligent breakdowns save a song like Getting Even though, and both this and Death, with its crashing drums and chugging bass, bring the band back to their hits. Big TV is a belter, and the incredibly simple solo in the outro is strangely effective.The brilliant Bigger Than Us wraps up proceedings, and the huge, uplifting chorus – the kind that makes you close your eyes to appreciate it better – is a fantastic way to close what is a fascinating night in the Ambassador.

White Lies Photo Gallery

Photos: Yan Bourke

Darling Photo Gallery