Veronica Falls at Whelan's | Review

Indie-poppers Veronica Falls graced the stage at Whelan’s in support of their new, and highly impressive album, ‘Waiting For Something To Happen’. The album is similar in style to their self-titled debut, except the gloomy mood generated by songs such as Found Love In The Graveyard are blown away by the chirpy upbeat tunes of the new record. The #1’s provided the support, and they played a wonderful brand of fast-paced power pop that was instantly likeable. Distorted guitars fill the venue, with strong basslines emerging throughout.

Veronica Falls opened with the irresistible Tell Me, a song that starts with a guitar clarion call that evolves into a full-blown song that’s laced with beautiful harmonies. Roxanne Clifford’s vocals ring out delicately yet confidently, and the two guitars intertwine effortlessly. My Heart Beats was the second tune, and again the chemistry between the two guitars is evident, built on the strong foundation laid by the pounding drums and simple basslines.

As the band progressed through their set, they kept a good mix of new and old tunes, and this created a pleasant balance between the happy songs of the new album, and the more sinister ones of old. Waiting For Something To Happen was a bouncy track full of energy and with a wonderfully catchy chorus, while Found Love In The Graveyard was much darker. Clifford’s vocals, which work so well on the poppy tracks, proved to be just as moving when deployed as ghostly oohs, complimenting Hoare’s vocals expertly.

Teenage was the set highlight, with a slow verse building to a glorious chorus that is followed by a cascading riff. The outro was even better, with just the guitars playing, and Clifford sighing “It’s alright” over and over. But the best thing about the band’s set was their ability to churn out top quality tunes all night without any song dropping below the standard of the one preceding it. This consistency did have some negative connotations, the band didn’t seem to have a song that they used to wrap up their show, and their set ended a bit flatly. Despite this Veronica Falls put on an excellent show, supplementing their stunning new album with the best tracks from the old.