Live – White Lies | VLURE at Chalk Brighton

White Lies & VLURE at Chalk, Brighton, 18th March 2022

The return of White Lies with new album As I Try Not To Fall Apart has cemented their ability to create powerful songs that, despite the perceived sadness in their titles, have the ability to make people very happy. Out on tour around the UK, theirs is an impressive show on many levels.

An interesting pairing taking VLURE along as support – though both bands are with Red Light Management – the Glasgow five-piece have made a huge dent in the music scene captivating smaller venues, but how would this transfer to a bigger stage further from the crowd, many of whom potentially hadn’t heard or seen them before? In a genius move I’ve not witnessed previously, the simple answer was for vocalist Hamish Hutcheson to perform the whole set from the raised ledge in the photo pit – apart from the jump over to wander through and sing up close to the audience (props to security for ensuring the mic lead didn’t claim any victims on its ever extending journey). It’s hard to do the VLURE experience justice in a few words – intense, emotional, and just the right side of chaotic, they’re without doubt one of the best new bands around and clearly give the same maximum effort wherever they play.

And so to White Lies – it’s always a bold move to start with one of your most successful songs and the opening notes of Farewell to the Fairground set the pace for a show full of formidable tracks. By this stage Chalk was absolutely rammed with fans old and new enjoying what it has to be said was a faultless showcase. The band sounded great, the music was beautiful, the lighting was spot on, there was a lovely atmosphere, and really you can’t ask for much more than that.

The new songs are strong and along with the title track from As I Try Not To Fall Apart, other stand-outs came in the shape of Am I Really Going To Die and There Is No Cure For It. The old favourites were very much on hand as well, displaying the quality of their songwriting from early on in To Lose My Life, Unfinished Business and with only a tiny hint of amusement that the crowd was actively cheering for Death.

The tour continues tonight in Dublin, then heads for Liverpool, Norwich, Oxford and London through the week. Go to see White Lies and discover VLURE – or go to see VLURE and marvel at the long-standing talent of White Lies. Either way, this was a mighty return and an excellent night’s entertainment.

(White Lies European dates follow until the beginning of May).