White Lies- Friends Promotion *Northern Leg* #NeighbourhoodFestival 2016 Full Report

 

White Lies-Friends Promotion *Northern Leg*

Neighbourhood Festival 2016

Full Report

 

So the last time I seen my good #Friends 'White Lies' was back in December 2014 in Camden's Koko, London for a charity acoustic set for the #Autism charity.

 

Since then the lads have been locked away in London's Olympia Studios owned by 'Bryan Ferry' of 'Roxy Music' fame to record the fourth album #Friends.

 

 

 A lot of changes since the time of Big TV for a new album with clean synth sound omitting the heavy Basslines of 2011's 'Ritual', and now signed to a new label 'Infectious Records' an arm of the group #BMG after a 2 year wait for fresh material ,fans can now appreciate the bands hard work on today's release day.

 

So today I'm in #Liverpool for a Meet & Greet Live Album Session in 'HMV Liverpool One' branch, I'm fortunate to be on the list for Priority, so I'm there early to find my feet around #LiverpoolCity ,5.30pm the band take to a corner of the lower ground floor with their speakers, fresh from playing a late show last night in Kingston upon Thames trendy 'Hippodrome' which sadly I had to shelve plans to go even though I had got a ticket .

 

So now as I'm stood at the front of the bands playing area, 'Harry' takes to the mic  as he speaks "Its good to be back in Liverpool,we came here on our first tour,we're going to play songs from our New album 'Friends' and some old ones we hope you'll enjoy them &  we have an area over there where we will meet you guys later for the signing" cue applause .

 

'Harry' looks relaxed in casual clothes and Nike trainers ,no suits today, Charles has his trademark wooly hat, and 'Jack' is happy to be showing off his new Drumskin on the outer bass drum with 'Friends' artwork on it ,it looks good.

 

 

On tonight's setlist 'Take It Out On Me', 'Morning In LA, 'To Lose My Life', 'Hold Back Your Love', 'There Goes Our Love Again' 'Come On' and ending with 'Death', Charles' basslines are scaled back on this album as I mentioned before there is much more of Pop synth feel to it throughout, its Live On Stage as always where this band comes alive, and people gathered around in excitement watching are testament to that.

 

It's now time for my meeting with the band,I'm before the main queue first in line I've a lot to get through so with Vinyl copy of the album and handy gold marker, I walk towards the table and greet them all "Hello not seen you guys in ages last time was 2014 in Koko it was freezing remember really good to see you again, they asked " Yes it was ,How are you Ok" I said "Yes I'm excited to hear the whole of the album its good to have you back, as I went on to explain to 'Harry' (asking me how my name is spelt he forgot ,he always does bless him), I said "I'm really Sorry I couldn't go to the Kingston show it was a pain to get there it would cost silly money I didn't see the point 'Harry' jumped in with "Oh don't worry it took us 2 hrs to get there and anyway I'm sure you'll see us at one of the shows sometime on Tour"  I said "Well Yes and also I'll see you tomorrow in Manchester for 'Neighbourhood'.

 

 As they'd finished signing a clutch of stuff for me I went out of the way as they offered to do a photo later when they finish ,so I happily hung around chatting to fans as they carried on meeting their public .

 

I noticed another live date was announced over the twitter feed later 'Jack' said it wasn't supposed to be announced til Monday, they are on sale now for March 2017 an extra London Troxy Date as they've already sold out 'Shepherds Bush', with that I leave as they appear to be going upstairs to the top floor exit I meet someone I'd not seen for years who worked at my local 'HMV' and grab a quick chat with 'Tommy' the Keyboards/Synths who I've not seen in ages since #Big TV Tour, he tells me 'Rob' the guitarist who toured with them has left and hes' doing his own thing and he's very happy , so yes a lot changed.

 

Manchester bound time to check out the event goings on as I arrive there is already a handful of fans queuing at 'Ritz' for tonights headliner 'Twin Atlantic' and 'Blossoms', there are 11 venues on the festival circuit today with bands playing from  12.30pm to 11pm.

 

The venues include 'Thirsty Scolar' (where it all starts), Zoo, Gorilla,Sound Control,Dog Bowl and few more,but the main venue today is #AlbertHall a building which was once a fully functioning church and still has the stained glass windows, I'm there early as luck would have it no one is here and the manager tells me to come back at 3pm and he'll put me front of the queue (First come first served and really good timing, then my friend I've not seen in a while was walking up and I told her we can relax were first in).

 

So This afternoon 'White Lies' are here playing at 4.30pm and doors are 3.30pm we are front of the queue with a few hundred people queuing round the block possibly as 'The Courteeneers' frontman #LiamFray is on after them, the mood is changing and there are sniffer dogs checking everyone and the usual bag searches, then we're in and the stage is high wooden carved, such a gorgeous building I hadn't been here before its the only venue I hadn't been to in Manchester lol and it was lovely.

 

 When 'White Lies' came onto the stage they went through a catalogue of songs including 'Price Of Love' from their debut album  its shorter than a normal gig at about 40 mins ,but after their live set I intend to vamouse when the band finish to go to see them do yet another set in 'Dr Martens' my friend decides to stay to watch #CircaWaves who will close the event . 

 

 

So time to make like Cinderella and push my way out to head over to 'Market Street', the band arrive 6.30pm ish to set up their equipment in the tiny shop, I'm queuing again chatting to 2 Showsec people when 'Harry' pops out and says "Just going to Tesco's for something back in a minute" Omg how "Rock N Roll", he's wearing his grey mod looking jacket, quite a few people queuing now, a couple of curious tourists,the band are not ready its 7.30pm but it's not til 7.45pm we get in.

 

 

They are set by a sofa and shelves full of bags and shoes at the back of the shop, it kinda looks like a trendy studio room, Charles is seated and 'Jack' is on his drum machine, 'Harry' also sat opens a can of beer looks relaxed, he's No guitar with him its a kind of acoustic acappella set, or as they introduce it #WhiteLiesKaraoke he adds "We've only rehearsed this once so it could all go tits up, but hope you enjoy it", everyone laughs shop is now full as they begin with an acoustic 'Come On',then classic 'To Lose My Life' during the second line 'Harry' forgets the lyrics stopping saying "Whats that line again, can anyone mouth the words" he converses with 'Jack' everyone cracks up laughing including 'Harry' and the band.

 

 

They play around 7 songs and end with 'Farewell To The Fairground', a great end to an intimate showcase in an unsual setting and such comedic humour, the band ask if anyone wants anything signed or photos, they sign a setlist for me and that's it promotional tour over til November #WinterTour.

 

 

Currently #Friends is at #8 in Midweek figures for The Official Album Charts, there's competition from #Green Day and #Kaiser Cheifs, so anyway the band are doing well as they head off back to London to do a number of things, HMV Oxford Street signing and to film the new video for the next single, Its good to have them back .  

 

 

 

 

 

LMi xo