White Lies / Frankie Rose @ Granada Theater, Dallas, TX

Five years. Had it really been that long? My first opportunity to catch White Lies was at Webster Hall in New York City in February of 2009. Much to my disappointment, I was unable to attend the show and was left wanting as I knew the Brits wouldn't be touring the US on a consistent basis. So turn the page a half decade later, the boys from London would be making a stop at the historic Granada Theater with Miss Frankie Rose. A great lineup at a great venue. Sign me up.

On paper, the pairing of Frankie Rose and White Lies doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Miss Rose is best known for her stints with Vivian Girls and Crystal Stilts, opting for lo-fi dream pop to the darker, melancholy rock of White Lies. But in person, it really didn't matter. Frankie and her pals cruised through a not too brief set of infused pop rock. Heads were bobbing and feet were tapping. The joys of music were bleeding through their songs.

For White Lies, they take a different approach. No flashy lights. No elaborate stage setups. Simply straight-forward British rock. Depressed, reflecting rock. And no, that's not a bad thing. It's just the mood in which the songs were written. With front man Harry McVeigh providing his deep, intense vocals, the several hundred in attendance were treated to a solid set of the band's catalog, playing mostly from their latest effort, Big TV, but also their earlier material. The band's sound was powerful and on point. The band seemed to be enjoying themselves and McVeigh gave a solid to the Granada Theater, stating "this is the type of venue you dream about performing in." Of course, the crowd's biggest reactions were when the band played songs like "Farewell to the Fairground" and "Death". The cover of Prince's "I Would Die 4 U" also was well received. Overall, I was truly impressed of how well these London lads performed. Great night. Pictures of the show are below:

Frankie Rose