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The first night of 2009's The Awards - The Gigs was a fantastic start to a week of stellar gigs with a hard-hitting headline set from White Lies and fizzy support slots from up-and-comer The Drums and local favourites Bombay Bicycle Club.

The Drums delivered a sparkling set of their surf-rock meets noise-pop confections with lead singer Jonathan Pierce shaking his blonde locks and two little black dress sporting back singers shaking their money makers throughout. 

Current single Let's Go Surfing and the power pop of Don't Be A Jerk, Jonny were the stand out tracks in a strong set from the newcomers which was just their second UK gig.

Bombay Bicycle Club played a slightly more low-key set but their punchy indie rock had plenty of great moments. It's a shame the band don't talk to the crowd more though. Perhaps they're just shy.

At least single, Evening/Morning showed the sheer quality of Bombay Bicycle Club's debut album I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose.

Racing straight out of the gate with The Price Of Love, White Lies marked their first major headline show in the UK with an energetic rush through the highlights of their phenomenally successful debut album.

Next up was a venue rumbling take on the darkly romantic A Place To Hide swiftly followed by a cracking take on the band's most doom-laden track To Lose My Life.

Then, throwing in a little something for the fans, the band gave early b-side You Still Love Him, a keyboard propelled weepie, its first live outing. With the lights pulsing behind them, the band then dived into E.S.T.

The Awards - The Gigs shows have proved to be a great opportunity for bands to try something special in the past and White Lies were no different. A sparky cover of Heaven by Talking Heads was a great addition to the set, giving the track a faster tempo and marshal drum beat.

Farewell To The Fairground with the crowd chanting the Wizard Of Oz derived hook ("There's no place like home.") gives a reminder of how powerful White Lies proved to be as a festival band with the whole crowd seemingly moving as one.

The band ended with Death, still their most well-known and well-loved song, possibly the most perversely catchy and yet morbid indie anthem ever written. The lights dropped to an atmospheric glow and the dry ice billowed onto the stage - White Lies were worthy headliners and have thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the week's performers.

The Awards - The Gigs: White Lies interview.

9:25 AM | 20/10/2009