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The London-based five-piece bring their new record, ‘I Don’t Know Either’ to The Lexington with an infectious spirit of friendship. |
| Photo: Billy Emery | Words: Grace Palmer |
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Few experiences top spending your Bank Holiday Monday with Truthpaste. At their sold-out show at the Lexington, the five-piece – bolstered by a live drummer – ignite the intimate upstairs venue with their explosive instrumentation. Truthpaste are a band hard to tether to one definable category and their live shows only reinforce this. Flowing seamlessly between genres and vocalists and even memes, Truthpaste are unafraid to experiment, resulting in performances that are as unpredictable as they are captivating. This tour is a celebration, not only of their accomplished debut EP ‘I Don’t Know Either’, but also of the enduring friendship that has blossomed since their formation in 2022. |
Raised above the audience, Truthpaste command every corner of the Lexington’s stage. With a vast array of instruments, sound boards, and vocalists, the band imbues the room with high-octane momentum that carries throughout the evening. Tracks like ‘Never Gonna Give’ feel ever more encompassing and atmospheric live, enhanced by the addition of live drums. The opening dream-like dystopic synth melody is quickly shattered by Theo Murchie’s fierce electric guitar and Claire Sun’s staccato violin bursts. Esmé Lark’s heartfelt vocals bring lyrics like “I can’t control your fears” and “you are lying to yourself” into sharper emotional focus in the live setting. The group are deeply engrossed in their music, moving across the stage with a vigour and passion rarely seen in such expansive line-ups. During the most poignant track of the evening, ‘Bus Song’, the crowd falls momentarily silent. Despite the richness and power of Esmé’s saxophone paired with the pummelling chorus, the track is steeped in yearning and heartache. Euan McNeill delivers a weighty, anguished vocal performance that builds into an unrelenting, cathartic release. Sitting alongside the more upbeat songs from the evening, Truthpaste show no fear in revealing a more emotionally vulnerable side, sweeping up the audience in the performance. |
Every great band embraces a country moment, and Truthpaste are no exception. By incorporating what can only be described as a Cowboy Interlude into their set, the band once again showcase their genre-defying range. Donning the obligatory cowboy hat and with a surge in James Ballaró’s lap steel guitar, the Lexington is given its saloon makeover at the night’s midpoint. ‘Swill to the Swine’, with its infectious saxophone melody and folk-country violin, is a mastery of communal performance. Nearly every member contributes to the vocals, and each instrument gets a chance to shine, turning the song into a moment of shared joy. As easily befitting a campfire as it does The Lexington, this track stands out as one of the evening’s highlights and it is impossible not to indulge in a little line dancing. The country twang falls perfectly in step with their latest releases, echoing elements of several earlier tracks in the set. With its slower tempo and the expressive contours of Claire’s violin, ‘Bleary Eyes’ carries all the hallmarks of a classic country ballad. Reminiscent of the longing of Lucinda Williams’ ‘Overtime’, ‘Bleary Eyes’ touches on a universal emptiness that seems to take the breath out of the room. Yet, thanks to their vast instrumentation and proclivity for the electronic, Truthpaste transcend convention, redefining the boundaries of country ballads, folk narratives and indie rock. |
While Truthpaste’s musical talents were the focus of the evening, they also welcomed the audience into their camaraderie. Filling time between tracks with meme sound clips and the occasional joke from Esmé, the band have adopted a light-hearted approach to performing, inviting everyone to share in their onstage joy. Nowhere was this more evident than during the spontaneous call and response in ‘See You Around’. As voices joined on the song’s harmonious refrain, band and audience merged, united in their answer to Esmé’s playful query: “Will you watch TV with me, in a cottage by the sea?” Overflowing with charm and tenderness, ‘See You Around’ proved a delightful addition to the evening’s set, whisking us away to bright summer afternoons in quiet hometowns. As the performance drew to a close, Truthpaste solidified their ethos with the heartfelt ‘Friendship is the Truth’. Though each member brings their unique musicality, they are bound together by a palpable friendship best experienced live. For, as their song reminds us, “friendship is the truth, be told”. |
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