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Thursday, October 29, 2015
Live Reviews / Photos / setlist Live review: Chvrches, The Fillmore (10/28/2015)
Posted By Alison Angel on Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 9:54 AM
Chvrches
The Fillmore
Oct. 28, 2015
Chvrches' Charlotte debut was a momentous occasion — one, because the Queen City had never gotten to worship at their musical feet before; two, because thanks to a partnership between Live Nation and Yahoo, the sold out crowd at the Fillmore Charlotte was able to watch live what the rest of the world was instantaneously watching via Yahoo live stream. Not too shabby for a Wednesday night.
The Scottish trio making up Chvrches (Iain Cook, Martin Doherty and Lauren Mayberry) have become an international electro-pop sensation. Their background is different from the idea of a traditional band; though they all had some kind of musical background previously, between the three of them they hold a law degree, a master’s degree in journalism and one member has credits as a film and television composer. When they got together to record a few demos back in 2011 they decided they had something special and decided to make the switch full time to music, dubbing themselves Chvrches with a ‘V’ (for search engine purposes).
If their current success and devoted fan base is any indication, it looks like they were right. The group has been writing and performing their unique blend of Prince and Depeche Mode inspired electronica ever since, and released their second album Every Open Eye this year to critical acclaim.
It may be fair to say that when it comes to powerful music most people don’t think of electronica but with Chvrches, the version they’re bringing to the table is infectious and fun, especially when performed live. Arriving on stage backed by a truly dazzling lights display, the threesome buzzed through an almost 90-minute set (not bad considering, as Mayberry put it, “last time we were here (the band played Chapel Hill in 2014) we had, what, ten and a half songs?”) with some powerful conviction, making their name seem more than appropriate.
It’s a new kind of hymn for their fans, who danced all night long and screamed right along with them as they poured out sentimental lyrics like “I never promised you anything I couldn’t do, we tried to bury it and rise above.” Listening to the tiny Mayberry spout these words, it’s surprising that someone of her stature could command the stage with such power, but that’s why these Scots are worshipped: they combine pounding synths and beats and create a live show that is an experience to elevate everyone in the room.
Chvrches seemed to master the balancing act of the old and new, going full speed ahead jumping from the known to the unknown so smoothly that the comfort of the old gracefully eased their fans into embracing the newer material. The group was able to weave between staples like "Lies" from their 2013 debut album The Bones of What You Believe to sure-to-be new favorites like powerful anthem "Make Them Gold" without once interrupting the frantic dance party going on below them.
In fact, Cook, Doherty and Mayberry were joining in on the dance party, bopping around stage as much as possible without missing a beat. Around the world folks were dancing in front of laptop screens, but Charlotte got to dance with the life of the party — and Chvrches is definitely the life of the party anytime they hit that stage.
Setlist
Never Ending Circles
We Sink
Keep You on My Side
Lies
Make Them Gold
Empty Threat
Tether
Playing Dead
Science/Visions
Gun
Bury It
Under the Tide
Recover
Leave a Trace
Clearest Blue
Encore
Afterglow
The Mother We Share
The Fillmore
Oct. 28, 2015
Chvrches' Charlotte debut was a momentous occasion — one, because the Queen City had never gotten to worship at their musical feet before; two, because thanks to a partnership between Live Nation and Yahoo, the sold out crowd at the Fillmore Charlotte was able to watch live what the rest of the world was instantaneously watching via Yahoo live stream. Not too shabby for a Wednesday night.
The Scottish trio making up Chvrches (Iain Cook, Martin Doherty and Lauren Mayberry) have become an international electro-pop sensation. Their background is different from the idea of a traditional band; though they all had some kind of musical background previously, between the three of them they hold a law degree, a master’s degree in journalism and one member has credits as a film and television composer. When they got together to record a few demos back in 2011 they decided they had something special and decided to make the switch full time to music, dubbing themselves Chvrches with a ‘V’ (for search engine purposes).
If their current success and devoted fan base is any indication, it looks like they were right. The group has been writing and performing their unique blend of Prince and Depeche Mode inspired electronica ever since, and released their second album Every Open Eye this year to critical acclaim.
It may be fair to say that when it comes to powerful music most people don’t think of electronica but with Chvrches, the version they’re bringing to the table is infectious and fun, especially when performed live. Arriving on stage backed by a truly dazzling lights display, the threesome buzzed through an almost 90-minute set (not bad considering, as Mayberry put it, “last time we were here (the band played Chapel Hill in 2014) we had, what, ten and a half songs?”) with some powerful conviction, making their name seem more than appropriate.
It’s a new kind of hymn for their fans, who danced all night long and screamed right along with them as they poured out sentimental lyrics like “I never promised you anything I couldn’t do, we tried to bury it and rise above.” Listening to the tiny Mayberry spout these words, it’s surprising that someone of her stature could command the stage with such power, but that’s why these Scots are worshipped: they combine pounding synths and beats and create a live show that is an experience to elevate everyone in the room.
Chvrches seemed to master the balancing act of the old and new, going full speed ahead jumping from the known to the unknown so smoothly that the comfort of the old gracefully eased their fans into embracing the newer material. The group was able to weave between staples like "Lies" from their 2013 debut album The Bones of What You Believe to sure-to-be new favorites like powerful anthem "Make Them Gold" without once interrupting the frantic dance party going on below them.
In fact, Cook, Doherty and Mayberry were joining in on the dance party, bopping around stage as much as possible without missing a beat. Around the world folks were dancing in front of laptop screens, but Charlotte got to dance with the life of the party — and Chvrches is definitely the life of the party anytime they hit that stage.
Setlist
Never Ending Circles
We Sink
Keep You on My Side
Lies
Make Them Gold
Empty Threat
Tether
Playing Dead
Science/Visions
Gun
Bury It
Under the Tide
Recover
Leave a Trace
Clearest Blue
Encore
Afterglow
The Mother We Share
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