Just a few cities into their latest installment of the Love is Dead Tour, CHVRCHES brought their incredible show to Portland’s historic and gorgeous Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The natural acoustics of the theater carried vocalist Lauren Mayberry’s soaring voice and echoed the booming synthesizers and drums. CHVRCHES delivers a live performance that is flawless, sonically matching the mesmerizing studio quality of their records, while also blowing their audience’s expectations out of the water through their stage presence and impressive lighting display.
Though they’ve been a band now since 2011, recorded three albums and gone on countless tours together, CHVRCHES remain close friends and as genuine as they were when they first began. Their relationship and personalities are on display as they recount stories and tell jokes on stage, interacting with each other and their fans. Mayberry taking the time to speak with members of the audience individually, and self aware of her actions jokes with the crowd she’s having a private conversation as she continues her chat into the microphone.
With each tour, CHVRCHES successfully outdoes their performance and their live show. Yet again, the band took the Love is Dead Tour to new levels. Behind the band stood multiple large panels of light, and in front of the synthesizer and drum kits were large light up slash and X’s (keeping with the album art theme of Love is Dead). CHVRCHES long time lighting director and designer, Louis Oliver, expertly crafted and controlled the lights to compliment and elevate each individual song.
Now balancing three albums in their set, CHVRCHES performed 18 songs and favored their latest record. The band opened their show with the lead single off Love is Dead, “Get Out,” and closed the show with “Never Say Die.” The other records weren’t omitted, and fans were overjoyed to hear songs such as “Clearest Blue,” “Gun,” “Recover,” and “We Sink” – just to name a few.
CHVRCHES have cemented themselves as the quintessential synth and electro pop artist. Each tour sees an evermore impressive light show, and the Love is Dead era brought the addition of Johnny Scott as a tour drummer. Years of touring have turned Mayberry into a seasoned frontwoman, commanding the attention on stage and staring back at her audience with conviction. Whipping her hair, walking back and forth across the stage, and spinning her long skirt around. The other two members, Martin Doherty and Iain Cook, bob behind their podiums until Doherty get’s his moment of spotlight and enthusiastically performs his solo tracks. Seeing CHVRCHES tracks come to life is breathtaking, and their shows are an experience that can’t be missed.
For more info on CHVRCHES, including more tour dates, visit their website.
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