Love Isn't Dead at the Greek Theater: A Chvrches Concert Experience

With her "Girls Can Do Anything" graphic tee and silver shorts that sparkle with every move, Lauren Mayberry, lead singer of the techno pop band Chvrches commands the stage from the start. Strutting around on the Greek Theater stage Sunday night, it is clear Mayberry knows how to work a crowd. Illuminated by the full moon high in the sky, Mayberry puts on quite a captivating show.

The band followed the opening act Lo Moon, an indie rock band that is local to Los Angeles.

Member of Lo Moon, Crisanta Baker

Chvrches is band members Mayberry, Iain Cook, and Martin Doherty. Chvrches formed in Glasgow, where all of them are from and have taken the world by storm since their debut EP,  Recover EP. Chvrches recently released their junior album, Love Is Dead on May of this year, which they recorded in Los Angeles. Their show this last Sunday, September 23, marks only their "second proper show of tour," as Mayberry herself noted on stage.

The show consists of epic strobe combination with color coordinating lights that are also displayed on semi cross like object which make an interesting focal point on stage and a play on the band name. The awesome visuals were only improved by the open air theater and beauty of the night sky, with a wall of towering trees that surround the Greek Theater. Mayberry's impressive high notes were meant to be heard in an open air theater like the Greek. This venue was one of the best to see Chvrches live.

Mayberry gives fans the highest energy she can, strutting across stage in boots almost as high as the step stool she uses to enable even the fans in the back of the pit to see her. She hits every part of the stage evenly, even running to each side at times. Mayberry dances and head bangs to every song, showing an undoubtable love for the music Chvrches is creating and even went so hard with her dance moves that she broke a mic stand mid-song.

 

It is clear Chvrches has developed a loyal fan base who were excited to see the band do a show of such size in Los Angeles as practically every seat was filled with dancing fans. During the song Deliverance off the recent Love Is Dead album, the theater was shaking from fans jumping around and dancing. More than once, fans also would recognize and cheer for songs from the first note being played, like with Clearest Blue, a fan favorite from album Every Open Eye.

 A moment that stood out was when Chvrches played their song Really Gone from the new album. This song provided a rare solemn note to an otherwise upbeat set list. The music is mostly stripped to provide a vocally important delivery which Mayberry smashes again. Even the effects of a sole spotlight and the stage crosses colored a light blue added to the solemn mood this beautifully rendered song called for.

See Chvrches at their other shows in the future or keep up with them on social media. A gallery of more pictures from the concert is here as well.