Chvrches – The Armory – Minneapolis MN – November 19 2021

First Avenue – The Current and Jam Productions present Chvrches

Review and photos by Todd Johnson

Chvrches is a unique band. They are a synth-pop band from Scotland that has 3 members that sounds modern and also sounds very retro at the same time. The vocals are done by Lauren Mayberry who has an amazing voice and makes it seem effortless. The two other official members are Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. They both play keyboards, synthesizers and guitar. Both Martin and Iain are former members of the band Aereogramme.

Before COVID Chvrches would constantly tour. However this is their first tour since COVID. Lauren said during the concert that this was the first tour with wardrobe changes and towards the end she did a dramatic wardrobe change, without giving too much away, that seemed out of nowhere, but made sense considering the album name is “Screen Violence.” By the end of the night, during the last song the front of the audience (and probably the rest of the audience as well) was literally jumping up and down with pure energy.

By the way, you never really know what to expect with opening bands so I usually have low expectations with the opening act but I was blown away by the voice of Donna Missal. Her voice was so so strong she barely needed a microphone. They said on-stage they were going to do a cover song and didn’t know what to expect but it turned out be a cover of Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees” and it was phenomenal! I could picture her doing a duet with Thom Yorke someday on that song.