Gig review: Chvrches, Glasgow

“We’re a band called Chvrches,” announced singer Lauren Mayberry, surprising no-one. “Thank you for coming to see our first ever show at the Barrowlands.”

CHVRCHES' live set is maturing all the time, writes David Pollock. Picture: Contributed

Chvrches - Barrowland, Glasgow

* * * *

The bashful false modesty of the early part of the statement was offset by the genuine delight audible in the second, and the internationally famed Glasgow trio were given a hero’s welcome by the capacity crowd who had turned out to see them.

With all 13 of the tracks on last year’s debut album The Bones of What You Believe played and clocking in at barely an hour, there was a real sense that their live set is maturing all the time. Backed by a huge and impressive neon and strobe light show, the trio – Mayberry on vocals, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty – performed with heart and enthusiasm, the fixture-rattling electronic crunch of the music neatly offset by Mayberry’s voice, alluringly optimistic and possessed of a tone which wouldn’t have sounded out of place soundtracking a John Hughes film.

Their set was broadly excellent, although that the respectful audience response established during the opening We Sink only broke into feverish excitement during the big signature tracks Recover and The Mother We Share, as well as Doherty’s vocal turn amidst Under the Tide, suggested they’ll grow into this venue.

Eternal kudos to Mayberry for her command of the space though, not least when an embarrassing pocket of male booing after her International Women’s Day dedication caused the elfin singer to snap “I’m going to come out there and boot you in the ****”. Riot Grrrl in spirit if not sound, then.

Seen on 08.03.14