Ally Pally is an unforgiving venue that will swallow up all but the hardiest of bands, so credit to Chvrches (pronounced churches) for proving they can prosper in the biggest of spaces.
The Glasgow trio specialise in hook-heavy synth-pop and on their latest album, Love Is Dead, they collaborated with former Eurythmics man Dave Stewart.
Their focal point is singer Lauren Mayberry, a whirl of pirouettes and excitable between-song chatter, while bandmates Iain Cook and Martin Doherty provide synths and a geezer-ish earthiness.
Chvrches’ two-hour set began with Get Out, one of many examples of the band’s ability to combine commercially-minded melodies with genuine soul. Another song, Graffiti, was a showcase for Mayberry’s soaring vocals, while Deliverance took a turn for the political with the lyrics: “They’re leaving bodies in the stairwells and washing up on shores.”
When you arrive at a sound as good as this it’s tempting to repeat the formula, and Chvrches were guilty of failing to break free from the formula. Too many songs were interchangeable. Still, when you can create moments as irresistible as Recover and The Mother We Share, who cares? Certainly not the crowd, who were in raptures throughout.
Before Chvrches took the stage, the wonderfully titled Let’s Eat Grandma proved why their latest album, I’m All Ears, has drawn praise from far and wide.
Two whip-smart bands, one wonderful night of live music. What’s not to like?
