Played @ The Corn Exchange, Edinburgh on Wed 5 Nov
Being from Glasgow, Chvrches are excitable in front of a Scottish crowd. Establishing a powerful presence amongst a space invaders-esque set up, the band roar into their set amidst jarring laser effects which suit their heavy electronic sound perfectly, and knocks the dwelling atmosphere up a fat notch. By this point, the bellies of the audience are rumbling for a big set opening after a rather stretched-out interval between the bonkers support Lizzo and the main act.
There’s an odd mood in the crowd, who maintain a sense of placidity during most of the set. Luckily the excitement breaks out a little more during Chvrches most well-known tunes, The Mother We Share, Recover, and parts of their new Hunger Games soundtrack number, Dead Air, which is aptly stimulating.
For such a rapidly blossoming act, they put on a close to perfect show. Despite this, tonight’s performance can’t help but seem a little out of place at the Corn Exchange, which sports clinical white walls and ugly polystyrene ceiling tiles, giving everything an ugly grey tinge. The sound system is also a disappointment, the only source seeming to come from the stage, which forces the revved up bass to bounce off the shallow room and rattle your throat and chest – something which at its loudest feels almost nauseating.
It’s great to see a band who have grown so quickly take on such a mighty set, and the very talented singer Lauren Mayberry heartwarmingly reminisces about playing only a year previous in an empty and tiny Edinburgh venue. Tonight is a stark contrast. Chvrches should be proud in what they have achieved, however they are let down considerably by their surroundings this time.