Okay, I'll admit it: I only knew 3 CHVRCHES songs before attending their concert last night. I guess that's not terrible considering they only have about 13 songs, but still. I was a total poser. I was "that annoying girl at the concert who's just here to be hip". Upon entering Minglewood, I was tragically told that I was not permitted to take my disposable camera inside the venue. Great, I thought, no hip, edgy film photos tonight. But my disappointment was short lived. CHVRCHES killed it. They really did. I am pretty rarely surprised by artists, but CHVRCHES played a fantastic set. Their lead singer is this adorable Scottish woman with a killer voice. Her voice was so good that I thought she might have been lip-synching, but really she was just that good. In between songs, she informed the audience that Memphis is the most written about city in music history, appearing in over 200 songs. She seemed super genuine, and humbled to be preforming in Memphis. It's always a nice plus for me when musicians I think are talented are not complete assholes (like the Lumineers, but that's a story for a different time). The lights were also done spectacularly and really enhanced the performance. If you haven't heard CHVRCHES, or have only heard "The Mother We Share", here are some songs to get you started:
Tether - CHVRCHES
I think I've decided that "Tether" is my favorite song by CHVRCHES. I really love a lot of their songs now, but I love the progression of "Tether". It starts slow and more mellow, and than towards the middle/end of the song there is this great techno-ish drop and the song becomes super upbeat. Seeing this song live was amazing; the lights correlated with the song perfectly. I also like the repeated line "feeling capable of saying it's over".
We Sink - CHVRCHES
"We Sink" is a super catchy song. It showcases CHVRCHES unique style perfectly; it mixes techno/keyboard with the soft, girly voice of the lead singer. This song is a great one to dance to. Although CHVRCHES mostly uses a few short lyrics repeated over and over again, I still think their lyrics are meaningful and interesting.
Night Sky - CHVRCHES
"Night Sky" is the perfect mixture of fun and intensity. To me, this song almost sounds like something Ellie Goulding would sing. The chorus of this song is so fantastically catchy, and I won't be getting tired of it anytime soon. I like how the female and male singer go back in forth throughout the entire song.
Under The Tide - CHVRCHES
"Under The Tide" is the only song that features the male singer. This song is a little slower, and I didn't think I was gonna like it that much. But after seeing it live, I've fallen for this song. Once again, I like how this song starts slower, and then builds up. It creates a dramatic effect that contributes to the meaning of the song. I love the keyboard/synthesizer/whatever is creating the background music in "Under The Tide".