Live Review: Chvrches

It's been suggested by some that electro-pop outfit Chvrches have had such a rapid rise in popularity that they haven't quite adapted to the pressures of performing to bigger crowds. Playing a packed-out Laneway sideshow gig at the Metro last night, the Glasgow-based trio, while still retaining a fledgling quality to their performance, for the large part didn't let the pressure show in a spirited, impressive set.

From opener We Sink, the three-piece churned out immaculate synth hooks and a pulsating bass that served as the perfect background for lead singer Lauren Mayberry's staggering voice. Despite Mayberry's tiny frame, she has a voice strong enough to fill every corner in the theatre, even over the throbbing (and at times overwhelming) bass. The band kicked out some of their more popular tracks earlier on in the set, with both Gun and Lies receiving a passionate response from an animated crowd. It's amazing just how much sound two banks of synths and a few mics can make, and how much of an impact it has on a performance.

Chvrches stage set for the night is worth a mention, with the constant light show supplying a visual element to the evening that the trio themselves don't necessarily deliver. Although in their defence, it's hard to make pressing buttons visually stimulating, no matter how enthusiastic you are. Synth player Martin Doherty was the secret weapon for the night, making full use of the stage when he stepped out from behind is synth station to handle the vocals on Under The Tide. Dancing like a possessed marionette doll, Doherty's pure enthusiasm was definitely a highlight. In stark contrast, Mayberry, while enthusiastic in her own right, failed to move beyond her mic stand the entire night, and it would have been really great to see her a little less guarded onstage.

All in all the show definitely proved Chvrches to be worthy of the hype surrounding them, unleashing an energetic, compulsively danceable set that left their audience reeling.