Chvrches have been making a lot of waves this year. Formed in 2011 and releasing their debut album only two months ago, the Glasgow trio have been getting hype prettymucheverywhere, and their most popular singles are closing in on 2 million YouTube views apiece. "Gun" has been a favorite around the office over the past few months, and if you haven't seen the song's trippy, kaleidoscopic video, you really owe it to yourself to check it out:
With the release of their first EP, Recover, back in February on Glassnote Records, Chvrches started a buzz amongst critics and tapped-in fans alike, which has only built in intensity in the months since then. Combining the musical talents of Glasgow scene veterans Iain Cook (Aerogramme) and Martin Doherty (The Twilight Sad) with impressive young vocalist Lauren Mayberry, Chvrches found the perfect formula to create tunes that mix New Wave synths, electro-influenced beats, and understated guitar textures into indelible pop classics. Over these excellent soundscapes, Mayberry lays her clear, gorgeous vocal tones and sincere, poetic lyrics to give these songs another layer of complexity and greatness. The fact that the chorus of "The Mother We Share" is built around the lines "I'm in misery where you can seem as old as your omens, and the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling" is remarkable considering how light and catchy this tune sounds if you don't focus on the words.
When Chvrches first booked their upcoming dates at The NorVa and The National, The Bones Of What You Believe wasn't even out yet, and it seemed somewhat uncertain as to whether they could really fill major venues like these. Since then, though, it's become obvious that this band is still on their way up, and if anything, we should all be glad we'll have the chance to see them in a venue this small. Three years from now, when you're seeing them from behind 5000 people at some outdoor festival, you won't want to be filled with regrets. Go see them here in VA next week!
WHAT:Chvrches Bring Scottish Synth-Pop Glory To RVA!
WHO:Chvrches, Wet
WHERE:The National, 708 E. Broad St
WHEN: Friday, November 29, Doors open at 7 PM
ADMISSION: $20 in advance/$23 at the door--advance tickets available HERE
As we've mentioned, they will be playing The NorVa next week as well--that show is Wednesday, November 27, so if that fits in better with your Thanksgiving plans, you can grab tickets to that show HERE. However, if it's the show at The National you're trying to go to, then you might just be in luck, because we have two tickets to that show to give away to one lucky RVA Magazine reader! Just enter your info in the Punchtab widget below--you know how that works by now, right? We'll be announcing the winner on Friday at 5 PM, so make sure you enter before then!