Chvrches came to Milwaukee last night at the Riverside Theater and delighted a well-packed house to the brilliant nuances, joyous vibrations and indie pop perspectives that drive the heart of their most recent release, “Love Is Dead.” The band, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty, both synthesizer players and multi-instrumentalists, along with vocalist Lauren Mayberry and touring drummer Jonny Scott, were nothing short of mesmerizing during their time on stage that showcased their strengths as songwriters and performers both individually and as a whole.

Over the course of the show, each member played musical chairs of sorts, taking turns and dividing duties on vocals, keys and guitars without so much as a hiccup along the way. The musical diversity and rich, organic sound the band has run with during their career translated to their live show in deeply harmonious ways that thundered through the Riverside last night with sonic lightning bolts of musical genius.

'Love Is Dead' tracks comprised most of the Chvrches setlist

Pulling a majority of the material for the night from their recent album, “Love Is Dead,” Chvrches also devoted a fair portion of the set to their debut, “The Bones Of What You Believe,” and scattered highlights from their sophomore release, “Every Open Eye,” sparkled the list for good measure.

The band wasted no time getting down to business by opening the show with “Get Out” and quickly diving headlong into “We Sink” and “Graffiti,” some of the most solid material that Chrvches has in their musical arsenal. One of the strongest moments of the night came during the finale of "Never Say Die", when Mayberry defiantly and elegantly repeated the songs chorus and title to the crowd..

Chvrches may have declared that love is dead, but never saying die is an anthem that an entire generation can get behind. Mayberry displayed last night for Milwaukee that she's here to say, never to be silenced, a team player and if things ever go south with the band, ready to try a new career as a stand-up comedian. Her between-song banter was full of charm and wit, and she even took a moment to honor an autograph request on a vinyl record, passing the album along to Iain and Martin for their signatures after she was done making her mark.

Chvrches celebrated their song catalog with fans

The show was filled with the sort of ecstatic exuberance usually reserved for and reminiscent of a triumphant celebration.

Despite what many critics have claimed about the bleak lyrical content from Chvrches catalog, particularly with "Love Is Dead," the show was a clear affirmation that music, live music, is alive, well and in good hands.

The nearly sold out concert proved that the love of live music is a special thing, a communal moment, and a sacred space where, for a brief moment in time, all the worries of the day can be tossed aside and pure joy can be experienced.

Perhaps the most brilliant parts of the show were when unexpected things occurred, such as when Iain and Martin picked up their guitars and basses to add a special analog moment to the music, giving a nuanced audible texture that, despite the outwardly electronic music, blurred the lines of electronic, rock and pop.

That crossroads is where Chvrches perhaps thrived the most last night.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED