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Omicron variant be damned, it was a packed house for CHVRCHES‘ show at Franklin Music Hall in Philly on Friday, 12/3. Opening for CHVRCHES was Central Jersey’s own Donna Missal. First off, how did I not know she was from Jersey? Secondly, why the heck have I been sleeping on her for so long? I first became acquainted with her name from her cover of “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby” from 2020’s Promising Young Woman (a film I enjoyed immensely), but I never looked into her further. I realized that was a mistake a couple songs into her set when I had a “holy shit, she’s really good” epiphany. The icing on the cake of her performance was her cover of “Fake Plastic Trees”.
In anticipation of CHVRCHES taking the stage, it became increasingly challenging to maneuver around the venue with latecomers squeezing in and making their final push to the front. While this was the largest and most densely packed pandemic era indoor show I’ve attended, COVID precautions (by way of mandatory proof of vaccination and mask wearing) were exercised – something I was thankful for, as we were packed like sardines in that mofo. CHVRCHES frontperson/vocalist Lauren Mayberry even expressed her approval remarking that she hadn’t previously witnessed such a widely masked audience as the Philly crowd. Hey, that’s how we do.
They started off their set with “He Said She Said“, a single they teased early on in the year ahead of the release of their horror themed 4th LP Screen Violence. The self-produced album is another evolution in their sound while also paying homage to their British influences – “Final Girl” hints at Johnny Marr-esque jangly guitars while “Violent Delights” evokes UK breakbeat. The album also features an unexpected collaboration with legendary The Cure frontperson Robert Smith on the track “How Not To Drown“.
Monologue/dialogue in between songs was relatively sparse, but Mayberry recalled that time CHVRCHES made the news back in 2014 for their block party performance at the Piazza in NoLibs. Coincidentally, that was the last time the 104.5 Block Party was held there. Apparently, residents in the area were none too happy about all the public urination and other lewd behavior (such prudes, right?).
Mayberry is an electrifying performer to watch on stage and kept her stamina up all night with her signature twirls (not to mention numerous outfit changes). This included during their 3-song encore that couldn’t have ended more perfectly with “Clearest Blue” from their Every Open Eye LP. Check out the full setlist below and keep scrolling to see more photos from the show.
CHVRCHES Setlist (12/3/2021):
– He Said She Said
– Forever
– Leave a Trace
– California
– How Not to Drown
– Violent Delights
– Science/Visions
– Good Girls
– Bury It
– Miracle
– Night Sky
– Final Girl
– Recover
– Never Say Die
// Encore //
– Asking for a Friend
– The Mother We Share
– Clearest Blue
