Live music review: Lauren Mayberry begins captivating new chapter after CHVRCHES
Lauren Mayberry has spent over a decade commanding festival stages as the charismatic front woman of CHVRCHES. I remember seeing her at Pitchfork Fest 2015, right after Mac Demarco, playfully pointing out the scattered cigarette butts left on the floor. The sound of CHVRCHES is filled with shoegaze-y synths, shimmering reverb and pulsating beats. But on February 26 at the Historic Scoot Inn in Austin, she stepped out in a new role as a solo artist. Her performance felt deeply personal, raw, and self-assured. It didn’t seem like an artist reinventing herself, but someone making music on her own terms.
Stripped down, but with a powerful sound
The contrast between CHVRCHES’ arena-filling soundscapes and Mayberry’s solo material strips some of the layers of synth-heavy production in favor of more pop-oriented structures and sound. Mayberry leans into live instrumentation and vulnerability (complete with a glittering SHAME emblazoned on her left cheek). While songs like “Are You Awake?” carry the melancholic intimacy of a confessional, others like “Shame” and “Change Shapes” reveal a new edge, blending pop melodies with rock textures.
The tracks are included on Mayberry’s new album, Vicious Creature which was released last December on the EMI label. The singer cited Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, Jenny Lewis and Sinéad O’Connor as musical influences.
Unlike the music, Mayberry’s ability to command a crowd remains unchanged. There was less of the high-energy bounce that defines a CHVRCHES set, replaced instead with storytelling, more self-deprecating humor, props (!) and an openness that made the night feel intimate. From a rotary telephone on the opening “Crocodile Tears” to a megaphone used for cinematic choruses, Mayberry will do anything to elevate her storytelling. She spoke about the transition from bandleader to solo artist with self-awareness, joking about the absurdity of performing without the protective wall of synths.
The set’s most affecting moments came when she seemed most at ease with songs like, “Sorry, Etc.” carried a weight that felt uniquely hers, layered with reflections on autonomy, past relationships, and self-discovery. While different from CHVRCHES’ maximalist sound, her lyrics still maintain her trademark wit and emotional precision.
A personal, playful performance
While much of the night leaned into darker, more introspective themes, Mayberry’s personality, equal parts sharp humor and endearing awkwardness, kept the set from ever feeling too heavy. Her between-song banter was as much a part of the experience as the music itself, full of self-deprecating humor and Austin shoutouts.
Where CHVRCHES shows often feel cinematic in their wall of sound, Mayberry’s solo performance felt like an invitation into her world. Mayberry’s show at Scoot Inn was more than just a debut for her solo material; it was a declaration that she’s capable of standing on her own without the safety net of CHVRCHES’ electronic grandeur. For longtime fans, it was thrilling to watch her explore new creative ground while still enjoying her talents. And if this show was any indication, Mayberry’s next chapter is just beginning, but it’s already worth following.
All photos by Drew Doggett
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