Photo Gallery: Lauren Mayberry at Thalia Hall • Chicago
Lauren Mayberry
Thalia Hall
Chicago, IL
February 5, 2025
Recap and photos by Curt Baran
“During sound check, I was amazed by the size of this room. I was terrified that only 12 people would show up. I’m so relieved to see all of you here.”
Lauren Mayberry alluded to the inherent risks of going solo when she uttered these words from the stage at Chicago’s Thalia Hall. For over a decade, the Scottish musician has been the face and voice of the band Chvrches. Her solo debut, Vicious Creature, was released in December of 2024 and she’s currently on the road touring to support the new material.
Her concerns about going it alone certainly seemed unfounded in the very welcoming confines of the Pilsen venue. Songs like “Change Shapes,” Crocodile Tears,” and “Something In The Air” didn’t stray too terribly far from the synth-fueled, disco-kissed pop that populated the releases from her other band. If anything, the new material takes a similar approach to songwriting and then distills itself to a purer, more minimalist finished product. As a performer, Mayberry still proved to be the center of attention, pirouetting across the floorboards one minute and then hitting her marks for a grandiose rock star pose moments later. In fact, by the time she tore through a cover of The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” near the midway point of her set, any doubts she may have had about her ability to go it alone had long since been eviscerated.
Category: IE Photo Gallery
