Over the course of Chvrches‘ career, the Glasgow-based band have built up a fairly dedicated fanbase, so it came as no big surprise when I saw that Chvrches singer Lauren Mayberry had quickly sold out a solo show at the Horseshoe Tavern before anyone had heard a note of new music from her.
And now, just as Mayberry is set to begin her North American tour this week, we finally have a taste of what’s to come in the form of her new single, “Are You Awake?”, a gentle, relatively sparse piano ballad. Check it out below.
Sometimes you’re tired as hell (even though you didn’t really do much of anything all day) and struggling with the choice of going out to a rock show or just heading over to your local dive bar to hang with the usual crew of reprobates. Such was my dilemma on Friday night, but despite being a big tired baby I rallied and happily ended up cactching a great show from Pyrrhon and Couch Slut.
Taking to the stage just after 10:00pm, Brooklyn-based death metallers Pyrrhon introduced themselves in an unusual way by telling the crowd, “We are not Couch Slut.” Now, this was probably obvious to most, but it was nonetheless an important public service as they let us know that the two bands had switched positions on the bill due to Couch Slut running late. As Couch Slut vocalist Megan Osztrosits would later explain, the band’s planned six hour drive turned into ten hours.
Pyrrhon impressed with their heavy and technical tunes, making use of a lot of dissonance in their sound. In concert, they bought to mind a cross between Brutal Truth and Gorguts with a little Jesus Lizard and Swans mixed in for good measure. A potent blend indeed.
Up next were Couch Slut, who matched Pyrron’s intensity with a solid set of heavy noise rock that, like their tourmates, takes influence from a lot of different sources. With the rest of her bandmates setting up onstage, Osztrosits opted to stay on the floor and up close to the crowd for the duration of their set. And during that set, she definitely put her all into the performance, roaming throughout the audience and occasionally hitting herself with the mic. It’s not too surprising then that after what seemed like only a few songs, she was already asking her bandmates if the next song could be their last. I get it, I’d probably need a break too after a performance like that. Unfortunately for Osztrosits, but luckily for the rest of us, Couch Slut did not cut their set short.
And, for any who might be wondering, I was still able to make it out to my local dive bar in time for last call after the show. Best of both worlds!
“Worth It or Not?” is the latest single off of Santa Chiara‘s debut album IMPORTED, out October 20 via Kill Rock Stars. Clocking in at under two minutes, it’s short, but sweet. Check it out.
