Dan Russell-Pinson – February 22, 2025
Lauren Mayberry brought her Vicious Creature tour to Charlotte’s Underground last night playing all of the songs from her 2024 solo album of the same name. Opening things off was solo artist Cult of Venus who delivered a dramatic and hauntingly beautiful set switching between keyboards and guitar and delivering gorgeous vocals throughout.
Lauren Mayberry is best known as the lead singer of the highly successful band CHVRCHES. Joined on-stage by multi-instrumentalist Heather Nation and drummer Marian Li-Pino, Mayberry creates an fun, upbeat vibe with more serious, poignant moments mixed in.
Lauren Mayberry performing at The Underground Charlotte (Photo by Dan Russell-Pinson)
The show begins with the following pre-recorded audio message from Mayberry, “The following is a work of fiction. Any similarities to actual events or actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. This is a work of fiction.”. She then launches into her first song, “Crocodile Tears”, setting a playful tone as she instantly warms up the crowd visiting every square foot of stage. The energy continues with the attitude-laden, “Change Shapes” — a single from the album.
”I’m marginally late tonight because I was putting safety pins in my costume. I don’t have seamstress money. I don’t have tailor money or T-A-Y-L-O-R money.”, explains Mayberry as she receives help in pinning up her top from her bandmates and off-stage helpers.
Lauren Mayberry performing at The Underground Charlotte (Photo by Dan Russell-Pinson)
The mood shifts to a more somber tone as Mayberry begins her acoustic song, “Anywhere but Dancing”. With a hush cascading throughout the audience, you could hear a pin drop as Mayberry’s melancholy voice fills the room. The chorus, filling the entire space loudly and clearly, generated more goosebumps than any other part of the night.
“I’ve been searching for the airs and the graces/ I’ve been looking down the river of changes/ I stare into the mirror to find the face you used to wear/ But it isn’t there/ And now he takes you anywhere but dancing”
Lauren Mayberry performing at The Underground Charlotte (Photo by Dan Russell-Pinson)
The energy returns quickly with the super-fun “Punch Drunk” creating a party-like atmosphere especially during the chorus. “Something in the Air”, a song Mayberry performed on Jimmy Kimmel last year, kept the audience’s head in the clouds with its larger than life sound and soaring chorus.
“I just want to be someone, someone who’s happy/ But why d’you even care?/ Must be something in the air.”
After the beautiful piano ballad, “Are You Awake?”, Mayberry remained seated at the piano to play a very sparse intro of The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony”. The first verse and chorus were performed as minimally as possible before launching into full volume as the audience cheered loudly.
The peak energy of the show was achieved during “Sorry, Etc” — Mayberry’s most energetic and edgiest song on the album and perhaps the only track that could be labeled as a rock song. The lights were so bright and frenetic at some points of the song that you could barely see Mayberry on stage.
After a short break, the show began its close with the beautifully, sad piano ballad — “Oh, Mother”. “It’s kind of a bummer, honestly. If you’ve got Mum stuff, this is a depressing Mum stuff song for you.”, says Mayberry.
Lauren Mayberry performing at The Underground Charlotte (Photo by Dan Russell-Pinson)
Before the last encore Mayberry reminisced about the many times her band, CHVRCHES, had played Charlotte and The Underground specifically. After telling a few stories, she thanked the audience again for coming out to the show. The bouncy opening piano riff of “Sunday Best” kicked off the final song of the show ending the evening as it started with crazy levels of energy and fun.
The Vicious Creature tour continues through the southern United States ending in California on May 24th with several UK dates squeezed in at the end of March.
Setlist: February 21, 2025 – The Underground – Charlotte, NC
Crocodile Tears
Change Shapes
Mantra
Shame
Anywhere but Dancing
Punch Drunk
Something in the Air (extended intro)
Are You Awake?
Bitter Sweet Symphony (The Verve cover)
A Work of Fiction
Sorry, Etc
Oh, Mother (encore)
Sunday Best (encore)
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