It was a bitter cold night as fans made their way to Union Transfer to see Lauren Mayberry on her Vicious Creatures Tour. Coming off the release of her brand debut solo album in December, Mayberry has been eager to spread her messages across the new tour. As far as what drew in the audience for the night, you would look out and notice a lot of fans of CHVRCHES where she is the frontwoman. That being said, it’s very important to note that this is NOT that band. While she did make a small comment about the support she received from those fans, the messages, and the overall sound of the performance was purely Lauren’s creation.
As the night went on, Lauren went from track to track which often varied in genre and spirit. As many debut solo albums go, there is a very large change in sound between songs throughout the album which ended up being reflected in the performance. This while intense, I would classify as a good thing. Especially if you have the performance ability of Mayberry. Opening with “Crocodile Tears” and “Changing Shapes,” I would say the two most standard pop melodies were played early on.
Mayberry was working the crowd as she always has and making a phone call on a little rotary phone at the beginning of her performance. She made sure to have a little chat with the Philly faithful about their recent superbowl success as well. I believe her words were along the lines of “I know nothing about the sport, but I think Jason Kelce is pretty cool.” A jump to piano ballads would arise for “Anywhere but Dancing.” The crowd noticeably had a little sway going for the majority of the track. Mayberry continued to show that she definitely has the pipes to sing without the synth sound. For “Something in the Air,” she added some powerful vocals to the performance, showing why it was one of the standout songs from the album. Using a simple flashlight enhanced megaphone, she began to lean into the more pop rock track, dissecting conspiracy theories and why people want a need to believe in them. The rock sound would continue into the night with my personal favorite track “Sorry Etc” which almost gives me PVRIS vibes as it has such a synth rock sound. I don’t find people use this enough in music today.
While it definitely got the crowd energized I would have loved to see a little more angst among the philly crowd. Of course it is now time for everyone’s favorite moment of the night… encore! Mayberry returned with a slow ballad singing “Oh, Mother” a beautifully jarring transition from what she just exited with. This is the most emotionally intense moment of her setlist and definitely was a good encore opener. Of course we can’t leave depressed so I think it’s appropriate that the setlist ends with “Sunday Best.” This track is debatably the most well produced of the album. I remember listening to the album in my car for the first time and when I heard the song build and build I thought, “yeah this is the end of the album.” News flash, it’s not, but it definitely was an awesome way to round out a beautiful performance.
Overall, the Mayberry set definitely reflected the solo album well. While well produced, you can tell this was an opportunity to be more experimental with her sound, while also getting across new messages to the audience. While it wasn’t necessarily flawless in every aspect, I believe that is what makes everything about this performance so real.
Mayberry is actively telling her story while also making sure to push for her beliefs. This review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some of those messages throughout the night. There was a sign outside the venue of Mayberry holding up a sign that said “I celebrate refugees because we are all benefited by living in a diverse society, and I value the human rights of everyone equally.” Before the performance started it was mentioned you could text a number to get information on supporting LGBTQA+ communities, which would give you the chance to win a signed setlist from the show that night. Her lyrics don’t hide that she is speaking out for equality, and her actions show an active effort to build that support. Her socials constantly speak out on social inequalities and women’s rights. This is what her performance and her album really speak on. The solo tour, whether we see a sequel or not, was a success because it allowed for a platform where Lauren could communicate these beliefs.
GALLERY: Lauren Mayberry at Union Transfer in Philadelphia (February 17, 2025)
