Back to where it all began with Lauren Mayberry at the 9:30 Club

For years, Lauren Mayberry’s voice has been synonymous with CHVRCHES, soaring over synth-driven anthems that filled festival stages and packed clubs. But on February 18, under the banner of her debut solo tour, Vicious Creature, she stepped back onto the 9:30 Club stage not as a band’s frontwoman, but as an artist fully in control of her own identity.

For Mayberry, the 9:30 Club isn’t just another stop on the tour—it’s where her solo journey began. Her very first show without CHVRCHES took place on its stage, making her return on the Vicious Creature Tour feel like a welcome homecoming. Calling it “genuinely one of [her] favorite places to play,” she filled the night with the same warmth and energy that made it the perfect launchpad for this next chapter.

Opening the show was Lord of Venus, a one-woman electronic act blending synthwave melodies with politically charged lyrics. Her set was drenched in dark, moody visuals, with deep blue and purple lighting punctuated by bursts of strobes. The hypnotic atmosphere heightened the intensity of her lyricism, creating a performance that was as visually striking as it was sonically immersive.

When Mayberry took the stage, she did so with the swag of an artist who has spent over a decade commanding crowds but with a fresh sense of personal reinvention. Kicking off the set with "Crocodile Tears," she immediately established the blend of vulnerability and defiance that defines her solo work. The setlist weaved through tracks from "Vicious Creature," including the driving pulse of "Change Shapes," the biting introspection of "Shame," and the playfully dark "Mantra."

Before launching into "Something in the Air," brandishing a flashlight-enhanced megaphone with a smirk, Mayberry joked, “this song has a prop.” The moment perfectly captured the balance of playful theatrics and razor-sharp commentary that defines her artistry. The song, written as a response to conspiracy theories and our existential nature, took on an eerie resonance being played in our nation's capital.

The night’s most poignant moment came with Are You Awake?, where Mayberry sat at the piano, bathed in the glow of several disco balls. The room hushed as she delivered an aching ballad that showcased a different side of her artistry—one that leans into more personal emotion as much as the punchy, euphoric pop she’s known for.

Midway through the set, the crowd roared as band members Heather Nation and Marian Li-Pino The Verve’s "Bitter Sweet Symphony," a choice that felt like a nod to reinvention and reclaiming one’s narrative—something Mayberry herself is doing as she steps into her solo career.

The encore brought the night full circle with Oh, Mother and Sunday Best, two tracks that exemplify the intimate, confessional nature of Vicious Creature.

Mayberry’s performance was a testament to her transformation. She embraced the weight of her past while carving out something unmistakably her own, and more assured than ever. Returning to 9:30 Club wasn’t just another date on the tour; it was a homecoming, a declaration, and a glimpse of what’s to come. Lauren Mayberry is no longer just the voice of CHVRCHES—she’s an artist standing entirely on her own, and it seems she’s only getting started.

Setlist

Crocodile Tears

Change Shapes

Mantra Shame

Anywhere but Dancing

Punch Drunk

Something in the Air

Are You Awake?

Bitter Sweet Symphony (The Verve cover)

A Work of Fiction

Sorry, Etc

Encore:

Oh, Mother

Sunday Best