Why do we like this?

Scottish synth-pop trio CHVRCHESkicked off their last U.S. tour of 2013 at Oakland'sFox Theaterlast night. The venue was packed with Bay Area 20-somethings, and those of us who didn't bring vape pens were quick to order light beers for six dollars a pop.



Opening act Basecampput on a solid show, introducing more of the world to their unique style of dark, R&B-tinged electronica. Check out the previously featured "Emmanuel" to get a better sense of the Nashville production trio.



I last saw CHVRCHES play live at San Francisco'sThe Independent in March. What stood out immediately to me last night was that compared with March's show, they seemed so comfortable performing for a live audience. Constant touring and the release of a debut LP, The Bones of What You Believe, have resulted in a longer, more-polished CHVRCHES set that keeps fans engaged from start to finish, and not just when "The Mother We Share" starts up.



Lead singer Lauren Mayberry is quickly coming into her own as the focal point of the Glasgow trio. As Pitchforkassociate editorLarry Fitzmauricewrote in his review of their debut LP, "Even when Mayberry's at her most powerful, her voice possesses a specific, relatable humanity, which brightens the adolescent glow of her lyrics." I found this especially true when the band performed "Night Sky" and "Recover."



Big ups to Iain Cook and Martin Doherty, too. They provided the majority of synths and bass that filled Fox Theater with shimmering sonic beauty. Doherty caught me off guard when he switched places with Mayberry late in the show to perform "Under the Tide." His Thom Yorke-likesinging/dancing brought a renewed energy to the crowd and a smile to a lot of people's faces.



Since we've already featured most of CHVRCHES' SoundCloud catalog on the site before, I've decided to hype this remix of "Night Sky" by New Zealand producer Wxlves.



Interested in seeing them live? Check out their upcoming concerts on Songkick.