On Friday, May 23, Lauren Mayberry performed her last show of the Vicious Creature tour, originally scheduled for Wednesday Jan. 29. Mayberry’s energetic songs and honest lyrics made her first solo tour one to remember. San Francisco’s iconic Fillmore Auditorium hosted the concert under chandeliers and colorful lights, and the energy in the room buzzed with excitement.
Lauren Mayberry began her music career by playing in various bands starting when she was 15 years old. In 2011, Mayberry joined the band CHVRCHES as the lead singer and percussionist. CHVRCHES became increasingly well known in 2019, collaborating with notable artists such as Marshmello and Robert Smith of The Cure. Following her time with CHVRCHES, Mayberry debuted her solo career Dec. 6, 2024 with the release of her first album, Vicious Creature.
The Fillmore itself has operated as a venue since 1912, when it was “The Majestic Hall and Majestic Academy of Dancing.” In 1954, Charles Sullivan took over the lease and began booking bands and live performances. It is currently owned by Live Nation and continues to welcome blossoming artists and bands. Over the years the Fillmore has hosted The Grateful Dead, Radiohead, Metallica, Billy Idol, and more.
Promptly at 8 p.m., opener Ava Maybee took the stage. She came dressed in her signature beret paired with a yellow baby tee and sparkly red micro-shorts. Stopping in San Francisco on her way to perform BottleRock Napa Valley, the 23 year old indie singer performed 37 minutes of music before Mayberry began the show. Her setlist included “Self doubt” and “Colors”, the second of which is part of her debut EP, Orange Drive.
The concert started at 9:07 with a dizzying array of flashing purple lights. Anticipation built in the audience as the drums started and the upbeat song started playing. The lights shifted blue and the audience cheered as Mayberry skipped and danced on stage as she sang “Crocodile Tears.” She slammed down a prop vintage telephone as she sang “I wish you would stop yourself from calling me every time / You need validation for the qualities you wanna hide.” Mayberry’s theatrics and energetic stage presence made the performance captivating.
Following “Crocodile Tears,” Mayberry introduced herself and her band. She thanked the audience for being there for her last headline show of the tour, before transitioning into her next song “Change Shapes.” The song highlighted Mayberry’s beautiful soprano vocals and social commentary which was masterfully embedded into her songs. Before the course music paused for a beat, lights turned purple, and the audience double clapped.
Mayberry continued her set with “Mantra” and “Shame” where the bass reverberated throughout the Fillmore as Mayberry sang sharp lyrics that cut through the haze of purple light.
She sat down as she joked with the audience about how Americans pronounce Glasgow, then saying, “You guys seem like people who pronounce Glasgow correctly.” The guitar started as she sang the only acoustic song on the album, “Anywhere but Dancing.” The Fillmore’s iconic disco ball shone as Mayberry sang stripped down, raw lyrics.
After the dreamy, melancholy vibe of “Anywhere But Dancing,” the energy rose as red smoke rolled across the stage and the impactful song “Punch Drunk” roared into life. Throughout the show, Mayberry connected with the audience through crowd work including saying “F*ck Trump” before going into the catchy, yet fierce song “Something in the Air.” She walked across the stage and sung through a prop megaphone with a flashlight, adding a playful moment with a powerful message to the performance.
After “Are you Awake?”, a cover of “Bittersweet Symphony,” “A Work of Fiction,” and “Sorry, etc,” Mayberry casually walked off stage. However, the audience, knowing she had an encore, chanted her name. She went on to sing the stipped down piano song “Oh, mother” where the audience swayed to the vulnerable lyrics. Mayberry ended her show with the upbeat, yet personal song “Sunday Best.”
Although it appeared the audience wasn’t as familiar with Mayberry’s solo music, by the end even new fans were swaying and singing along. Her performance featured contrasts of glittering costumes and catchy beats with unapologetic lyrics earning four out of five feathers.
