CHVRCHES - Live at SummerStage in Central Park NYC

We were convinced that it was going to rain all week. We scoured the weather reports, debated multiple models, and ultimately accepted that yes, one of the most ambitious concert shoots we have ever put together would ultimately be washed away. The only words of comfort were printed on the concert tickets for the evening. "Rain or Shine", which of course, venues and promoters never actually mean. Maybe the CHVRCHES' World Tour opener at SummerStage in Central Park could survive a little wet stuff. But we were warned. Should any lightning strike within a 10 mile radius, this baby would be doomed. We packed up and loaded our gear into the venue anyway.

If you've been following the site for the last few months, you no doubt already know that the show miraculously went off without a hitch. The band kicked off their latest tour in support of their brilliant, sophomore album Every Open Eye, we filmed the inspiring performance, and even got to spend some time with both the band and their fans on what is now a rather memorable, later summer day in Manhattan's most famous, green oasis.

Central Park SummerStage is as iconic of a location as they come...can you think of a more beautiful and thrilling setting to catch a show? But that evening also represented something so much more than a great gig in a stunning location. Yes, this was the beginning of taking CHVRCHES' new album and flashy stage production on a trip around the globe. But the show also marks loftier ambitions as a band, not to mention bigger expectations from fans and critics. So, in many ways, we were capturing one of the most important moments in the band's history together. To say we were humbled to be chosen for the work would be a serious understatement.

As it turns out, the only electricity zipping through the venue that night would be coming from the stage. It would rain though...on cue actually, in the most scripted/magical way possible during the band's intense performance of "Clearest Blue". But don't just skip ahead. Hit play and experience the entirety of this 50 minute long document (along with CHVRCHES classics like "Leave A Trace", "Never Ending Circles", "Under The Tide, "Recover", and of course, "The Mother We Share) of an unbelievably special moment. Like a lot of you, we have been rooting for Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook, and Martin Doherty's ever since we first encountered the band back in 2013. After witnessing this show in the park, it's clear CHVRCHES have taken their place amongst the world's most exciting young bands. And we are so very excited to finally be able to show it to you.

Throw me No more bones and
I will tell you no lies This time
At least I am not so cold
You give me everything I never deserved
This time You know I'll leave
Here's to taking what you came for And here's to running off the pain
And here's to just another no man If you want another
Say you need another Here's to never ending circles
And building them on top of me And here's to just another no man
If you want another Say you need another
Cut off I'll go my way if I'm going at all
This time Believe that the strong red lines
That I will draw will come and cover you up
This time You know I'll leave
Here's to taking what you came for And here's to running off the pain
And here's to just another no man If you want another
Say you need another Here's to never ending circles
And building them on top of me And here's to just another no man
If you want another Say you need another
We are losing ground It's time to save your neck
And I will try to find my feet and go I am braced for words that never come
But I choose to decide that I don't regret it
I don't regret it
Here's to taking what you came for And here's to running off the pain
And here's to just another no man If you want another
Say you need another Here's to never ending circles
And building them on top of me And here's to just another no man
If you want another Say you need another
We are I've come apart and you made me
Float like A pretty box of your evil
So tired So easy I
Bleed out What the fuck were you thinking
We are Gonna fall if you lead us
Nowhere No wasted time
I'll be a thorn in your side 'Til you die
I'll be a thorn in your side For always
If we sink We lift our love
I'll be a thorn in your side 'Til you die
I'll be a thorn in your side For always
If we sink We lift our love
We are Let me stop for a second
Held heart Only beats in the evening
Low tide Watching for flight
I tell you To cut it out if you made me
You know why The slowest spark is a breather
How high How will you decide
I'll be a thorn in your side 'Til you die
I'll be a thorn in your side For always
If we sink We lift our love
I'll be a thorn in your side 'Til you die
I'll be a thorn in your side For always
If we sink We lift our love
So low You keep stalling
Can you not see why
Love was That you see cry
A simple call seems right And I know why
I'll be a thorn in your side 'Til you die
I'll be a thorn in your side For always
If we sink We lift our love
I'll be a thorn in your side 'Til you die
I'll be a thorn in your side For always
If we sink We lift our love
Get up after you Get up after you
Central Park.
We are a band called Chvrches, thank you very much for coming here to see us.
Everyone sees, but only I know
Nothing to lose, nothing to save to make a whole
What if I should make a loss?
Hold up both my hands, my fingers crossed
I don't sleep well, laying low Never keepin' up, never lettin' go
What if I should look away? Every human touch will be repayed
We feel the same Within our veins
We bide our time, stay afloat Keepin' the sun up off our bones
I never asked to know, never planned Till it was swept out of my hand
We bide our time, stay afloat Keepin' the dying light exposed
I never asked to know, never lied So I could keep you on my side
We feel the same Without restraint
We feel the same Within our veins
Everyone comes, but only I stay
Nowhere to look, nowhere to turn to fall away
What if I should call it off?
Hold up my demands with my heart uncrossed
I don't sleep well, laying low Never keepin' up, never lettin' go
What if I should let it fade Every human touch will be repayed
We feel the same Within our veins
We bide our time, stay afloat Keepin' the sun up off our bones
I never asked to know, never planned Till it was swept out of my hand
We bide our time, stay afloat Keepin' the dying light exposed
I never asked to know, never lied So I could keep you on my side
We feel the same Without restraint
We feel the same Within our veins
Payin' back all our chances, payin' back what we take
Payin' back all our chances, payin' back what we take
Payin' back all our chances, payin' back what we take
Payin' back all our chances,
We bide our time, stay afloat Keepin' the sun up off our bones
I never asked to know, never planned Till it was swept out of my hand
We bide our time, stay afloat Keepin' the dying light exposed
I never asked to know, never lied So I could keep you on my side
We feel the same Without restraint
We feel the same Within our veins
Payin' back all our chances, payin' back what we take
Payin' back all our chances, payin' back what we take
Payin' back all our chances, payin' back what we take
Payin' back all our chances,
- Thanks, guys.
So, in case you didn't notice from my questionable remembering of the words, we are playing some new songs this evening.
This is not one of those, it gives me time to have a small rest.
Well, for about 45 seconds.
And then there it goes.
But, yeah, in case you guys didn't know, we have a new record which came out the end of last week.
Yay, thank you.
I feel like I set that one up, though.
I was like, "Yeah, they're gonna be nice to be about that.
" But, yeah, we're gonna play some of those new ones, and a few older ones as well, and this is one of those.
Where'd you go, you were there by my side
Keep believing it's my turn to hide
In a place where we don't have a prayer
There's a tether that's keeping me there
Trade our places Take no chances
Bind me 'til my lips are silent Stay where you are
Ever, after Chasing things that we should run from
Will we ever get away from this place It's an image that's burned on my chest
For a moment you need me to stay Cold blooded and drifting away
Trade our places Take no chances
Bind me 'til my lips are silent Stay where you are
Ever, after Chasing things that we should run from
I'm feeling capable of Seeing the end
I'm feeling capable of Saying it's over
I'm feeling capable of Seeing the end
I'm feeling capable of Saying it's over
I'm feeling capable of Seeing the end
I'm feeling capable of Saying it's over
I'm feeling capable of Seeing the end
I'm feeling capable of Saying it's over
I'm feeling capable of Seeing the end
I'm feeling capable of Saying it's over
I'm feeling capable of Seeing the end
I'm feeling capable of Saying it's over
If you say it now
- Pardon? - Marry me! Now! - Oh, come on.
Do you actually think that's gonna... What's the hit rate on that? When you go to public places and ask women you don't know if they want to wed someone they don't even know? Does that work out well for you, sir? And also, I don't know... I assume, because you're here, that you know a bit about our band.
And I'm very grumpy.
I don't want that shit.
Thank you.
Thank you, everybody else.
Sorry for shaming that one person, but if nobody tells you, you're not gonna know.
And, luckily for me right now, I have a microphone and you don't, so it works in my favor at this particular juncture.
Cover up, cover up, cover up that you're ruthless
Nobody, nobody, nobody's ever gonna notice
And I am catchin' up and I am seein' red
How about I prove I'm right and raise it overhead?
I never promised you anything I couldn't do
We tried to bury it and rise above, bury it and rise above
You, you, you never promised me you were seeing differently
Bury it and rise above, bury it and rise above
You, you
You bury it, bury it, bury it and rise above
You bury it, bury it, bury it and rise above
Reaching, reaching for, reaching for my resistance
Nobody, nobody, nobody sees it at a distance
And I am catchin' up and I am seein' red
How about I throw my way and raise it overhead?
I never promised you anything I couldn't do
We tried to bury it and rise above, bury it and rise above
You, you, you never promised me you were seeing differently
Bury it and rise above, bury it and rise above
You, you
You bury it, bury it, bury it and rise above
You bury it, bury it, bury it and rise above
You bury it, bury it, bury it and rise above
You bury it, bury it, bury it and rise above
I never promised you anything I couldn't do
We tried to bury it and rise above, bury it and rise above
You, you, you never promised me you were seeing differently
Bury it and rise above, bury it and rise above
You, you
You bury it, bury it, bury it and rise above
You bury it, bury it, bury it and rise above
You bury it, bury it, bury it and rise above
You bury it, bury it, bury it and rise above
to play in this space.
There's a lot of history here and this is "Under the Tide.
" Thank you.
I'm watching you run Run from the sidelines
Take in a breath Fill in your lungs
Keeping you alive
No fear I'm your eyes
I'll be a lifeline
And if I can be I'll be your strength
And it won't be long now
Head up, head up Keep holding, holding
Your head up, head up Keep holding, holding
If you can see And you believe
Why are you so scared
But if you don't care Then why are we here
And what do you have left
Head up, head up Keep holding, holding
Your head up, head up Keep holding, holding
Come on!
Don't you take another step Away from here
I would go anywhere with you What a lie
I'll break down But you will never see
Tell me, are you happy? Are you really happy?
Come on!
Stay under the tide Stay in my eyeline
Looking ahead, there is a chance Wherever it all ends
Head up, head up Keep holding, holding
Your head up, head up Keep holding, holding
Come on!
Slowly cross off the days that you've said you can hide
Try to retie the ties that you won't leave behind
Slowly cross off the days that you've said you can hide
Try to retie the ties that you won't leave behind
- Thank you.
- Martin fans, I'm sorry, that's the end of his center stage tonight.
But in our hearts, he is always center stage, you know? - I think that's about the nicest thing you've ever said about me.
- Probably.
evil snigger.
- No.
It's funny, though.
You know.
You're not nice to your friends to their faces, are you? Oh, right.
We're in America.
Everyone's really nice here.
Oh, sorry.
You're all so polite.
It's very strange, when I go to a shop and someone's like, "Are you having a good day?" I'm like, "Why? What is it to you? Why are you being nosy?" I think we're gonna be here for six weeks or something, and then when we go back to Britain, I'm always like, "Oh, thank you, have a nice day, " when I leave the shop, and people are like, "She's a bit much, isn't she? Bit much.
" Yes, well.
Anyway, I had a rest, so I think I'm all peppy again, because I got to rest for, like, five minutes.
But now I have to work.
I have to earn my crust.
This is an old one, but hopefully you'll know it.
Carved earth, cold Hiding from you in this skin, so old
I'll come clean Everywhere everyone knows it's me
And if I recover Will you be my comfort
Or it can be over Or we can just leave it here
So pick any number Choose any color
I've got the answer Open the envelope
I'll give you one more chance To say we can change or part ways
And you take what you need And you don't need me
I'll give you one more chance To say we can change our old ways
And you take what you need And you know you don't need me
Blow by blow Honest in every way I know
You appear To face a decision I know you fear
And if I recover Will you be my comfort
Or it can be over Or we can just leave it here
So pick any number Choose any color
I've got the answer Open the envelope
I'll give you one more chance To say we can change or part ways
And you take what you need And you don't need me
I'll give you one more chance To say we can change our old ways
And you take what you need And you know you don't need me
And you know you don't need me
And if I recover Will you be my comfort
Or it can be over Or we can just leave it here
So pick any number Choose any color
I've got the answer Open the envelope
I'll give you one more chance To say we can change or part ways
And you take what you need And you don't need me
I'll give you one more chance To say we can change our old ways
And you take what you need And you know you don't need me
So we're gonna play two more songs.
See, I used to, when people would be like, "Aww," I would be able to be like, "It's all we have, we only have, like, nine.
" But now we have a care... Carefully curated set list.
Of which there are two more.
Light, it's all over us Like it always was
Like it always was Shape by the clearest blue
But it's not enough It's not enough, not enough
Just another time we're caught inside Every open eye
Holding on tightly to the sides Never quite learning why
You'll meet me, you'll meet me You'll meet me halfway
Whenever I feel it coming on You can be well aware
If ever I try to push you away You can just keep me there
So please say you'll meet me Meet me halfway
Tied to the shifting ground Like I always was
Like I always was You, were the perfect star
But it's not enough, it's not enough Not enough, not enough
Just another time that I go down But you were keeping up
Holding to a hope you undermined Never to be reversed
Just another time we're caught inside Every open eye
Holding on tightly to the sides Never quite learning why
Whenever I feel it coming on You can be well aware
If ever I try to push you away You can just keep me tell me
Tell me tell me, you'll meet me Tell me tell me, you'll keep me
Tell me tell me, you'll meet me Will you meet me more than halfway
Shaped by the clearest blue
Shaped by the clearest blue
Will you keep it halfway? Will you keep it halfway?
Will you keep it halfway? Will you keep it halfway?
Was it raining that whole time or did it just start at that bit? It's almost like we planned that.
Really didn't.
- It's a rain dance.
- Now stop.
If you could stop.
- Good.
Good special effects, everyone.
- It's probably good to kill people then, though, right? - Yeah.
it's just people behind the stage throwing tiny, tiny cups of water.
Trying to make sure you guys don't overheat.
This is the last song.
Thank you guys so much for coming and hanging out with us.
Sometimes in the rain, sometimes not so much.
It's really great to be back on tour and see so many lovely faces.
Thank you guys so much for coming down, and we'll see you again soon.
I gave up on time Just like you said you would
There are tiny cracks of light underneath me
And you say I got it wrong But I tried hard to uncover them
I have somehow got Away with everything
Anything you ever did was strictly by design
But you got it wrong And I'll go anywhere but there
And you had best believe That you cannot build what I don't need
And I know I need to feel relief And I know you'll never fold
But I believe nothing that I'm told And I know I need to feel relief
I know I need to feel released Take care to tell it just as it was
Take care to tell on me for the cause I know I need to feel released
Take care to bury all that you can Take care to leave a trace of a man
I will show restraint Just like we said we should
You think I'll apologize for things I left behind
But you got it wrong And I'm as sane as I ever was
You talk far too much For someone so unkind
I will wipe the salt off of my skin And I'll admit that I got it wrong
And there is grey between the lines
And you had best believe That you cannot build what I don't need
And I know I need to feel relief And I know you'll never fold
But I believe nothing that I'm told And I know I need to feel relief
I know I need to feel released Take care to tell it just as it was
Take care to tell on me for the cause I know I need to feel released
Take care to bury all that you can Take care to leave a trace of a man
I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know
I know I need to feel released Take care to tell it just as it was
Take care to tell on me for the cause I know I need to feel released
Take care to bury all that you can Take care to leave a trace of a man
- Thanks guys, have a great night.
All of the black and white All of the contours
Are laid out before me now To leave a trace
With all of the light and shape We take up our own space
I'll find my own way back Back to the past tense
A lifeline to highs and lows To seeing the bright side
And I should know We wait for the afterglow
To cover the blind side And I should know
All of the empty thoughts All of the outlines
Are laid out before me now To leave a trace
All of your words and mine They keep returning
I'll find my own way back Back to the silence
A lifeline to highs and lows To seeing the bright side
And I should know We wait for the afterglow
To cover the blind side And I should know
I've given up all I can I've given up all I can
I've given up all I can I've given up all I can
Never took your side, never cursed your name
I keep my lips shut tight, until you go
We've come as far as we're ever gonna get
Until you realize, that you should go
I'm in misery where you can seem as old as your omens
And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling
The way is long but you can make it easy on me
And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling
In the dying light, I'm the only one here
And I will cover you, until you go
'Cause if I told the truth, I will always be free
And keep a prize with me, until you go
I'm in misery where you can seem as old as your omens
And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling
The way is long but you can make it easy on me
And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling
Into the night for once, we're the only ones left
I bet you even know, where we could go
And when it all fucks up, you put your head in my hands
It's a souvenir for when you go
I'm in misery where you can seem as old as your omens
And the mother we share will never keep your proud head from falling
The way is long but you can make it easy on me
And the mother we share will never keep our cold hearts from calling
- Thank you very much, have a great night.
- Thank you, New York.
Hope you're awesome.

A lot has changed for CHVRCHES in the past few years.

When the Glaswegian trio wrote and recorded their debut, The Bones Of What You Believe (2013), no one had heard of them. The three members (Iain Cook, Martin Doherty and Lauren Mayberry) came together with the idea of working on a writing project together, unsure of what path that would take other than one which belied their previous musical projects and foregrounded melody and classic songwriting styles before everything else. There were no pre-existing ideas of what the record would or should be like, no pre-conceptions and nothing to live up to just three people in a basement studio in Glasgow making music they believed in.

The Bones of What You Believe went on to sell over 500,000 albums worldwide. The band enjoyed critical success, with accoladed coming from Pitchfork, Spin, Rolling Stone, Q, NME and many more. They made their debut US TV performance on The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon, and then went on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Letterman and Last Call with Carson Daly. Theyve clocked in 364 shows in 2 years, selling out venues across the world and making signature appearances at Coachella, Bonnaroo, Sasquatch, Lollapalooza, Australasias Laneway Festival, Reading & Leeds, Summer Sonic in Japan and countless others before retiring back into the studio for another go.

Approaching the new album, one could argue that everything is different for the band but they tried not to treat it that way. CHVRCHES returned to the same hometown studio that had housed them during the recording of their first LP, their basic goal to shut off the outside world and get back to what they know best: writing.

Made in CHVRCHES Alucard Studios a converted three-bedroom flat on the southside of Glasgow Every Open Eye offers an alternative approach in a climate of music written by committee or the same handful of well-known songwriters, going back to the idea that a band can write, record and produce their work entirely by themselves.

Using some ideas the band had recorded in venues during their time on the road as a starting point, the band found riffs, loops and melodies they wanted to develop or started from scratch on the synths, pads and machines they had been gathering in their basement to create the instrumentals of the songs. Vocal melodies were developed as the songs took shape with the lyrics added last, developed from words and sentences from notebooks Mayberry had kept on tour.

Musically, Every Open Eye seeks to do more with less. To make big sounds without racking up endless tracks within Cubase sessions. To make something intense and urgent and visceral, using the basic tools of melody, rhythm and arrangement rather than the mentality that 'more is more. Sonically, Every Open Eye develops CHVRCHES signature style, juxtaposing the light and the dark, creating their own brand of twisted pop music that uniquely merges the organic with the electronic, molding sounds and ideas forged over two years on the road into an electronic-pop record with a heart.

Lyrically, Every Open Eye is not a break up album. It is a record about past heartbreaks and getting over them ('Leave A Trace). About perspective and the benefit of hindsight. About being unapologetic and not being told what to do or who to be ('Bury It, 'Never Ending Circles, 'Playing Dead). About moving on to better things, holding on to the good and letting go of the bad ('Down Side Of Me, 'Clearest Blue, 'Afterglow).

Mixed by Spike Stent and mastered by Bob Ludwig, Every Open Eye will be released on September 25, 2015 via Glassnote. Lead single 'Leave A Trace is out on July 16.

Glassnote Records