While watching PVRIS rock the stage at the House of Blues on Oct. 12, a few questions popped into mind: did this talented and local (from Lowell, MA) band of early-20-somethings have the right idea by choosing music over college? Can lead singer Lynn Gunn play every instrument known to man? And did that cute couple really just get engaged onstage?! The answer to all of these questions is yes.
PVRIS is a band that has made waves and gained ground with relative swiftness in the alternative music scene. Originally formed as a metal band, they softened their sound to appeal to larger audiences. They have heavy electronic and pop influences, but still maintain their grit with their guitar, bass, and drum trio. They’ve been bringing awards home like Alternative Press’ (AP) “breakthrough band” and Gunn’s specific “best vocalist,” for a few years now, so their homecoming at the House of Blues felt like a victory tour. Here were some musicians selling out the venue and putting on an explosive and entertaining performance in front of their fans, family, and friends.
Gunn, Alex Babinski, and Brian MacDonald first emerged from the dark depths of the stage to loud applause and screams from the excited crowd. They were wearing all black outfits. Gunn, in particular, was wearing a shin-length black coat, black jeans, black boots, and a black crop top, which was in stark contrast to her platinum, nearly white hair. They had come home looking every bit like the rockstars they have become these last few years. When “Heaven,” the opening track, started, the band showed that they even sound like rockstars, too.
Throughout the course of the night, they performed fan favorites from their debut album White Noise like “St. Patrick” and “My House.” They also played tracks from their critically acclaimed sophomore album titled “All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell,” (AWKOHAWNOH) which expanded upon the darkness explored on their debut album.
It was a show filled with plenty of jumping, crowd surfing, and occasional moshing from the audience. Gunn made sure to high five everybody who crowd surfed all the way to the stage, offering them a smile before they were herded away by security. It was a high-energy night all around, largely due to Gunn’s diversity of roles. She was difficult to keep track of onstage, surprising the audience by playing the drums, guitar, and piano for extended periods of time.
When she wasn’t occupied with an instrument, she was pacing the stage with a microphone in her hand, engaging the audience. She moves so fast that you know she keeps up with her cardio while on tour. And if that wasn’t enough for the audience, Gunn even played cupid for the night, inviting family friends onstage for a marriage proposal—much to the surprise and screams of the newly pronounced fiancée and audience.
PVRIS is a band that manages to be introspective, dark, atmospheric, empowering, strong, and fun all at the same time. There is a reason this band has captured listeners’ attention so raptly, and the support is incredible to see. It isn’t often that a female lead finds so much success in alternative music.
Gunn recently interviewed with Billboard magazine, explaining how she came out as gay to her parents. She is also an activist for LGBT rights. She doesn’t use her voice strictly for music, and for fans of her signature growled vocals, this comes as an additional pleasure.
When the band closed their set with the encore song “No Mercy” from AWKOHAWNOH, the flashing white lights, the shaking club floor, the moshing, and Gunn’s powerful vocals caused both the tired band and the exhausted audience to tap into a surprise energy reserve after the set tirelessly commanded the venue. When Gunn leaped into the crowd to scream the closing of the track with the audience, no one wanted the show to end. It was a concert that was impossible to walk away from without feeling like you witnessed something special.
Be sure to check out this local Massachusetts band soon and join them on their journey to the top!