Last Thursday at Roadrunner, alt-pop pair Cafuné opened at the penultimate show of the east coast leg of the CHVRCHES Screen Violence 2022 tour. Cafuné took to the stage with an ease that gave no indication that they had yet to complete their very first tour. In the relatively short time they played, they managed to perform the majority of their debut album Running, including their most popular song “Tek It.” The crowd bobbed along happily, and some in the crowd of CHVRCHES fans even made a point of yelling out their appreciation for Cafuné too. The cheers and whistles that marked the end of an electric outro left no doubt that Cafuné had won the audience over.

CHVRCHES reprised their attention-grabbing show themed specifically for their latest album Screen Violence at their second Boston gig in just over eight months. Once again the group played the same carefully curated setlist containing a mix of newer songs and band staples like “The Mother We Share” and “Clearest Blue,” and once again the audience danced and hollered to match the energy of lead vocalist Lauren Mayberry as she spun around and posed dramatically while performing. Production and performance were as sharp as back in December at the House of Blues. A fake-blood-smeared Mayberry conducted the crowd as she sang the lyrics “Will you meet me more than halfway up?” and practically commanded the crowd to jump with her during the final song of the night. Even if the setlist might have been something of a déjà vu for many in the crowd, the excitement in the room remained high as ever.