Lauren Mayberry sings at Echostage in DC on Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Chvrches’ plan now that they have completely finished touring the album Every Open Eye?

“We’re going to go home and nap for a long time,” said singer Lauren Mayberry during her performance at Echostage on Monday, Oct. 17. “Then, we are going to start writing another album!”

The declaration that Chvrches would return in a few years drew a happy cheer from the sold-out Echostage, where Chvrches finished an epic tour on their sophomore album with two DC shows on Oct. 17 and 18. On the first of those two shows, the crowd swelled into every corner of the warehouse venue to show their appreciation for Chvrches, dancing excitedly to every one of 17 songs performed by the band.

Lauren made her now-legendary entrance, emerging as a triumphant silhouette in a burst of light at the center of the stage, and then she bounded forward to deliver the lyrics of “Never Ending Circles,” delighting the audience from the first.

Bandmates Iain Cook (synthesizers, guitar, bass, vocals) and Martin Doherty (synthesizers, samplers, vocals) stay fixed at their stations as Lauren bounds across the stage to sing from the top of a platform then to the other side of the stage to send some of her irrepressible energy to the other side of the warehouse. As a whole, the band is terrific. Although they hard at work, they have an easy chemistry that tie them together.

Chvrches also are bound by their limitless optimism as they shine through their catalog. Songs like “Keep You on My Side,” “Empty Threat,” “Recover It,” and “Bury It” deal with finding the good in a situation and moving things forward. The band close their main set on their two most popular songs from the new album, “Leave a Trace” and “Clearest Blue.” Chvrches play an encore consisting of “Afterglow” and the enduring first single from their debut album, “Mother We Share.”

Lauren’s voice never flags despite her bounding across the stage, and she croons pleasantly at turns pleasant and urgent. It’s also a pleasure to see her slide behind the synthesizer when Martin Doherty takes lead vocals for two numbers –- “High Enough to Carry You Over” from Every Open Eye and “Under the Tide” from The Bones of What You Believe.

A great aspect of Chvrches’ music is their remarkable consistency of vision. The band made a strategic decision to keep retain the formula from their debut album for their second album, and simply ended up making really great songs that set a platform for the sound of Chvrches. It is my hope that as they look forward to making a third album that they would retain those fundamentals: the soaring synthesizers; the guitar, bass, and samples that occasionally lend songs a new wave flavor; and the unbridle optimism that calls for a better day even in the face of adversity.

As Chvrches closed their show on Monday, they acknowledged DC as an important tour stop for the band in their short history and their performances here at the Black Cat (first on June 21, 2013) and the 9:30 Club. The three were truly deeply appreciative of the support they received from our fair city, and it’s true — DC loves Chvrches! Here’s to hoping that we see them again with that third album in the not-too-distant future.

Here are some pictures of Chvrches performing at Echostage on Monday, Oct. 17, 2016: