Lucius' lyrics wrap around you, filling you up and giving you a hug, before sending you back into the world, this time a little stronger.
Have you ever had a band singlehandedly shape your existence? Do you have a band that has become such an intrinsic part of your sense of self, that there is no you without them? For many of us, there is a band or collection of artists that has genuinely made an impact on our lives through their music, and for some of us that music has saved our lives. Lucius is one of those bands for me.
Photos: @lucykjoness
I can’t remember how I found Lucius, but I know it was during a particularly tumultuous time in my life in mid-late 2021. In a desperate cling to the lifeline of music to distract my brain from all the unkind thoughts and desires to just turn off the lights for good is where I unearthed Lucius and their 2013 album Wildewoman. While the album quickly solidified itself in my Best Albums Hall of Fame, their song “Until We Get There” has tattooed its lyrics onto my brain. The opening lyrics “What do you say? Is this the time, for one more try at a happy life?” have repeated themselves on a loop for the past two years whenever I am going through a rough time. A consistent, much-needed reminder to just give it one more shot, to try one more time.
For obvious reasons, seeing Lucius perform live has been on my bucket list for some time now, and while my first time hearing them live wasn’t a headline show, it was still just as captivating and fulfilled my wildest expectations. Lucius played a few shows with Gregory Alan Isakov for the Appaloosa Bones Tour.
The duo of Lucius: Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, have been performing together for the past 19 years. That innate level of connection of knowing someone so deeply is ever present in Lucius’ performance. Coupled with the iconic stylistic identity of the band, glorious bangs, and bright glittering clothing, Lucius is effectively one person on stage. Joined together with existence-altering harmonies and a lifetime of history and shared passion, the two physical bodies of Lucius are of one sound, one voice.
The music of Lucius is so alive you can feel its heartbeat throughout the band’s entire discography. The eclectic style and genre of Lucius is what sets them apart from others on the scene. A blend of what I like to call Folk Disco Indie Pop, featuring tracks with bumping synth beats woven with deep emotion and introspection, Lucius’ music feels like having a cathartic conversation with those you love about the complexities of feeling and living. That intimate feeling is a high point of seeing Lucius live, their lyrics wrap around you, filling you up and giving you a hug, before sending you back into the world, this time a little stronger.
Photos: @lucykjoness
Lucius will always be a special band to me, I’m not entirely sure I’d be here without their music reminding me to try one more time. Music can hold so much power and relief to those who are hurting, it can provide a safe space and make you feel at home. Hearing Lucius live brought up a lot of old emotions, but it also allowed me to make peace with my past and feel proud for making it to today. I hope you are able to find solace in the music you listen to like I have found in Lucius.
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