It’s not every day you get to see magic happen, but when you do you know it immediately. At Rams Head Live!, on a sweltering July evening, Richmond native Lucy Dacus brought her Home Video tour to a sold out (twice!) Baltimore stop. Previously scheduled in April, the new date moved to the outside courtyard, accomodating more fans, though that was quickly filled up too.
I had the immense joy to have seen Lucy Dacus several times in the past, the first time back at DC9 right as that first CD on local Richmond label, Egghunt Records was released, but this time I had a partner in crime, so to speak, as my daughter joined me in witnessing one of her favorite artists take the stage for the first time. And there certainly is an age-spanning timelessness to the music that Lucy creates. One that was in evidence Monday night across what looked like an ocean of faces, both young and old.
After a brilliantly electric set by Samia, as an aptly projected home video of Lucy Dacus’s life played on the screen behind the stage, her band took the stage as the sun was setting off across the courtyard. Along with long time collaborator and guitarist, Jacob Blizard, Lucy was joined by Ricardo Lagomasino on drums; Dominic Angelella on bass; and Sarah Goldstone on keys.
After starting the set with “Triple Dog Dare” off the latest full-length, Home Video, things began to, well, heat up as the crowd filled in every square inch of the place and the band kicked into high gear with “Hot & Heavy” with everyone singing along, as Lucy and Dominic, who hails from Baltimore, played at dueling guitars.
“Who here has been to vacation Bible school?,” Dacus asked the crowd before starting in on “VBS,” another big sing-a-long with every word being sung back to the stage. And as the song neared its distorted freak out – There’s nothing you can do but the only thing you found / Playing Slayer at full volume helps to block it out – the band rocked out, having fun and taking those screaming fans along for the ride.
As things slowed down a bit, I looked over to see my daughter fully engaged in the spectacle. A fan completely grooving along as I sung along too. From newer songs that she knew by heart – “Brando” – to songs on that first record – “I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore” – it truly was a sort of magic in the air. A connection that was so visible in the faces in the audience. As a, well, older concert goer I had the pleasure to introduce, by way of Lucy’s own introduction, her to Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark,” as so many in the crowd danced and twirled themselves to, as Lucy put it, “the best song I never wrote.”
And after a rousing “Night Shift” – with a little break to help a member of the audience who was overcome by the heat – Lucy Dacus and company came back onto the stage to perform one more song – an, as-of-yet, unreleased song. A perfect way to end a pretty perfect evening, and one that I know many there won’t soon forget.
Lucy Dacus continues her tour, and it’s one not to miss.
The set list included:
Triple Dog Dare
Hot & Heavy
VBS
First Time
Addictions
Yours & Mine
Nonbeliever
Brando
Partner in Crime
Thumbs
Going Going Gone
I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore
Kissing Lessons
Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover)
Night Shift
Here are some photos of Samia opening the evening at Rams Head Live!:
Here are some more photos of Lucy Dacus at Rams Head Live!:
