Line-up

Headliner
Lucius Last time in Washington: 2 months ago

Venue

Wolf Trap

1551 Trap Road, 22182, Vienna, VA, US

www.wolftrap.org/

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Lucius biography

Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, US, Lucius are an indie-pop act known for their three-pronged vocal attack full of luscious harmonies, infections melodies and tantalisingly danceable rhythms.

The beginnings of the band were formed at the Berklee School of Music, after the two students, Jesse Wolfe (vocals) and Holly Laessig became friends and started performing together. After graduating, they moved to Brooklyn, US to try develop their music careers, going on to meeting the other members of the band, Dan Molad (drums), Peter Lalish (guitar) and Andrew Burri (guitar) and forming Lucius. The two vocalists, when house hunting, stumbled upon a 60 year old recording studio and former music school, Bromley House, with this building becoming the base from which Lucius was to grow and find its sound.

Quickly in their career, Lucius gathered many plaudits, praised for their innovative and sumptuous indie-pop that melds americana-folk with 60s-pop all delivered with their beautifully balanced and constructed harmonies. They manage to create a big sound, full of reverb and driving percussion with instantly memorable melodies.

The band signed to Mom + Pop Music and released their debut album, “Wilderwoman” in October 2013. The album was released in the UK/Europe, Australia and Japan by the Play It Again Sam record label. Media outlets such as the New York Times NPR and The Guardian have al sung the band’s praises since the album’s release, deemed by Rolling Stone as “the best band you may not have heard yet.” Comparisons have been made to their sound with Neko Case, Blanche, Cults and Arcade Fire. Their impressive live show is full of energy and charisma, with their performance at South by Southwest Festival in Austin Texas in 2014 gaining many new fans and drawing significant interest towards the five-piece.

Live reviews

Wednesday 20th August. The Lexington. Lucius. Two trips in the space of a week to the Lexington and 23rd gig of the year. Shaping up to be a great year on the live music scene. Me and my good lady tonight as my usual gig buddies were not interested. So the conversation usually goes “Darling, fancy a night out in London” “Ooh that would be nice” “Well I’ve got us a tickets for a great new band you wouldn’t have heard of” “Ok then”. So it’s off to Islington. After a swift one in the Wetherspoons at the Angel it’s off for some tapas along Upper Street. I am really looking forward to this gig as I love the album, its pure pop. For those who don't know them Lucius are a five piece band from Brooklyn fronted by two platinum blonde singers who play a variety of instruments throughout the night ranging from cowbells, synths and drums. In fact the whole band all appear to have a drum as one of their instruments which for a frustrated drummer like me is no bad thing. The three lookalike guys that complete the band exude cool rock chic which I think comes from being in a band that is clearly on the way up demonstrated by this sold out show and their return to these shores in October to a venue three times the size. We do our best to blend in with the uber trendy Islington set that are here tonight and luckily I spy a couple of old timers that make me feel better. The band hit the stage with the girls in a blur of blond hair, matching dresses and begin to beat the bejesus out of their drums and cow bells for the opening number. I am hooked from the first note. It’s a twin vocal lead on every song with their voices complementing each other perfectly. The harmonies are further enhanced by all three of the guys and the sound is spot on all evening. They rattle through their debut album in the next forty minutes and I’m in power pop heaven. Clear highlights for me were Wildewoman and Turn it Around which starts with some heaving had clapping from the whole venue and segues into a couple of choruses of Whitney’s I want to dance with somebody which we duly oblige. Band exit stage right and we wait for them to return and they do, not on stage but into the middle of the audience a foot away from us armed with only two acoustic guitars, a drum (obviously) and two beautiful voices. It’s a spine tingling performance of Two of Us on the Run and it’s a joy to watch five musicians at the top of their game in perfect harmony. We leave in good spirits with Anne thoroughly enjoying the night. Gig of the year contender. Absolutely.

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