Bad Suns Brought Mystic Musical Truth To the National

by | Oct 7, 2019 | MUSIC

Los Angeles’ Bad Suns brought their bouncy alternative pop to The National on the last weekend in September, and RVA Mag was there to capture the scene in all its glory.

On the last Friday night in September, as leaves are falling into batches of warm pumpkin spice tones and bright crimson in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, Bad Suns headlined the legendary National stage. Opening with a crowd favorite, lead singer Christo Bowman and the band welcomed a familiar city with open arms.

With their latest visit to Richmond, Bad Suns returned to a city they expressed love for again, after four years of recording and tour. Their current headlining tour, which brought them to 13 different cities over the course of this fall season, was in support of their third LP, Mystic Truth, which Bad Suns released in spring 2019. Songs from the album made popular additions to the set list, which had the fans singing their hearts out at the barricades in front of the stage.

The venue was packed with music lovers and ecstatic faces ready to dance the night away. The evening began with two eclectic bands, Los Angeles alt-rockers Liily and Bay Area band Ultra Q, formerly known as Mt. Eddy. But the evening’s diverse lineup of original music focused on Bad Suns, and this Friday night in Richmond was full of crowd surfing, sparkling stage lights, and fast-paced music that filled The National.

RVA Magazine was on the scene, grabbing shots in the photo pit and in the crowd of hundreds to capture the band’s special performance. Take a glimpse at our photographs from the night to feel the energy and what it was like to be front and center as the Bad Suns brought Richmond a musical night to remember.

All Photos by Lucienne Nghiem

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

Lucienne Nghiem

Lucienne Nghiem

Lucienne Nghiem is a published photographer, filmmaker, and designer based in Richmond, Virginia. Her work has been seen across the East Coast as official selections in festivals such as VHSL, the Virginia Film Festival, and the Poe Film Festival. As primarily a portrait and live event photographer, Lucienne loves working with people and the incredible electric buzz of energy that comes from photographing live shows. Along with photo/film, Lucienne's other interests lie in environmentalism, activism, and running a digital platform called Kinecttd, which is inclusive of showcasing work as well as a podcast, blog, and social media. She is one of many co youth leaders for the Environmental Youth Council of Virginia.




more in music

Cosmic Jazz Legend Lonnie Liston Smith is Returning to Richmond

Just announced: Cosmic Echo Live, taking place at the historic Hippodrome Theatre on September 13, will celebrate the life, music, and legacy of Richmond-born cosmic jazz icon Lonnie Liston Smith. The event will feature live performances, stories from across his...

Phish Announces Two-Night Richmond Run at Allianz Amphitheater

Phish is bringing its legendary live show back to Richmond for the first time in more than three decades. The Vermont jam band has announced an eight-show October tour that includes a two-night stop at Allianz Amphitheater on October 6 and 7. Richmond is one of just...

Photos | Djo & Pond at Allianz Amphitheater

Djo, the musical project of actor and musician Joe Keery, made his Richmond debut at Allianz Amphitheater on Friday night, drawing a packed crowd for one of the summer's most anticipated indie shows. Best known to many as Steve Harrington from Stranger Things, Keery...

Dispatch from the Lewis Ginter Picket Line

An on-the-ground account of the strike that prompted Jesse Welles and Graham Nash to cancel their Richmond performances. Tensions escalated as Jesse Welles called off his performance at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden yesterday amid an ongoing union fight for higher...