Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Thao Bring A Triple-Threat Bill to the National

by | Sep 16, 2021 | MUSIC

A trio of powerful musical talents, Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Thao & The Get Down Stay Down kicked off their latest tour with a celebratory night at The National. Lucienne Nghiem was on hand to capture the magic.

On their first show of tour, Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Thao played three incredible sets, leaving the crowd feeling absolutely electric.

Opening for the night was Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, an alternative folk-rock band with a fair bit of history in Richmond and Virginia as a whole. Their stage presence and energy was so beautiful to watch, and their set was unbelievable. Their sound was so unique and everything from the setlist to the styling and lighting created the perfect environment. 

Lucy Dacus had the most angelic setlist, with energy that left everyone feeling warm and fuzzy. Her stage’s set design was beautifully reminiscent of a movie theater, resembling her recent album art and Home Video record title. Dacus — “a hometown hero,” as a fan screamed when she danced onto stage — played tunes from her new album, Home Video, as well as older favorites. She brought her mom onto stage for a sweet moment singing together. Closing the evening with “Night Shift,” a beautiful indie rock song, the crowd sang their loudest.

Julien Baker closed the night with the most phenomenal performance. Her stage presence, confidence, and talent was unreal, and everyone in the audience was so grateful to experience it. She thanked everyone for wearing masks and getting vaccinated prior to the show. It was amazing that the musicians and The National created such a safe environment for their listeners. 

Baker opened with “Hardline,” the first track of her 2020 record, Little Oblivions. The warm-toned, striking red lighting complimented the performance so well. With her contagious high energy, guitar solos, and performance, Baker’s set was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Closing the beautiful night with “Appointments,” her voice echoed so beautifully through the venue throughout this enchanting track that built into such a stunning ending.

Hearing everyone in the room singing along with the artists was a refreshing, stunning moment, and RVA Mag was glad to be there to document it.  

Top: Lucy Dacus (left), Julien Baker (right). All Photos by Lucienne Nghiem

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

Photos | BEHOLD! GWAR at The National by CJ Payne

BEHOLD! GWAR at The National, where the mere presence of Richmond’s intergalactic overlords feels like a gruesome embrace. Four decades of chaos and carnage—GWAR has become more than just a band; they’re the dark-hearted, unofficial mascot for the misfit masses of our...

Photos | Rise Against at The National by CJ Payne

A few weeks back, Rise Against hit The National in Richmond, tearing through a set that marked 25 years of pushing punk rock with a message. They’ve gone from raw punk to full-on rock icons, tackling every social and political issue they can squeeze into a song....

André 3000 in Richmond Tonight! The Beat of a New Age

Tonight, the musical icon André 3000 graces Altria Theater. Known best as half of OutKast, one of hip-hop’s most revered duos, André has redefined his public presence in recent years. He's traded verses for flutes, swapping the beats of Atlanta’s hip-hop scene for...

Misc. and the Messy Truth of Being Young and Loud

Misc. is a name that is becoming more and more integral in the story that is the Richmond music scene. Whether you have been in the crowd knocking around to their rap-rock mayhem, or seen their comic book-style posters painting the lampposts of the Fan, you have seen...

Ladada Keeps Their Eyes on The Road

Ladada has been churning out psychedelic surf with occasional punk outbursts for a little over a decade now. Having maintained a cult following with a variety of EPs and a full length album, the band is evolving into a higher form. They’ve got a new guitarist ready...

Photos | Richmond Halloween Parade 2024 by Michael Simon

The Richmond Halloween Parade returned for its 19th year, hosted by All The Saints Theater Company. A Richmond tradition, this parade has always been more than just a celebration—it’s a platform for protest. This year's theme, A Funeral March for Silence, served as a...