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