Latest news with #ForeverIsaFeeling
Chicago Tribune
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Lucy Dacus at the Chicago Theatre: Understated and personal to the point of feeling muted
Lucy Dacus had love on her mind Thursday at the first of a sold-out two-night stand at the Chicago Theatre. The singer-songwriter met the messiness and complexities of the emotion head-on. Her narratives addressed obsessive infatuation, speculative wonder, carnal bliss, honeymoon periods, in-between phases, bitter contradictions and all the euphoria, torment and confusion that serious affection often involves. An old soul who admitted she's been old since she was born, Dacus spent the last day of her 20s — she celebrates a birthday on Friday — chronicling relationship issues that seemed extremely personal and making them relatable to strangers who held their collective breath for quiet moments. They enjoyed plenty of opportunities. Polite to a fault, the 90-minute concert rarely saw Dacus take risks or depart from a charted course. Backed by an adequate five-piece band, Dacus primarily adhered to the mild, rounded sonic profile of her new 'Forever Is a Feeling' LP. Tracks from the album comprised the majority of the 19-song set. That the Boygenius member seldom increased the temperature and opted for tame approaches to tunes that burned with poetic passion felt like a missed opportunity to spark material that, on record, suffers from the same odd disconnect. For all her low-key charm and aw-shucks modesty, Dacus didn't do herself any favors sitting down at several junctures, or when instrumentalists in her group followed suit. During a stripped-down segment, Dacus sipped tea and got comfortable on furniture that resembled theater props in a play set in a royal palace. Keeping body language to a minimum, she mainly remained stationary. And while Dacus engaged in small talk and offered gratitude, anyone hoping for insight into her romance with fellow Boygenius bandmate Julien Baker left empty-handed. Coincidentally, Dacus' Christian upbringing and origins as a professional musician share similarities to Baker's background. Growing up as an adopted child in a suburb of Richmond, Virginia, Dacus attended church camp and found herself surrounded by religious songs. Her religious faith ultimately evolved. Dacus came out as queer at the age of 19, around the time she dropped out of college. Dacus worked at a photo lab and continued to write songs, a habit that started more than a decade earlier. A friend asked her to record some for part of his school project. Less than 24 hours of work at a Nashville studio with an ad-hoc band resulted in her 2016 debut 'No Burden.' It received rave reviews and attracted a feeding frenzy of labels. After signing with Matador Records, Dacus experienced a whirlwind ascension. Her second album, 'Historian' (2018), enjoyed considerable acclaim. A few months later, Boygenius issued its debut EP. Dacus kept gigging and creating, releasing an EP of holiday-themed fare in 2019 and a third celebrated full-length ('Home Video') in 2021. That building momentum, coupled with that generated by Baker and Phoebe Bridgers' solo careers, culminated in the success of Boygenius' 'The Record' (2023). Nominated for seven Grammys, it affirmed the trio's mainstream status and influential standing amid a culture reverting back to conservative ideas of women's place in society. Having assumed prior positions in favor of abortion and transgender rights, Dacus upped the protest ante on Boygenius' tour by performing in drag and calling President Obama a 'war criminal' on Twitter. Controversies aside, she could've used more bite and tension on Thursday. Or at least some rough edges to tear at the fabric of formal, delicate arrangements underpinned by washed-out keyboards, restrained guitars and violins. A hushed stillness and atmospheric glaze floated atop a host of light, leisurely paced songs. The inquisitive 'Modigliani' evaporated into thin air. A sorrowful 'Big Deal' never dared to rise above a whisper. The maudlin 'Best Guess' ambled its way into easy-listening territory. Chamber-pop flourishes on 'Ankles' — which referenced sexual desires without resorting to cheap, explicit language — suffocated Dacus' understated vocals. Warm, transparent, soft, controlled, a touch smoky: Dacus' medium-low vocal register emerged as a continual strength. Whether crooning, sighing, pleading or apologizing, she treated phrases as personal disclosures that deserved close inspection. Escaping to a private world for the piano ballad 'Limerence,' Dacus expressed uneasy thoughts while seated on a small riser. She looked as if she had fled the commotion of a house party, made her way to the roof and bared her soul to the moon. Amid the country jangle and radiant hooks of 'Most Wanted Man,' Dacus navigated the disbelief of her good fortune and delivered the equivalent of an engagement proposal with disarming sincerity. The acoustic-based portion further highlighted Dacus' interpretive skills. She scaled 'I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore' back to an acoustic foundation and layered her deceptively casual vocals over a rubbery riff. On a gently strummed 'For Keeps,' she sang the final couplet with measured slowness and lethal finality. When a microphone wielded by special guest Julia Steiner (singer for the Chicago indie-rock group Ratboys) failed to operate on a duet of 'Bullseye,' Dacus shared hers and picked up the slack. Having displayed visual signs on certain songs ('Talk,' 'VBS') of wanting to rock only to be thwarted by muted distortion and one-and-done sequences, Dacus' quintet finally broke through on the coda to 'Lost Time.' Punchy and emphatic, the layered section illustrated the dynamics and liveliness missing from much of the other material. Relatedly, during the encore, a rendition of Boygenius' 'True Blue' burst with welcome textures and toughness. Along with the amplified spasms of the closing 'Night Shift,' it drew by far the most enthusiastic reaction of the evening. A high-note exit to an otherwise moderate performance, and an indication that next time through, Dacus needs to inject more hot blood into the heavy memories. Bob Gendron is a freelance critic. Setlist at the Chicago Theatre May 1: 'Hot & Heavy' 'Ankles' 'Modigliani' 'Limerence' 'Big Deal' 'First Time' 'VBS' 'Talk' 'Nonbeliever' 'Best Guess' 'For Keeps' 'Partner in Crime' 'I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore' 'Bullseye' 'Most Wanted Man' 'Lost Time' 'Forever Is a Feeling' Encore 'True Blue' (Boygenius cover) 'Night Shift'
Forbes
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lucy Dacus Dazzles New York City Fans On Her ‘Forever Is A Feeling' Tour
Lucy Dacus credit: Shervin Lainez It's remarkable how Lucy Dacus' career trajectory has changed in almost a decade. In June 2016, the same year she released her debut LP No Burden, the indie singer-songwriter from Richmond, Virginia, played a very modest-sized stage at Rough Trade NYC in Brooklyn, New York. Afterward, with each subsequent record and steady touring, Dacus built up critical acclaim for her exquisite alto singing and heartfelt music about the complicated and tender moments of love and relationships. Fast forward to the present, and Dacus' fame has grown exponentially as a member of the popular supergroup boygenius (with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker), which culminated in their hugely popular 2022 debut album The Record, which racked up three Grammy Awards for the trio. Dacus has recently released her first solo album in four years, Forever Is a Feeling, another fine notch in her belt. In a recent Newsweek interview, she said of that album. "I'm not obsessed with the stories of my past. What really interests me right now is my present moment. It's primarily about love and what love means and how it functions in my life and society." The album's lush atmospherics and cinematic sound translated quite well on stage during Dacus' appearance Thursday at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, for the second of two sold-out shows. This venue was much larger and housed a bigger crowd in contrast to her 2016 show at the now-defunct Rough Trade NYC location in Brooklyn—further proof of Dacus' growing fan base. Another example of how far she had come is the stage backdrop, which was modeled after a museum gallery with electronic screens shaped like hanging picture frames. Despite all the bells and whistles of being on a legendary stage and with an elaborate stage setup, Dacus kept the focus on the music and the results were spellbinding. Accompanied by ber ace band, she performed a majority of the songs from Forever Is a Feeling—among them 'Best Guess,' 'Ankles,' 'Talk,' 'For Keeps,' 'Modigliani' and 'Limerence,' the latter sounding more heartbreakingly beautiful live than it was on the record. Some of Dacus' old favorites were sprinkled into the set, including 'VBS,' 'Hot & Heavy' and 'I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore.' A highlight during her New York City run was the surprise appearance of the Irish singer Hozier, who duetted with Dacus on the song 'Bullseye,' reprising his role from the studio version of sht song that appeared on Forever Is a Feeling. Hozier didn't make a return for the Thursday show, but the artist jasmine.4.t, one of the opening acts for Dacus' shows on the tour (the other being MUNA's Katie Gavin), ably filled in for him. After performing the tear-jerking songs from Forever Is a Feeling — 'Lost Time' and the title track — Dacus and her band returned to the stage for the encore. That included a performance of the song 'Bus Back to Richmond,' which has not yet been released on record; the boygenius song 'True Blue' and 'Night Shift from Dacus' second album Historian. Dacus had the crowd in her pocket and expressed genuine affection towards the fans in between songs. In turn, the fans reciprocated their love towards the singer not only by cheering with passionate fervor but also by singing the words to the songs. For those who have followed Dacus since the beginning of her career 10 years ago, this Radio City appearance felt like a well-deserved victory lap for an artist who has consistently stayed true to her musical vision. Setlist: Hot & Heavy Ankles Big Deal Modigliani Limerence Best Guess First Time VBS Talk Nonbeliever For Keeps Partner in Crime I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore Bullseye (with jasmine.4.t) Most Wanted Man Lost Time Forever Is a Feeling Encore: Bus Back to Richmond True Blue (boygenius song) Night Shift
Boston Globe
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Take a trip through Boston's rock history with this music-filled walking tour
Advertisement Billed as a journey through the city's rock 'n' roll past and present, Soundscape Tours string decades of Boston music trivia into a 90-minute stroll through Fenway-Kenmore. There are some obvious stops on the 2-mile jaunt, which starts at The Verb Hotel: the former locations of venues like the Rathskeller and Storyville, the classic record store Nuggets, and the Verb's own lobby, which brims with a rainbow of rock ephemera from the David Bieber Archives. Then come the moments revealing detail-rich surprises, including a rumour that headbanging was invented in Boston at a legendary English band's performance, and the fact that Kurt Cobain loved a certain Boston band so much that he once told Rolling Stone he ought to be a member (but hey, no spoilers). Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Everybody, I think, overlooks this area now as part of Boston's music scene,' said Bowker, reflecting on the high concentration of music history in the neighborhood. Advertisement After a winter break, Soundscape Tours begin for the spring season this weekend, offering walks on Friday and Saturday afternoons through November. The experience layers Bowker's unique qualifications as a Boston musician (check out his group 'Boston has been an incubator for some of the most revolutionary ideas and figures in American history, and my contention is that the same principle can be applied to folk, jazz, and rock in the 20th century,' said Bowker. As he walks guests by long-gone landmarks and snapshots of Boston's rock heritage, Bowker's enthusiasm is hard to miss. He carries a tour-branded boombox and a backpack filled with record covers, and keeps a few pertinent cassettes — like rambling on air as a 'I think they're a tactile way for people to interact with music,' Bowker said in reference to the physical media. 'Some people come on my tour, they've never touched a cassette. They've never touched a record.' Advertisement 'I'm trying to make this like an actual museum, and that's the best thing that I can do, is to get these artifacts,' he added. Although sometimes, the best demonstrations of music history can't be planned. Bowker recalls bumping into — who was playing guitar in the Verb's lobby at the start of a previous tour. There's likely no better sign that Boston music lives beyond the lore of decades past. 'He joined our discussion,' Bowker said. 'I like to think that he would have stayed on the tour had his assistant not come in and got him.' GIG GUIDE The House of Blues bustles this week with visits from Midwest indie rock favorites ( Across the street at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Lucy Dacus brings her new album "Forever Is a Feeling" to MGM Music Hall at Fenway this Sunday and Monday. Shervin Lainez Trio let their surf and cumbia instrumentals — like their new single 'Te He Prometido' — sizzle at (f.k.a. A$AP Ferg) comes to the venue on Advertisement Circa Waves will perform with Friday Pilots Club at The Sinclair on Monday. Polocho Genre-smashing solo artist NOW SPINNING Julien Baker and TORRES tap into their Southern roots on the collaborative new album "Send a Prayer My Way." Ebru Yildiz Julien Baker & TORRES, Brooklyn artist and Berklee alumna Madison McFerrin has soul to spare on her new single "I Don't." VAM STUDIO Madison McFerrin, Madison McFerrin has plenty of soul to spare — even when hers is feeling broken. The Berklee grad and Brooklyn singer-songwriter primes fans for her forthcoming album 'Scorpio' with the single 'I Don't,' a lament over abandoned nuptials that McFerrin polishes with her sleek hybrid of jazz and soul-rock. Advertisement New York artist Leah Nawy mixes genres on her aptly-titled single "Mixing Patterns." Ben Crocker Leah Nawy, BONUS TRACK After its inaugural edition last year, the Victoria Wasylak can be reached at . Follow her on Bluesky @
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lucy Dacus Gives Lady Gaga's 'Abracadabra' a Melancholy Cover: Stream
The post Lucy Dacus Gives Lady Gaga's 'Abracadabra' a Melancholy Cover: Stream appeared first on Consequence. If the high-energy disco power of Lady Gaga's newest album was just too much for you, Lucy Dacus has a present: While on BBC Radio 1, the boygenius member covered second single 'Abracadabra' on piano, with guitar accompaniment. Mayhem was Gaga's self-described dive into dark pop, and Dacus brings out the darkness to an even greater degree thanks to her soulful treatment, which we could see scoring an equally moody movie trailer in the not-too-distant future. Get Lady Gaga Tickets Here 'Abracadabra' was Consequence Song of the Week pick back in February, with our own Mary Siroky writing that 'Gaga is great at many things, but something special happens when she leans into dark pop, especially when the music plays around with concepts of the occult or taboo.' Stream the full cover below, followed by a partial video of Dacus at the keyboard. Dacus recently dropped her new album, Forever Is a Feeling, on March 28th (buy here). She'll kick off her next tour in Philadelphia, PA on April 16th (get tickets here). Meanwhile, Lady Gaga's own 'Mayhem Ball' begins this summer (buy your tickets here). Be sure to check out our recent interview with Mother Monster on her new album and love for Saturday Night Live. Lucy Dacus Gives Lady Gaga's 'Abracadabra' a Melancholy Cover: Stream Liz Shannon Miller Popular Posts Morgan Wallen Walks Off SNL Stage: "Get Me to God's Country" Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show Received 125 FCC Complaints Chet Hanks Recreates Forrest Gump Scenes with Tom Hanks in New Music Video: Watch Jessica Simpson's Advice to Singers: 'Drink Snake Sperm' Venues Booked on Brand New's Tour Disable Social Media Comments Gorillaz Confirm 2025 Release for New Album Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Boygenius' Lucy Dacus confirms Taylor Swift song lyric name drop is her: 'She actually texted me'
Well that's one Tortured Poets Department mystery solved. Musician Lucy Dacus is coming clean about that "Lucy" namedrop in the title track of Taylor Swift's 11th studio album, revealing what many fans — including us here at Entertainment Weekly — assumed, namely, that it's Dacus that Swift is referring to. For those unfamiliar with the tune, Swift sings, "Sometimes, I wonder if you're gonna screw this up with me / But you told Lucy you'd kill yourself if I ever leave / And I had said that to Jack about you, so I felt seen / Everyone we know understands why it's meant to be / 'Cause we're crazy." When asked about the mention in an interview with PEOPLE, Dacus said, "I think it's fair game to say 'yes.' [Swift] actually texted me and asked for my approval." Dacus, a member of the indie rock group Boygenius (which also consists of singer-songwriters Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers), just released a new album — her fourth solo record, Forever Is a Feeling, via Geffen Records on Friday. To PEOPLE, she also revealed her reaction to the The Tortured Poets Department when she first heard it. Related: Ethan Hawke thinks Taylor Swift wanted 'psychic connection' to Dead Poets Society in 'Fortnight' video "Well, I pushed play on the album just like, 'Oh, this is so crazy,'" Dacus recalled. "This is the first Taylor record to come out since meeting her, and listening to a friend's record feels so much different than a stranger's record." She continued: "So I was like, 'This is really weird. This voice that I've heard basically what feels like my whole waking life saying my name.'" "It was definitely an experience," said Dacus. "I sat down and I was like, 'Huh. Wow.' But I think that that record of hers is super open-hearted, and I don't know how many people at her level, if anyone is at her level, are writing from the heart that openly." Swift traditionally remains mum on who her songs are about, but in addition to Dacus, it seems that frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff and ex Matty Healy get mentions on "Tortured Poets," as do fellow musicians Charlie Puth, Dylan Thomas, and Patti Smith. Related: Surprise! Stevie Nicks plays a special role on Taylor Swift's new album, The Tortured Poets Department Forever Is a Feeling's release comes replete with a special performance video for new single "Bullseye," featuring Hozier. The album's debut single, 'Ankles,' was launched with a performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in January. Dacus will also embark on the Forever Is A Feeling Tour beginning in Philadelphia on April 16. The tour, her largest to date, includes Radio City Music Hall in New York, two nights at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, and a night at Red Rocks in Denver before heading to the UK and Europe in June. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
