Judah and the Lion
As the band takes the stage for the opening song, there is so much bass the glasses are shattering on floor and no one cares because the show is rocking!!!!! We are in the balcony and the mostly 20 something crowd peppered with a few 40 something's is rocking like its our first sojourn into the music world... Welcome to the Judah and the Lion show!
They first caught my eye while on tour with Ben Rector in 2015, on the down beat I was hooked. Young, talented, kind, smart & funny, Jesus centered young men products of Belmont & Folk Hop n' Roll. I was so impressed with them I stayed after the show that night and met the entire crew, delightful men I must say. They told me they learned to stay after and hang and talk to fans from a band they toured with from the UK. And when I asked, it was The Temperance Movement!!!! I knew then they had been taught by some of the best in the music biz. They appreciate fans and spend time. That's important.
At last Tuesday's show at Off Broadway in St. Louis, the band hosted a great pre show meet n greet ($20.00 a small fee), and the 30 or so people were treated a to few acoustic songs, a Q&A and photo opp, along with a VIP poster During the meet & greet they shared who they loved touring with, Mat Kearney, and the relationship they built on the tour along with the Belmont days, how they met & how their style has evolved. If given the choice to go back in time they would have loved to toured with REO and Queen. Now, they would love to tour with the Avett Brothers (Can we please make this happen?) The thing that stuck me was the conversation they had about doing what they love. This is where their faith showed up, they said in Christian teaching, if you are gonna make shoes, make sure you make great shoes, be true to your craft. They boys have taken this teaching to heart and decided if you are gonna make music, make it the best music you can make while being true to you! In my opinion, this is exactly who they are and what they are doing. After some super fun photo ops, the band left for a quick bite and the place filled up!!!
The opening band, The Saint Johns were excellent. I recommend you check them out. www.thesaintjohns.com
Then the band took they stage, it's raw energy, pure talent, youth, and unbridled passion. I love these men! They are mesmerizing. They do their own thing and by staying independent they can! I love indie artists who do what they want!!!
The set went for about 1 1/2 hours, with Judah serenading the crowd whilst running through it, then he became the Lion pouncing from the floor to the bar then leaping from the bar to the stage!!! It was excellent!!!! Exhilarating, fully alive!
The music really is a collaboration between Folk Hop n' Roll.
You must see them to fully appreciate them..... And I don't say this lightly, seeing them live is a must.
This was the bands first headline tour and the bar was almost sold out. See them when they roll thru your town so you can say you saw them "When"
