When Lucy Dacus first announced her 2021 fall tour in support of her latest critically acclaimed release, Home Video, I was sad to see that Cleveland didn’t make the cut. But thanks to the misfortune of our Canadian friends (the Toronto and Montreal shows were postponed), a last minute show at the Beachland Ballroom was added and my wish granted. An added bonus? Bartees Strange opening.
Right off the bat, Bartees Strange took the crowd by surprise. They were captivated. Jumping from genre to genre seamlessly, he impressed. I could literally feel his fanbase growing.
Then it was Lucy’s turn and a similar hush fell over the Ballroom as she began with an acoustic version of “Trust.” Her lead guitarist Jacob Blizard recently tested positive for COVID (but is fortunately fine!) so “we’re changing things up,” she divulged. Bartees Strange’s bandmates took turns joining her band on stage, filling in nicely.
She held her fans in the palm of her hand the whole show, the room singing its heart out along with her, climaxing with her “Nightshift” finale with Bartees. Encoring with a cover of Regina Spektor’s “Summer in the City” and a new song about meeting and ignoring your soulmate, Lucy and company gave our little Midwestern hearts a night to remember.
BARTEES STRANGE
LUCY DACUS
