Judah & The Lion

The National, Richmond, VA

April 7, 2023

Review and Gallery by: Erica Essigman

Judah & The Lion brought the Happy Again tour to Richmond, Virginia on Friday, April 7th. Just like the previous times they have played at The National, the band did not disappoint. The band opened their set with “Take a Walk ” from their newest album, Revival, and continued to play through a handful of fan favorites. One highlight from the night was a cover of “My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit. Fans got to express their innermost emo self alongside an almost sold-out crowd. About halfway through the set, before performing their popular song “Beautiful Anyway,” Judah gave a heartwarming speech hoping to reach anyone who is struggling or feeling even a tiny bit alone. You could hear the sobs and sniffles from the crowd, and Judah himself, as he made each and every one of the fans feel seen and loved. Judah & The Lion continued their powerhouse of a set, finishing off with their song “sportz” from the album Pep Talks. In order to inspire the crowd up and moving for the final song, Judah invited a fan on stage to sing and dance along with him. Fans screamed and danced along to the lyrics “my head is shaped like a basketball and I’m going for the rebound” before heading home with memories that will last a lifetime.