For Nashville-based band Judah & the Lion, each performance is all about giving the audience what they want to hear.
“We love when people jump around and dance and are surprised,” said drummer Spencer Cross. “We get a lot of joy out of that. We are there to entertain and leave a good mark on the audience and give them a good time.”
A good time is just what the audience can expect when Judah & the Lion perform tonight at Druid City Music Hall. The band was formed in 2011 when members Cross, Judah Akers, Brian Macdonald and Nate Zuercher began playing music together at Belmont University. Since then, they have released 3 albums and developed a loyal fan base along the way.
Originally debuting themselves on the Christian music scene, Judah & the Lion now combines folk, pop and bluegrass to create a unique sound. The band has played numerous festivals and toured all across the U.S. Spending so much time on the road can be tiring, but it comes with many rewards.
“For me the best thing about touring is getting to see different places and experience different cultures, but more so than that is getting to meet different people in those cultures,” Cross said. “We’ve found that the people we meet on tour is the most important thing, whether it’s fans or the people we’re staying with or random people we meet in a restaurant. It can be easy to get caught up in things but it’s important to realize how important relationships are with each other and people you meet.”
The band’s shows consist of a mix between their own music and covers of songs they hope the audience will enjoy.
“A lot of times when we think about a cover we are thinking about how we can serve the audience best,” Cross said. “What will be most fun for them? It’s one thing to do a cover because we want to do it but we want to think about what the audience would get a kick out of.”
Big things are happening for the band. Their 2014 album “Kids These Days” brought them new fans, and now they are growing even more with their 2016 record “Folk Hop N’ Roll.” Their single “Take It All Back” is proving to be a hit.
“Right now I really love playing ‘Take It All Back,’ ” Cross said. “It’s our single right now and we’ve never really had a single that’s been on the radio. We just played in L.A. this past weekend and it had been on the radio there. And it’s cool to see people who have heard it. There’s an electricity to the song right now.”
Lead singer Judah Akers does a lot of the song writing, but the whole band contributes to the process. A diverse group from all over the country, each member provides a different sound and taste, giving the band a blend of genres. Both banjos and electric vibes can be found in their music. From their millennial anthem “Twenty-Somethings” on their album “Kids These Days” to their songs on the newest record, the band continues to grow and change.
“Musically there’s been a lot of changes which comes with finding out who we are as a band and trying to figure out our identity with each album,” Cross said. “We still attack the band with the same ferocious energy – just trying to be the best we can with the same energy because our lives are changing and growing but we’re still going after it.”
Judah & the Lion, with The Lonely Biscuits, take the Druid City stage tonight during the first week of their fall tour. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 8:30. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at druidcitymusichall.com.
