You could almost hear the faint strains of Thin Lizzy playing over downtown Phoenix last week when Judah & the Lion’s The Boys Are Back in Town Tour roared into The Van Buren. The duo of Judah Akers and Brian Macdonald (and their stunning live band) filled the room with a crowd eager to hear old favorites and new music from their latest album.
The band was also joined by Colby, a young pop singer-songwriter from Texas who emerged in vintage Phoenix Suns gear and an energy that caught everyone’s attention immediately. Her raw passion and relatable lyrics had the front row dancing along as she warmed up the room for the evening’s main event.
Out of a cloud of fog and blinding lights, Akers and Macdonald emerged to deafening cheers right into “Prism” and “Gut Punch”. Macdonald stood behind a seated Akers and the emotion behind their performance was already palpable from the first notes that echoed through The Van Buren. Then it was time to move and Judah & the Lion kept the beats bouncing and the vibes climbing throughout what became a sweat-soaked set.
From the reimagined and slowed down version of “Why Did You Run?” to the acoustic jam session behind “Long Dark Night”, there was a special moment for every fan in the building as the night continued on. A fun cover of Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy” preceded the finale of “Gravel Roads” before the group re-emerged for a brief encore that sent everyone home satisfied- the boys were indeed back in town and Phoenix was determined to keep them here as long as possible.
