Lucy Dacus celebrated her latest album, Forever is a Feeling, at Austin’s Moody Amphitheater and friends jasmine.4.t and Katie Gavin (of MUNA) joined her on stage.
Saturday night in Austin, Texas saw the rare show where all three acts have known each other and played together for years.
British singer-songwriter jasmine.4.t, the first opener, opened for Dacus in 2018 before her transition. The singer states she was happy to return and be accepted by crowds on this new tour. Lucy Dacus and her boygenius bandmates Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker produced her debut album, You Are the Morning. Jasmine played guitar during her set, while Phoenix Rousiamanis played violin, keys, and sang additional vocals. Phoenix actually played in all three acts of the tour, bringing her violin to Gavin and Dacus’s ensembles. With songs like “Skin On Skin” and “You Are The Morning,” jasmine.4.t celebrated queer love and friendship. She also brought out the next opener to sing with her.
Katie Gavin is the lead singer of MUNA, an indie pop band that performed together with Dacus during boygenius’s last tour. After three studio albums with MUNA, Gavin released her debut studio album as a solo artist in October 2024: What a Relief. She also kept her set low-key, playing acoustic guitar and sitting down to play keys. Though she kept things interesting – she did the macarena while sitting at the keyboard. Like Dacus, Gavin’s solo work is a mix of indie pop and folk.
As the sun set over the amphitheater, the strings from Lucy Dacus’ opening track “Calliope Prelude” began. Through the first two acts, the stage design and instruments had been covered by giant sheets, like how museum pieces are covered to keep out dust. As Dacus and her band took the stage, the covers came off, revealing ornate instruments and a giant backdrop right out of a fine art gallery. Giant LED panels transformed into paintings, showcasing different sets of artwork throughout the night.
As the strings faded out, Lucy Dacus’ voice broke through as she began “Hot & Heavy.” The slow, soft-spoken songs made the audience lean in and listen, making the big venue feel like an intimate experience. Even on Dacus’s faster songs with electric guitar like “First Time,” her voice remains composed. The only time Dacus really hit full volume was during the final song of the show, “Night Shift.” The six-and-a-half minute track also starts with a soft, slow build, but by the end had the whole crowd yelling out.
Lucy Dacus has always been a singer-songwriter creating from a very personal place, which is something that clearly resonates with fans. She said during the show that “My favorite part of my life is watching you guys sing to each other.” The songs may come from her, but they take on a life of their own.
I am an Austin, TX-based photographer and filmmaker. I moved from Houston to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where I graduated in 2022. I'm a lifelong music lover and spend tons of time attending shows and making music. Some current favorites are Sophie May, Farmer’s Wife, and K. Flay.
