Lucius
Words: Sean Moore / Photos: Kenneth Coles
The art-pop duo Lucius (Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig) have graced the State Theatre stage a couple of times in their career. I first saw them open for local powerhouse musician Lady Lamb and instantly became a fan. Back in 2018, Lucius returned to Portland for a stripped down, acoustic tour supporting their album NUDES and then, of course the pandemic came before they could tour again. It’s been six years since their last proper studio album and Second Nature shows their confidence and growth. Holly and Jess harmonize like no other female duo I have listened to over the past two decades or so.
Their stage presence was perfect Saturday night, walking in with choreographed steps to center stage to the title track of their new album. Their indie-pop sound bounced and echoed off the walls and permeated the entire room and seemed louder and catchier than I remember. Everyone in the venue seemed to know every song by heart and with so many glittering, disco ball-esque outfits, you’d have thought it was Studio 54 in the heart of the 70’s disco era.
Each song is filled with infectious pop, bouncing around and hopping up and down are infectious. “Next to Normal '', “Calling Out Your Name” and “Dance Around It” brought to mind influences like ABBA and Robyn with catchy hooks melded with layers of punchy bass, drums, and synthesizers. Watching the duo play the light-up keytars was an absolute treat. But really it was the quieter moments, the ballads, that allowed the crowd to absorb the sheer talent and vocal ranges. The highlights of the night, “The Man I’ll Never Find” and “White Lies,” were quieter tunes that captured our attention so much that the entire State Theatre was silent. Until the ladies hit those higher notes together and the crowd erupted.
During the quiet songs, the girls sing facing each other, inches away from their microphones, slowly backing away from them at points so the crowd could fully appreciate the force and impact of their voices and how strong their vocal range truly is. The choreographed moves on stage, almost as if they’re practicing the art of mirroring each other, are enhanced by the way they appear to be identical twins from the way they dress, even down to their hairstyles.
“Dusty Trails” was the lone track they played from Good Grief, instead the duo opted to reach back in their catalog and please the true fans with four tunes off Wildewoman. When they return to the stage for the encore and sat on the shiny, glittery steps and sang “Two of Us on the Run” I nearly lost it. It still sounded absolutely beautiful after all these years. “Turn it Around” and their stunning cover of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” closed out the night. Everyone in attendance was clearly exhausted from singing and dancing, making up for the last two years. We collected our breath and made our way to the exits, all our wishes fulfilled after four long years without a Lucius concert.
