Lucius Deliver a Spellbinding Show in Chicago
- Erin Carley
- 18 hours ago
- 2 min read
On Saturday October 18, Lucius took the stage at Chicago’s Salt Shed for a magnetic performance on their Gold Rush tour. From the visually arresting set design to the mesmerizing performance, Lucius didn’t just play music – they created a vibrant world for the audience to step into for the evening.
Known for their mirrored styling, the duo, composed of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, leaned into their signature double-vision aesthetic with singular flair. The set design could have been plucked from a dream – lamp posts, lawn chairs, large cacti, and even a mailbox decked the stage. In matching fashion, Wolfe and Laessig took the stage in ornate, hot pink robes that commanded attention. But nothing outshone the music. Their performance was tight, expressive, and rich with the kind of vocal layering that only Lucius can deliver – especially during their hauntingly beautiful cover of R.E.M.'s “Everybody Hurts.”
Perhaps the most touching – and hilarious – moment came during “On the Run.” After an emotional build-up, Lucius paused to let the crowd sing the final line. Silence. Then laughter. Then, cutting through the silence, one brave soul sang out, full-throated and unashamed. The band cracked up. The crowd cracked up. She kept going. And going. It threw Lucius off, and what followed was a chaotic, hilarious attempt to finish the song through tears of laughter and breathless joy. An utterly human song with an utterly human performance.
Another layer of connection came from a collection of letters they dove into. Before the show had started, they allowed fans to leave letters in a mailbox at the merch table. Having the mailbox positioned to the left side of the stage, the duo sat in the lawn chairs and read through a few. Hearing the affectionate words from the crowd brought another dimension to the show. These letters introduced intimacy to the otherwise large show.
With spellbinding harmonies, gut-busting laughter, and even a few tears Lucius offered an immersive and communal experience.
