Photo by Tim Dwenger
The girls of boygenius are no strangers to the stage. Although still in their twenties, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus have been writing music and playing shows since their teens. All three artists have performed in front of Colorado fans since 2016, gracing stages at the likes of Lost Lake Lounge, Globe Hall, Bluebird Theatre, The Ogden, Mission Ballroom, and Red Rocks. Then, in 2018, they formed a band; united by a love for each other’s music coupled with their disgust with how “women in music” were defined and pitted against each other.
The first boygenius tour hit The Ogden Theatre in November 2018 with each artist performing a set of solo material before all three came together to perform the boygenius ep. While that show did sell out, tickets were available the day of. Seeing three young up-and-coming singer-songwriters have so much fun together onstage was refreshing.
Over the past four and a half years, amidst new albums, hit songs, a pandemic, collaborations with notable artists, and transformed lives, Phoebe, Julien, and Lucy have grown boygenius into a real band. They have also developed a more commanding stage presence. This transformation was evident during the sold-out Red Rocks performance on Saturday.
Whether solo, with their own bands, or as a trio, the dozen or so times I’ve seen the girls of boygenius have been subdued performances, held together by voices and lyrics. All three have something to say and beautiful, strong voices with which to speak their minds. That hasn’t changed, but on a Saturday night at Red Rocks, their message was blasted out to close to 10,000 fans while a giant led screen and a full backing band on risers behind them bolstered the songs. With the previously shy Julien acting as a band leader, boygenius celebrated their first full-length album in its entirety. They also brought back all the songs from the ep and one selection from each of their solo albums.
And this time, it was a rock show!
With the lighting, the decibel levels, and the fans screaming every word back at the stage, boygenius proved why they are gracing the cover of so many magazines and why they are the favorite band of so many who weren’t old enough to attend concerts unchaperoned when they last played in Colorado. A quick browse of their socials shows Julien, Phoebe, and Lucy are more than just bandmates; they have become best friends, which showed on stage. The “you had to be there” insider banter, the smiles and knowing looks, and the make-out session that left all three on the ground laughing spread infectious joy across the audience.
Having attended hundreds of shows at Red Rocks, this one was unique in a few ways. boygenius is the first band I’ve seen bring Native Americans out to talk about the sacred land the park and amphitheater sit on. They announced that we are in the “age of the daughter” and experiencing a much-needed feminist awakening. The show was entirely inclusive, though.
“How many boyfriends are out there?” Lucy asked before the unreleased “Boyfriends.” Julien added, “I’ve defined as a boyfriend,” while Phoebe admitted, “I’ve had many boyfriends.”
Some girls handed the audience small paper squares after illuminati hotties‘ energetic opening set. They were part of a band project and asked everyone to hold the paper over their flashlights before the encore. The effect was a giant rainbow of lights from the top of the venue down to the stage. The girls of boygenius were blown away, with Lucy announcing, “We’re all gay,” before adding, “Anyone who thinks they have it all figured out is so stupid!”
Phoebe, Julien, and Lucy are having the time of their lives, and we’re so lucky they are sharing it with us. They are dead serious about what they stand for, but they are not above having fun with it. A perfect example was opening the show with Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back In Town” and ending with everyone dancing like maniacs to 100 gecs’ “Dumbest Girl Alive.”
So many people young people telling me boygenius is their favorite band restores my faith in the youth of today.
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