Oct 213 min read

Judah & the Lion: Process Tour House of Blues-Boston

Updated: Oct 23

Photos by Joanna Gleason

Review by Jean Senat Fleury

Being a fan of live music and a photographer who shot rock bands all around the United States and abroad, I was excited to be part of the audience present at the House of Blues in Boston on Thursday October 17, 2024, to see Judah & the Lion performing during their "Process Tour" 2024.

The night started with Fleuke who won the opening spot for this show followed by Abe Parker as direct support.

Parker is an alternative pop singer, songwriter, and producer from Georgia who played phenomenal songs that touch on love, life, and personal growth. He developed his skills performing in cafes, on street corners, and other venues across the country. He then moved to Atlanta, where he worked with hip-hop artists to develop his production style.

In 2022, Parker released his debut album, Everwood, which featured several viral songs such as "Butterflies," "Stupid Face," and "Empty House." Other albums include Crawl back to me, Abe Parker (unplugged), masquerade (unplugged), Until Now, Puppet on your String, and Last First Kiss. His latest singles include "It is what It Is" and "Numb."

Parker's performance at the House of Blues in Boston was phenomenal. The presentation was terrific. As soon as he stood on stage and he started to perform, his connection with the crowd was instantaneous. Personally, as a photographer with many years of experience, I felt so strongly connected with an artist I had just met.

Playing a mix of acoustic and pop-infused tracks made the fans crazy. They were dancing, singing, jumping... The vibe was high in the venue.

After a brief intermission, the headliner Judah & the Lion took the stage.

The American indie folk band from Nashville, Tennessee, featuring Judah Akers (vocal, guitar) and Brian MacDonald (mandolin, backing vocals) also included Randy Weston, the band's founder, producer, songwriter, and singer, and Garrett Tyler (drummer).

Formed in 2011, the band released their debut album, "Kids These Days," in 2014, which was followed by "Folk Hop N' Roll", in 2016, " Pep Talks' in May 2019, "Revival" in 2022 in "The Process", their last album released on May 2024.

The central theme of the new record is the process of grief, which front man Judah Akers found himself going through after his painful divorce. "I was having a hard time figuring out how to write about my divorce and also honor my ex, honor more than just the loss of the divorce, and honor the grief I've had in my life" Akers said in a Zoom interview with mandolinist and co-songwriter Brian MacDonald.

In response, Brian said:" Sometimes you're the one going through the grief." Sometimes you're the friend who is watching your friend experience that grieving process. That was me for the album. Getting to be there and be vulnerable with Judas as we crafted how we wanted to portray that process for him and for our band was definitely an honor."

In resume, the public was excited and sad at the same time to listen Akers talking on his life and struggles which had inspired him to write most of the songs listed in the new album. "I was fighting for my marriage, going crazy, and getting sick. I fought writing about what i was going through. Finally, a friend told me, "If you didn't write about the biggest heartbreak of your life, you can't be honest in your work." And he was right. Taking into consideration his advice, I composed several songs from my life experience at that time.

According to Randy Weston, his favorite song from the new album is "Process". It is my favorite because the message of the song is so reassuring in a world where people let you down a lot. It's a reminder that God is always there. And I love country music!