You have probably heard them a million times on the radio, but still, don’t know their name. You have probably had their music stuck in your head multiple times but still aren’t sure who they are. You have probably thought, “Damn it would be awesome to learn how to play the banjo!” because of them, yet still haven’t looked them up. Let me save you the trouble my friends, the band you keep forgetting to look up is Judah & The Lion.
With their hit single Take It All Back saturating the airwaves, Judah & The Lion are really starting to finally make a massive name for themselves in the music world. The Nashville based band first began writing Christian music in 2011, but after a few years decided to try taking their music in a different direction, incorporating more of a “Nashville rock” feel. Their music wasn’t given much recognition until Take It All Back was picked up by Top 40 and Alternative radio stations in December of 2016. It also helps that they have opened for bands such as Twenty One Pilots, Jimmy Eat World, and Incubus.
The alternative band has a unique way of blending “back roads country” with rock, creating an earworm that you can never seem to get rid of. Think of the uniqueness of Mumford and Sons and the country feel of Zac Brown Band; Judah & The Lion is upbeat, light and catchy, but has this way of making you feel like you are in the middle of a country field for a music jam session with your friends. Their music has a unique blend of “banjo twang” with the “rock-ability” of popular music today, that makes you want to listen to more for the different characteristics that you don’t normally find in today’s kind of music. Especially with their earlier albums, you can hear a lot of musical instruments that you wouldn’t necessarily hear on the radio, such as violins, flutes, and of course, the banjo.
What first caught my ear to their music was the lyrics. I’m very big on the meaning of songs and they are very good when it comes to making a song more than just something to head bop to. While most of you will instantly like Take It All Back for the simple meaning of wanting someone back and fighting for them, I suggest listening to Love In Me. It’s more of reaching deep into your soul and throwing all your feelings out on the table (too deep for a song with a banjo?). It is just about having this love within you and wanting to spread it to the world around you. If you aren’t looking for anything that serious and just want to dance, I suggest listening to Hold On. It has this light beat while telling you to stop holding on and just let go, “To do your hippie dance“.
Ultimate Ginger Review: Listen to Judah & The Lion now! If you are a fan of Mumford and Sons, Zac Brown Band or just music in general, this is the band to try out! I can promise you that you will not regret it. Hopefully, they will continue to gain popularity and create new music because they are a band that I can see being around for a long time. They are an extremely talented band with a unique sound and should be played all over the radio waves!
Featured image via “Judah & The Lion” by echolalia [echelon] / CC BY-NC-ND
