Progress is a process. It’s certainly been a process for Brian Macdonald and Judah Akers, the duo known professionally as Judah and the Lion. Their latest album, Process, chronicles the ups and downs of grief with all the folksy-indie rock that made the band famous. Omaha Magazine spoke with mandolinist and vocalist Macdonald via phone in advance of their concert at Steelhouse Omaha on Sunday, Oct. 6.
“(Process) started midway through COVID — I had moved to Sweden ant the time, and the band couldn’t do any touring,” Macdonald said. “When I moved home, that was the first time I ad seen Judah in person in maybe a year, and he filled me in on what was going on in his life, and his marriage of failing at the time. But we came up with the idea to go through the five stages, actually, when we were making the previous record, Revival.”
The album uses Swiss psychologist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ model (from her 1969 book On Death and Dying) for the five stages of grief as the sections of the album: songs titled “Denial,” “Anger,” “Bargaining,” “Depression,” and “Acceptance” are woven into songs about denial, or anger, or acceptance.
It’s a work that has touched many people struggling with their own grief.
“Our hope has always been just that through being vulnerable about grief and our experience with the grieving process, that people can relate to hard things that they're going through in their own life, but also hopefully find some hope,” Macdonald said. “What really gets us is when fans reach out and, you know, tell us how their music has helped them get through the loss of a loved one. And we have so many messages detailing that, and people just saying…some really receptive stories of people being sick and getting better, or family members passing away. And that our music is helping them process that time.”
Fans going to the show on Sunday can expect a performance curated by more than 80 people who have had a hand in making the album and helping to bring each concert to life.
“While we were making the album, we were planning what the shows would look like and what songs would fit at the show. And we have been planning for probably six months now what the lights would look like, and how we were going to fit all the lights in the trailer, and what instruments we were going to bring, and planning out the set list (and more),” Macdonald said.
And when it all comes together, fans will be able to connect with each other, with the band, and start to heal through music, whether they are healing themselves or helping a loved one with their healing process.
“I had my own grieving process through everything that happened, but I think for this album, specifically, I played the role of the friend who was there to be a shoulder to lean on. And I think…sometimes, you are the one grieving, and sometimes you are the one that can be there for somebody. Being aware of what your role might be and caring for the people around you is really an important piece to that puzzle.”
Judah and the Lion plays at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased by visiting https://steelhouseomaha.com/
