Lucy Dacus looks back at a religious upbringing “VBS,” reschedules show with Bright Eyes at SteelStacks

Lucy Dacus‘ new album Home Video comes out next month, and ahead of the release she’s shared a third single. “VBS” finds Dacus looking back at her religious upbringing, continuing the autobiographical theme we see across the record as the songwriter reflects on how she’s grown.

Dacus shared in a press release:

“VBS means vacation bible school, and I went to tons of them. It’s where Christian parents send their kids over the winter, spring, or summer breaks from school to get closer to God, maybe learn some outdoor skills, and bring home useless crafts and totems like fruit of the spirit sand art and purity rings. I wrote the song in the van on the way to Nashville to record Home Video after seeing one of those readerboards outside a church advertising a wholesome church camp for kids. I thought about my first boyfriend, who I met at VBS, the resident bad boy who loved Slayer and weed more than Jesus. I took it upon myself to save him, and make him stop doing drugs (with an exception for snorting nutmeg). God, I was so lame.”

Dacus is joined on the track by Jacob Blizard on electric and acoustic guitar and Jake Finch on drums and organ. Her longtime creative collaborator and Home Video visual director Marin Leong created the accompanying animated video as a “diptych or braided essay” with the song.

Watch the video below and pre-order Home Video via Matador Records before it’s release on June 25. Lucy Dacus will open for Bright Eyes at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks in Bethlehem on July 29, and also has a headlining show scheduled at Union Transfer on October 20. Find tickets on the XPN Concert Calendar and check each venue’s website for updates on COVID-19 guidelines as circumstances evolve.