The Backseat Lovers: The Art of Guitar Solos and Raspy Vocals

9/22/25 - Charlottesville, VA

Photo by Cody Cooksey

The lively town of Charlottesville, Virginia was treated to an aesthetic vibe of a night, presented by The Backseat Lovers. The Jefferson Theater has been the host of many notable performers and acts, and The Backseat Lovers added to that worthy list with two back-to-back sold out shows! The crowds came expecting a night of favorite songs and guitar solos, little did they know that they would be treated to more than just the classics. 

The Backseat Lovers, currently composed of Joshua Harmon, Jonas Swanson, KJ Ward, and Juice Welch, have been providing their unique sound since 2018, and steadily rising in popularity since. The band is known for their hits “Kilby Girl”, “Maple Syrup”, and “Pool House”, as well as their albums “When We Were Friends” (2019) and “Waiting to Spill” (2022). Fans attended night one with high anticipation to hear these songs and tracks from these albums, and they were treated to that and more. 

Photo by Cody Cooksey

The show began with the band making their way to the front of the stage, followed by a contagious uproar from the crowd. A pattern of red and orange lights appeared over the band members, as they began with their intro “Silhouette”. The usage of vibrant and patterned stage lights was certainly a highlight of the show, as each color was used as an advantage to capturing the essence and feel of each song. Songs like “Pool House”, “Snowbank Blues”, and “Olivia” seemed to resonate well with fans, as well as lead vocalist Joshua Harmon’s empathy and communication with those in attendance. It is always nice to see a band like this show how much they love what they do!

Photo by Cody Cooksey

Photo by Cody Cooksey

The band made their way through their set, introducing the crowd to new songs along the way. Evergreen was a highlight that many are excited to hear when it is officially dropped. Once the band arrived at “Kilby Girl”, the crowd exploded in high energy. The pit was full of jumping heads and phones recording as the popular guitar riff filled the room. “Maple Syrup” followed shortly after, giving everyone more than a valid reason to drop everything and dance. It is nights like this that remind me just how much art can be found in live music. The Backseat Lovers have been painting some beautiful songs, and Charlottesville is one of many places that got to see that art live… twice!