Brent Rice ‘25
wrf4bh@virginia.edu
This past Saturday, the historic Jefferson Theater hosted a remarkable spectacle as the former Walmart yodeler and Subway sandwich artist, Mason Ramsey, performed to a sold-out, standing-room-only crowd. The young superstar delivered a performance for the ages to an audience of all ages, including at least twenty members of the Law School community, with multiple members from every class year represented. For Ramsey, this performance marked his second visit to the city and venue as he continues his meteoric rise to fame.
Pictured: Mason Ramsey
Photo Credit: Brent Rice
Ramsey’s story is one of humble beginnings when, in 2018, a video of him yodeling Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues" inside a Walmart went viral, launching him into the spotlight at the young age of eleven. Now seventeen, Ramsey proved he is capable of far more than yodeling, captivating the audience with hits like “Famous” and “Puddle of Love,” and tear-jerkers such as “Reasons to Come Home” and “Blue Over You,” showing off the impressive range of his now mature voice.
But it wasn't just Ramsey's vocal prowess that stole the show—his stage presence was equally impressive. Sporting black pants, a blue velvet quarter-zip, and an orange scarf that has become a signature look for him on this tour, Ramsey commanded attention by strumming his guitar and dancing across the stage with the confidence of a seasoned performer.
No wonder that, upon returning with a member of my party after the show to reclaim a credit card that had been inadvertently left at the bar, the security guard proclaimed him to be “the next Elvis.” The diligent guard was far from the only one with high praise for Mason Ramsey. Sophia Lorusso ’25 shared her enthusiasm for the concert with a simple sentence: “It was electric.”
Others at the event, who shared that they attended solely at the urging of their friends, expressed surprise at the quality of Ramsey’s voice and the relatability of his lyrics. Several admitted that they will soon be adding several of his singles to their regular playlists for future listening pleasure.
As the concert drew to a close, Ramsey brought down the house with a soul-filled performance of the crowd favorite “Twang,” before taking a moment to express his gratitude and disappearing off stage. Not one to let the night end prematurely, the group of law students began a chant of “one more song” that reverberated into a thunderous roar from the crowd, drawing Ramsey back onto the stage where he delivered not one, not two, but three encore performances. None as powerful as “Yo Da Lady Who,” which had the crowd shouting those very words at the top of their lungs for the duration of the song and late into the night.
After the concert’s end, many of the law students stuck around for several minutes while they waited for Ramsey to sign the 2’ x 6’ banner Alexa Rothborth ’25 had designed for her Mason Ramsey-themed pregame that preceded the event. Smiling fondly over her freshly autographed memorabilia, Rothborth put an endearing spin upon one of Ramsey’s own lyrics, adding “We loved him for his twang.”
As for me, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that many of these bops had found their way onto my own Spotify playlist. If you happen to catch me in the music room this finals season, I hope you’re ready to clear your throat and sing along.
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wrf4bh@virginia.edu