Lucero - FINALLY returning to Brooklyn

Well it's finally fuckin' happening. After the last few laps through NYC saw Lucero playing on boats or opening for The Black Keys at Terminal 5 (I'm aware of the Mercury Lounge date that happened after but I had my own drunk punk-country band to tend to), Lucero is finally playing a normal club show. And I cannot really complain about the location. On April 18th they will take the stage at the North Si... err, Music Hall of Williamsburg.

It's a Saturday night, that could not have been more perfectly planned. Why? Because the only way to see Lucero is by trying to out drink them throughout their set. A feat very few can tackle (this is Lucero people). If you're not familiar with Lucero, there is something wrong with you first off. Secondly you need to aquaint yourself with them. I can cite no specific record to dig into first (ok maybe That Much Further West) as they're all whiskey and beer soaked masterpieces. You cannot listen to them and not be affected somehow.

I cannot lie, one of my goals in life is to one day get drunk with Ben Nichols and start playin' songs. Yeah it'll probably never happen, but a guy can dream yeah? Tickets go on sale Friday at noon. Do not miss this. Show details can be found below:

Lucero
w/ Titus Andronicus
Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 N 6th St - Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Saturday April 18th - 8pm doors 18+

train to Bedford Ave.

Ben Nichols gone solo

You're probably familiar with Lucero. If not you goddamn better get yourself on it cause you are missing out on one of the best bands you'll ever hear. The heart of Lucero's whiskey soaked country-punk rock lies in the words and voice of frontman Ben Nichols. That signature gravely Memphis howl has been the backbone of their music and the more than perfect conduit for his tales of broken hearts-down on your luck-broke down truck nights at a bar with a broken jukebox and still have a bottle of Jack Daniels left in front of ya.
Next week, Ben Nichols will release his first solo album called "The Last Pale Light In The West". The seven song album was recorded in two days in Memphis and showcases Ben Nichols in a much more stripped down and intimate light than the crunching twang of Lucero. There's acoustic guitars, pedal steel, accordian and piano and that's all ya could really want on it. Just that and Ben's voice. The songs themselves are based on the novel "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy. If you've read this the record makes even more sense (and if you haven't read it, read it). The record's been available in digital form for quite a while actually, so I'm way late on this post. I tried to hold out til the album's physical release but I caved and pre-ordered yesterday and got my download with it. I'm also crossing my fingers for a vinyl pressing, but we'll see. Click here to pre-order the CD and receive and instant download. You'll be glad you did.

Reviving more than just a tour

Odds are you already know of The Revival Tour going on this fall featuring Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Ben Nichols (Lucero) and Tim Barry (Avail). Odds are you know it's going to be an incredible show to experience as these three are some of the most influential song writers in contemporary punk music and what really is punk rock but folk music with fast drums and distorted powerchords?

Well the fine gents making up The Revival Tour figured it's not enough to just provide us all with a sure to be memorable performance, but we should have some music to take home with us. Chuck and his wife recently pressed a CD called "Revival Road" on their own Ten Four Records. The disc features songs from Chuck, Ben and Tim and will be available every night of the tour. Vinyl you ask? Duh of course vinyl is going to be available. Vinyl Collective and Side One Dummy will have the record available on vinyl and you'll also be able to grab it at the later dates of the tour. There are 500 pressed on brown vinyl with Kraft paper silkscreened jackets and 1,000 printed on white vinyl with black paper silkscreened jackets. You can currently pre-order either individually or a special package of both for $25 from the good folks at Vinyl Collective. Yea, I got the package of both. As if I had a choice? Details of the NYC date can be found below.


The Revival Tour
f/ Chuck Ragan, Ben Nichols, Tim Barry and special guest Frank Turner
Monday Oct 13th
8:00
The Blender Theater at Gramercy
127 E 23rd St. Manhattan, NYC

subway:
6 train to 23rd St
R/W trains to 23rd St
L train to 3rd Ave