Lucero Fan Video Extravaganza Part II

Johnny Davis from Lucero on Vimeo.

As we posted on previously, in preparation for 1372 Overton Park (Oct. 6 Universal Republic) Lucero are releasing a fan made video for every track on the album. Thursday marks, "new video release day," but we are a day late so deal. Without further adieu (or ado,) today, we bring you part two -- the video for "Johnny Davis." Again, upon first listen of this album, there are parts that are too clean to be Lucero, with Ben Nichols' vocal lines almost sounding forced, which to avid fans, is simply untrue. Ben Nichlos earned every coarse-grain and hiccup in his truly unique singing style. Get passed that and you have an energeticly fantastic record.

Tour dates after the jump.


October 9 - Cannery Ballroom - Nashville, TN
October 10 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
October 11 - The Pour House - Charleston, SC
October 13 - Cats Cradle - Carrboro, NC
October 14 - The National - Richmond, VA
October 15 - 9:30 Club - Washington D.C.
October 16 - Starlight Ballroom - Philadelphia, PA
October 17 - Webster Hall - New York, NY
October 18 - The Middle East - Cambridge, MA
October 20 - Lee's Palace - Toronto, ON
October 21 - The Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
October 22 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI
October 23 - Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN
October 26 - Aggie Theatre - Ft. Collins, CO
October 27 - Ogden Theater - Denver, CO
October 29 - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA
October 30 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
November 1 - Mezzanine - San Francisco, CA
November 4 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA
November 5 - The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
November 7 - Longhorn Saloon - Ft. Worth, TX
November 8 - Fun Fun Fun Fest - Austin, TX
November 9 - Meridian - Houston, TX
November 10 - Alabama Music Box - Mobile, AL
November 12 - Club Down Under @ Florida State University - Tallahassee, FL
November 13 - Czar - Tampa, FL
November 14 - Lizzie McCormick Stage - Orlando, FL
November 15 - Cafe Eleven - St. Augustine, FL
November 17 - Visulite Theatre - Charlotte, NC
November 18 - 40 Watt - Athens, GA
November 19 - Valarium - Knoxville, TN
November 20 - Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
November 21 - Headliners - Louisville, KY

New Video: Lucero - "Darken My Door"

Darken My Door from Lucero on Vimeo.

Lucero - "Smoke" (Stream Only)

Our good friends Lucero, fronted by Ben Nichols, are readying the release of their debut record for Universal Republic (though it is their sixth release) -- the album is titled, 1372 Overton Parkand and slated for an Oct. 6 release date. Until then, enjoy the new video above for "Darken My Door," a track off the new record. The band recorded 12 videos -- one for every song on the album and this is the first to be released. Enjoy and let there be rock!

Tour dates after the jump!

October 9 - Cannery Ballroom - Nashville, TN
October 10 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
October 11 - The Pour House - Charleston, SC
October 13 - Cats Cradle - Carrboro, NC
October 14 - The National - Richmond, VA
October 15 - 9:30 Club - Washington D.C.
October 16 - Starlight Ballroom - Philadelphia, PA
October 17 - Webster Hall - New York, NY
October 18 - The Middle East - Cambridge, MA
October 20 - Lee's Palace - Toronto, ON
October 21 - The Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
October 22 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI
October 23 - Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN
October 26 - Aggie Theatre - Ft. Collins, CO
October 27 - Ogden Theater - Denver, CO
October 29 - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA
October 30 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
November 1 - Mezzanine - San Francisco, CA
November 4 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA
November 5 - The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
November 7 - Longhorn Saloon - Ft. Worth, TX
November 8 - Fun Fun Fun Fest - Austin, TX
November 9 - Meridian - Houston, TX
November 10 - Alabama Music Box - Mobile, AL
November 12 - Club Down Under @ Florida State University - Tallahassee, FL
November 13 - Czar - Tampa, FL
November 14 - Lizzie McCormick Stage - Orlando, FL
November 15 - Cafe Eleven - St. Augustine, FL
November 17 - Visulite Theatre - Charlotte, NC
November 18 - 40 Watt - Athens, GA
November 19 - Valarium - Knoxville, TN
November 20 - Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
November 21 - Headliners - Louisville, KY

Lucero To Release Major Label Debut

Lucero - "Smoke" (Stream Only)

1372 Overton Park, Lucero's sixth full-length record is slated for an Oct, 6 release. What makes this album special is that it will be Ben Nichols & Co.'s first LP on a major -- Universal Republic Records. After years of relentless touring through the Bible Belt and Southern states, Lucero emerge, still with dirt on their hands, whiskey in their blood, but with a major label in their pocket. As they say, Lucero now epitomizes the sentement, "hardworking band makes good." Their new record was produced by Ted Hutt (Gaslight Anthem) and features such guests as Cat Power, Al Green and Solomon Burke. Enjoy the newest track from the album titled "Smoke" for stream above. Our only concern is that Nichols' vocals come off a bit too over-produced. If the tune is any insight into how the rest of the album will progress, what we have on our hands is a rollicking-southern hybrid of Gaslight Anthem and the Hold Steady.

Here we go.

Tour dates after the jump.

October 9 - Cannery Ballroom - Nashville, TN
October 10 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
October 11 - The Pour House - Charleston, SC
October 13 - Cats Cradle - Carrboro, NC
October 14 - The National - Richmond, VA
October 15 - 9:30 Club - Washington D.C.
October 16 - Starlight Ballroom - Philadelphia, PA
October 17 - Webster Hall - New York, NY
October 18 - The Middle East - Cambridge, MA
October 20 - Lee's Palace - Toronto, ON
October 21 - The Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
October 22 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI
October 23 - Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN
October 26 - Aggie Theatre - Ft. Collins, CO
October 27 - Ogden Theater - Denver, CO
October 29 - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA
October 30 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
November 1 - Mezzanine - San Francisco, CA
November 4 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA
November 5 - The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
November 7 - Longhorn Saloon - Ft. Worth, TX
November 8 - Fun Fun Fun Fest - Austin, TX
November 9 - Meridian - Houston, TX
November 10 - Alabama Music Box - Mobile, AL
November 12 - Club Down Under @ Florida State University - Tallahassee, FL
November 13 - Czar - Tampa, FL
November 14 - Lizzie McCormick Stage - Orlando, FL
November 15 - Cafe Eleven - St. Augustine, FL
November 17 - Visulite Theatre - Charlotte, NC
November 18 - 40 Watt - Athens, GA
November 19 - Valarium - Knoxville, TN
November 20 - Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
November 21 - Headliners - Louisville, KY

Ben Nichols Solo Album - Lucero Tour Dates

Yesterday, we received our first taste of Ben Nichols' (of Lucero) mini-LP The Last Pale Light in the West. Pale Light is based around stories culled from Cormac McCarthy's blood-filled, epic Blood Meridian. There are few out there whose gruff intensity could match the rawness and desperation found in most McCarthy novels, but for the most part, Nichols hits it right on the head. Sam Baker does a damn good job of it as well. Using a stripped-down band set-up (Accordion, Guitar, Pedal Steel, Cowboy boots and floor) Nichols attempts to conjure the desert landscapes, violence, and lonesome Mexican villages McCarthy describes in his novel. Oh yeah, don't forget about the ear necklace - that's in there too.

For big news about Nichols' band Lucero and to see when they are coming to your town - click that little continue reading button right below this sentence.



Good things do happen to small bands. Yet, for bands like Lucero it takes a LONG time. Lucero, through relentless rocking, has managed to score themselves a record deal with Universal Music. For all the cred being on an indie gets you, you can't deny the power of a major label's marketing campaign. (See Black Kids and My Morning Jacket). So I say, godspeed Lucero go forth and bring your rock to the people. Speaking of that: Lucero is opening for The Black Keys, see tour dates below. They play two nights in NY at Terminal 5 Feb. 6 & 7 and a show at the Mercury Lounge Feb. 8. The last time we saw Lucero at the Bowery, we left covered in spilled (and thrown) beer and did whiskey shots with Nichols at the bar downstairs. Trust us, they are worth the $10. Lucero's Universal debut is scheduled for summer '09.

Lucero - 2009 Tour Dates
Jan 23 - George's Majestic Lounge (18+) Fayetteville, Arkansas
Jan 24 - Brickhouse Grill Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jan 29 - The Lyric Theatre (18+) Oxford, Mississippi
Jan 30 - Mercy Lounge (21+) Nashville, Tennessee
Jan 31 - Mercy Lounge (21+) Nashville, Tennessee
Feb 5 - Ottobar (All Ages) Baltimore, Maryland
Feb 6 - Terminal 5 (w/ The Black Keys) NYC
Feb 7 - Terminal 5 (w/ The Black Keys) NYC
Feb 8 - Mercury Lounge, NYC
Feb 20 - Bottletree Cafe (18+) Birmingham, Alabama
Feb 21 - Barleys Taproom Knoxville, Tennessee
Mar 4 - Sluggos Pensacola, Florida
Mar 5 - Big Daddys Tallahassee, Florida
Mar 6 - New World Brewery (21+) Tampa, Florida
Mar 7 - Langerado Music Festival Miami, Florida
Mar 8 - Harvest of Hope Festival Elkton, Florida
Mar 10 - The Social (18+) Orlando, Florida
Mar 11 - The Pour House Charleston, South Carolina
Mar 12 - Rhythm and Brews Chattanooga, Tennessee
Mar 13 - Variety Playhouse Atlanta, Georgia