Another video appropriate for Halloween. White Water, White Bloom is available now via Dangerbird Records.
Video: Sea Wolf – Wicked Blood
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October 2009
My friend Nick and I went to the Lucero show the other night at the new Bottom Lounge in Chicago. I say new because the first time I saw Lucero was at the old Bottom Lounge years ago.‚ The new digs are way better (read: you don’t have to wipe your feet off before you go outside). The acoustics are surprising given the high ceiling and the stage is rather large for a venue of its size, which is a good thing because these days Lucero weigh in at roughly ten people counting horns, keys and the obligatory roadie who fetches beer and shots for the band.
I have seen Lucero several times in Chicago, as well as a few shows in Austin and a set in LA, and they’ve really been all over the map: from scintillating to shitty¦depending on their sobriety (or lack thereof). I’ve seen John pass-out mid song, Ben forget lyrics, Brian nearly fall over and Roy get so pissed at his drum set he kicked it over, but I’ve never seen anything like this show.
On Saturday night, Lucero was tight. Their music was noticeably different. And it wasn’t just the horn section. During the first song I thought to myself, wow this is really good; and when the song ended I turned to Nick and asked what he thought. He said, “It seems like they’re actually trying.” So many times in the past it’s felt like they were just up there to have fun, but on this night they came to play music (granted, by the end of the show they were all ass-hammered but so was everyone).
The band was energized. The set list ping-ponged between tracks from their infectious new album and old staples. Highlights included “That Much Further West,” “Smoke,” and “Hey Darling Do You Gamble.” Ben even threw in “The Last Pale Light in the West” off his solo EP of the same name. The horn section really brought new songs to life in a whole new manner and”surprisingly”added a fullness to the old chestnuts. The one downside seemed to be the couple times the horns were searching for a sense of purpose and wound up aping a guitar riff note for note. Aside from that I have no complaints.
The boys didn’t take the stage ’til 11:30 and didn’t relinquish it until nearly 2:00 on the AM dial. Needless to say everyone got what they came for. For those of you out there questioning the band’s new approach music, I say go check it out. You won’t be disappointed.
Video: Lucero – Darken My Door (fan created)
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In the spirit of not holding out any longer on good music, here’s another track from a band I’ve been listening to. Just haven’t had the time to write a proper review of the full body of work.
Old Canes is the work of Chris Crisci who wrote and recorded the album Feral Harmonic mostly alone in his basement studio. The album is out now via Saddle Creek Records and the usual digital outlet suspects. “Trust” is a damn fine track.
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This just in from the I can’t believe I’ve been ignoring this album department. Austin’s Brazos is releasing their debut album, Phosphorescent Blues, on November 24th. The band has been opening for the likes of Grizzly Bear, Shearwater, Bowerbirds and Vampire Weekend and now they just released their first single for “Day Glo.”
I am just now digging into the album, but here’s a taste.
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