I’ve been going to see Lucero for years. I’ve been to rowdy shows, calm shows, crowded shows, empty shows, and sloppy shows (my favorites, to be honest).
I’ve been to shows where the openers were people I’d never heard of, and I’ve been to others with openers the likes of Amy LaVere, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm, Cory Branan, Drag the River, and Frank Turner, just to name a few. I’ve been to shows I can’t remember, and I’ve been to shows I’ll never forget. With Austin Lucas and Glossary as support, this past weekend’s two-night stand at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville without a doubt falls into the latter category.
The first night’s opening act was local Murfreesboro, TN rock band Glossary, who were there to support their seventh full-length album Long Live All of Us, which frontman Joey Kneiser calls “an all-inclusive homage to humanity” that emphasizes such qualities as “mercy, redemption, forgiveness, and second chances.” Their set included some of my long-time favorites, as well as one of my newest favorites, “Bruised Ribs,” off of Joey Kneiser’s free, downloadable solo album, The All-Night Bedroom Revival (which happens to be one of Ben Nichols’ favorite albums right now).
The second night’s opener was a particularly special treat: Bloomington, IN musician Austin Lucas with “one of his favorite bands in the world,” Glossary, as his back-up. Austin was there supporting his new full-length album A New Home in the Old World as well as showcasing some new songs, like “So Much More Than Lonely.” As Lucero frontman Ben Nichols put it, “He can fucking sing, he can fucking write a song, and he can fucking play guitar.” Considering the folk and bluegrass lineage from whence he comes (his father is Bob Lucas), it’s no surprise.
As for Lucero, their shows tend to be predictably unpredictable, meaning anyone who has been seeing them for a while knows to expect a good time but doesn’t necessarily know in what form that good time is going to take. For instance, while both nights were high-energy, each had its own feel.
The first night consisted of a not-too-drunk frontman (Ben Nichols), more technically perfectly played songs, less stressed vocals, and a wild, rowdy, beer-slinging crowd. (I came out battered and all kinds of banged up.) The second night, while equally rowdy and high-energy, consisted of a drunker and therefore more crowd-engaging Ben Nichols, incredible band interaction and banter, and a bouncing-off-the-walls Brian Venable, whose guitar playing skills shone despite the fact his guitar strings broke a couple of times, and he had to stop to replace them.
Both performances share two things, though: the mixture of old favorites, rarities, and new songs, and the incredible duration of the shows. I highly recommend catching them on their current tour while you still can. They take stamina and, at times, a high tolerance for pain, but they’re well worth every bruise.
I’ve included the set lists from both nights to give an idea how long most Lucero shows last:
Friday, 11/18:
That Much Further West
Nights Like These
On My Way Downtown
Sounds of the City
Kiss the Bottle
Hey Darlin’ Do You Gamble?
Like Lightning
Joining the Army
Last Night in Town
I’ll Just Fall
Watch it Burn
Slow Dancing
Sixteen
Sweet Little Thing
Goodbye Again
Sixes and Sevens
My Best Girl
Bikeriders
Women and Work
Mom
The War
Hold Me Close
Here at the Starlight
All Sewn Up
Tears Don’t Matter Much
Drink ’til We’re Gone
Chain Link Fence
Nobodys Darlings
Saturday, 11/19:
That Much Further West
Can’t Feel a Thing
Nights Like These
What Else Would You Have Me Be?
Like Lightning
Joining the Army
Last Night in Town
Raising Hell
All the Same to Me
Kiss the Bottle
Goodbye Again
Women and Work
Summer Song
Chain Link Fence
Sounds of the City
Slow Dancing
It May Be Too Late
Little Silver Heart
Outsiders
She Wakes When She Dreams
Davy Brown
The War
She’s Just that Kind of Girl
Sixes and Sevens
On My Way Downtown
Dangerous Thing
Ain’t No Sunshine
Tears don’t Matter Much
Drink ’til We’re Gone
I’ll Just Fall
Fistful of Tears
All Sewn Up
See you at the rock show!
