Lucero (band)

Lucero

Lucero - Live in Concert
Background information
Origin Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Genres Alt. country
Alternative rock
Country-punk
Southern rock
Punk rock
Heartland rock
Memphis soul
Blues rock
Years active 1998–present
Labels Universal Music Group (2008 - 2010)
Liberty & Lament
Madjack Records
Soul is Cheap
Love Lost
Thick Syrup Records
Landmark Records
ATO Records
Loose Music
MapleMusic Recordings (Canada)
Associated acts A Town Too Small
Glossary
Lucky Old Son
Overjoid
Rick & Roy
The Paper Hearts
Red 40
The Simple Ones
Vegas Thunder
The Honorary Title
The Hold Steady
Website www.luceromusic.com
Members Ben Nichols
Brian Venable
John C. Stubblefield
Roy Berry
Rick Steff
Past members Shane Callaway
Jeremy Freeze
Reiko
Steve Selvidge
Todd Gill
Todd Beene

Lucero is an American country-punk rock band based in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Lucero's sound has been described as a "synthesis of soul, rock, and country [that] is distinctly Memphisian."[1] They have released 11 albums and one live DVD, mostly through their own label.[2] The band mainly tours around North America.

Biography

Lucero had their start in Memphis, TN and played for the first time in early 1998. Since 2001, they have played between 150 and 200 shows a year across the United States and Canada (sorry but I can't find any source to support this claim that they have played that many shows. Setlist.fm shows that they have played a total of 296 shows since 2001, with 2014 being their most prolific year which they played 51 shows.) and have been called "one of the hardest working bands of the last 10 years—on tour significantly more days than they are not."[3]

The members of Lucero are Ben Nichols (guitar and vocals), Roy Berry (drums), John C. Stubblefield (bass), Brian Venable (guitar), and Rick Steff (piano, organ, accordion). Todd Gill substituted for Brian Venable from 2003 to 2004. The band also experimented with guitarist Steve Selvidge in the early months of 2003.

In late 2008, the band announced they had signed a four album deal with Universal Music Group,[4] though the relationship with Universal was short-lived.[5] 1372 Overton Park was released October 6, 2009 by Universal Music Group and was the first Lucero album to feature a horn section.

Lucero's album, Women & Work, was released on March 13, 2012 by ATO Records. This album integrates more of the horn section as well as the pedal steel guitar, keyboards and a gospel chorus.[6][7]

The first solo release from frontman Ben Nichols, The Last Pale Light in the West, was released in January 2009 on Lucero's label Liberty & Lament. On November 17, 2013 the title song was featured in the episode "Live Bait" of the AMC series The Walking Dead. The seven-song record was inspired by Cormac McCarthy's book Blood Meridian and recorded with Rick Steff on piano and accordion and Todd Beane on pedal steel.[8]

In May 2009, Nichols co-starred in MTV's $5 Cover, a Craig Brewer-produced, quasi-fictionalized series about the Memphis music scene. A performance of Lucero's song "San Francisco" at the Young Avenue Deli in Memphis was featured in the trailer for the series.[9]

Ben Nichols's previous band was Red 40 in which he played alongside Colin Brooks and Steve Kooms.[10]

Drummer Roy Berry is half of experimental duo Overjoid[11] and was a member of the Memphis-based band The Simple Ones before joining Lucero.[12]

John C. Stubblefield has recorded with North Mississippi Allstars, Jim Dickinson and BigAssTruck (Sack Lunch EP), among others. He co-produced Hill Country Revue’s 2010 album Zebra Ranch.[13]

Rick Steff has recorded with Cat Power, Hank Williams Jr. and Dexys Midnight Runners, among others.

Todd Beene is also currently a member of the Tennessee band Glossary.[14]

Discography

Demo tapes

Singles

Albums

Live albums

Videography

Mud soundtrack

Lucero contributed two tracks, "Everything You Need" and "Take You Away", to the 2012 film Mud, which was written and directed by Ben Nichols' brother Jeff Nichols. Ben Nichols contributed three additional tracks, "Davy Brown", "The Kid" and "Snakebite" to the soundtrack.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Ryan, Kyle (2012-03-13). "Lucero: Women & Work | Music | MusicalWork Review". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  2. ↑ "Lucero | Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  3. ↑ "Album Review: Lucero – Women & Work « Consequence of Sound". Consequenceofsound.net. 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  4. ↑ Horton, Becca. "Lucero Goes Major, | Has Picnic | Music | Memphis News and Events". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  5. ↑ Jac Chebatoris (2012-03-21). "Rocking Memphis-style - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  6. ↑ "Lucero's 'Women & Work' Recalls Scaggs and Seger | The Short List - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  7. ↑ "About | Lucero". Luceromusic.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  8. ↑ "The Last Pale Light In The West: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  9. ↑ "$5 Cover Amplified". 5dollarcoveramplified.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  10. ↑ "Red 40 – Free listening, concerts, stats, & pictures at". Last.fm. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  11. ↑ "Guest Post: Overjoid (Roy, Lucero’S Drummers’S, Side Project)". ninebullets.net. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  12. ↑ "Worth the Weight: The Simple Ones: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  13. ↑ John C. Stubblefield. "John C. Stubblefield | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  14. ↑ "ABOUT | Glossary". Glossary.us. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  15. ↑ "Stripped Down Session: Lucero (two songs)". Punks in Vegas. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  16. ↑ "IMDB Mud 2012 Soundtrack". IMDb.com. Retrieved June 1, 2014.

External links

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