Lucero (band)

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.

Lucero
Lucero - Live in Concert
Background information
OriginMemphis, Tennessee, United States
Genres
Years active1998–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitewww.luceromusic.com
MembersBen Nichols
Brian Venable
John C. Stubblefield
Roy Berry
Rick Steff
Past membersShane Callaway
Jeremy Freeze
Reiko
Steve Selvidge
Todd Gill
Todd Beene

Biography

1998-2007: Formation and early years

Lucero had their start in Memphis, TN and played for the first time in early 1998. Since then, they have been called "one of the hardest working bands of the last 10 years—on tour significantly more days than they are not."[3]

2008-2009: 1372 Overton Park

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.

2012: Women & Work

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]

2015: All a Man Should Do

Lucero's eleventh album, All a Man Should Do, was released on September 18, 2015. It continued the Memphis-soul influence as seen in the previous two albums. The album included a cover of I'm In Love With A Girl, originally recorded by fellow Memphis band, Big Star. The cover, which includes a line taken for the album title, featured backing vocals from Big Star drummer, Jody Stephens. It was recorded in Ardent Studios which is based in Memphis and managed by Stephens.[8]

2018: Among the Ghosts

Among the Ghosts was released August 3, 2018. The album was produced by Matt Ross-Spang and recorded live in a single room at Sam Phillip's Recording, Memphis.[9] The sound is more stripped back than the previous three, with no brass section. The track "Back to the Night" features spoken word lyrics from actor Michael Shannon. Shannon is a frequent collaborator of frontman Ben Nichols brother, film director Jeff Nichols. The song Loving, had previously featured on the soundtrack to Jeff Nichols film, Loving, as a solo Ben Nichols song.[10][11]

2019 saw Lucero undertake their first ever Australian headlining tour.[12]

Collaborations and other projects

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.[13]

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.[14]

Ben Nichols's previous band was Red 40 in which he played alongside Colin Brooks and Steve Kooms.[15]

Drummer Roy Berry is half of experimental duo Overjoid[16] and was a member of the Memphis-based band The Simple Ones before joining Lucero.[17]

John C. Stubblefield has recorded with Jello 1-2-3 (live at some high school dance), North Mississippi Allstars, Jim Dickinson and BigAssTruck (Sack Lunch EP), among others. He co-produced Hill Country Revue’s 2010 album Zebra Ranch.[18]

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 [19] and Chuck Ragan's band.

Band members

Current members
  • Ben Nichols – vocals, guitar
  • Roy Berry – drums
  • John C. Stubblefield – bass
  • Rick Steff – piano, organ, accordion
  • Brian Venable – guitar

Former members
  • Shane Callaway
  • Jeremy Freeze
  • Reiko
  • Steve Selvidge – guitar (2003)
  • John Murry – guitar (2003)
  • Todd Gill – guitar (2003–2004)
  • Todd Beene

Discography

Albums
  • The Attic Tapes - self-released (2000)
  • Lucero - Madjack Records (2001)
  • Tennessee - Madjack Records (2002)
  • That Much Further West - Tiger Style Records (2003)
  • Nobody's Darlings - Liberty & Lament (2005)
  • The Attic Tapes (reissue) - Liberty & Lament (2006)
  • Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers - Liberty & Lament (2006)
  • 1372 Overton Park - Universal Records / Republic Records (2009)
  • Women & Work - ATO Records / Loose Music (2012)
  • Texas & Tennessee - ATO Records (2013)
  • All a Man Should Do - ATO Records / MapleMusic (2015)
  • Among the Ghosts - Liberty & Lament / Thirty Tigers (2018)

Live albums
  • Lucero: Live at Cat's Cradle - Lucero (2004)
  • Dreaming in America - Liberty & Lament (2005)
  • Lucero: Live from Atlanta - Liberty & Lament (2014)

Demo tapes
  • Lucero (1998)

Singles
  • "My Best Girl", Landmark Records (2000)
  • "Loggia Split", Soul is Cheap (2004)
  • "Smoke", Universal (2009)
  • "Mom", Universal (2009)

Videography
  • Bright Stars on Lonesome Nights
  • Dreaming in America
  • Punks in Vegas Sessions[20]

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.[21]

Hellion soundtrack

Lucero contributed the tracks, "When I Was Young" and "The Other Side of Lonesome", to the 2014 film Hellion.[22]

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. Mark Deming. "AllMusic - All A Man Should Do". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  9. McKenna, Brittney (2018-07-26). "Lucero's 'Among The Ghosts' Does A Little Musical Demolition". NPR. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  10. Paste Editors (November 9, 2016). "A track from the Loving soundtrack". Paste. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  11. Mark Deming. "AllMusic - Among The Ghosts". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  12. "LUCERO 2019". Lovepolice.com.au. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  13. "The Last Pale Light In The West: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  14. "$5 Cover Amplified". 5dollarcoveramplified.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  15. "Red 40 – Free listening, concerts, stats, & pictures at". Last.fm. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  16. "Guest Post: Overjoid (Roy, Lucero'S Drummers'S, Side Project)". ninebullets.net. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  17. "Worth the Weight: The Simple Ones: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  18. John C. Stubblefield. "John C. Stubblefield | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  19. "ABOUT | Glossary". Glossary.us. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  20. "Stripped Down Session: Lucero (two songs)". Punks in Vegas. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  21. "IMDB Mud 2012 Soundtrack". IMDb.com. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  22. "IMDB Hellion 2014 Soundtrack". IMDb.com. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
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