This is where it all started. Two years ago I saw this band on a balmy Sunday night. After going to gigs for more than thirty years these guys rocked like the proverbial and reignited my love of live music. I then decided to record my gig going for my own personal pleasure but to also share with my gig going mates documenting our life in music. There been 76 gigs and reviews since that time and in the main most have been at least good and some have been great.
It’s the obligatory early show tonight as its Friday in London so most venues have club nights. I’m running at about 60% struck down with a cold that won’t go away but this is not a gig to be missed.
Lucero hail from Memphis and started life as hard rocking country gents but their latter albums now have a more rounded sound with keys and horns. It’s a mellow start opening with the impressive ‘Went Looking for Warren Zevon’s Los Angeles’ from the fine new album. This mood continues for a couple more tracks and you can sense that both the band and the young crowd are just waiting for the burning fuse to get to the fireworks that is the hallmark of their live shows.
Well we needn’t have worried and we are soon cracking through a really impressive back catalogue of rockin good tunes. The balance of the set tonight is the perfect blend of light and shade and there’s a bunch of slower numbers for us all to get our breath back after the mosh pit and crowd surfing. (Ed's note too old for that now)
It’s a night of rarely if ever played in the UK tracks interspersed with old favourites like ‘Tears Don’t Matter much’, ‘Nights like these’ and new crowd favourite ’On my way Downtown’ .
There’s a nice segment at the end with just Ben Nichols accompanied by Rick Steff on keys and accordion before the band join for the ‘Drink ‘til we’re gone’.
A heart-warming set on a cold night in the capital. It also proves that us old un’s can still rock with the best. These guys are still a lap ahead of the new wave of Southern rock like The Cadillac Three.
Keep on rockin y’all