Memphis-based band ready to get rowdy
Brian Washburn
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: Lifestyles
Concerts can be mellow, raunchy, boring, intense and, at times, intriguing. But George's Majestic Lounge looks to get "rowdy" tonight when Fayetteville regulars Lucero return to provide concertgoers with a heaping dose of country rock for the start of the new year.
While the Memphis-based four-piece have been around for a little more than a decade, Lucero recently signed a four-album deal with major label Universal Music Group, a deal which looks to promote the band to more national notoriety in its musical genre. Even though Lucero - comprised of guitarist/vocalist Ben Nichols, guitarist Brian Venable, bassist John C. Stubblefield and drummer Roy Berry - are finally able to bask in their new -found success, it is definitely a different music industry than the one that existed when they began their journey in 2008.
"Obviously the advent of iTunes and the ubiquitous iPods is the major thing," Nichols said. "People are getting their music in new ways. Hell, they're listening to it in new ways. Being able to instantly download a single song for under a buck is a big deal and definitely changes the way people buy music."
The band also has hit a trend with several acts and musicians embracing the mixing of musical genres, but Nichols does not see this as a new trend nor does he see Lucero as any kind of innovator in the country-rock persona.
"I think it's been that way for a while now," he said. "I mean, rock and roll by definition is a mix of black R&B and white hillbilly music."
Although some bands change sounds and mix things up to avoid repetition, Lucero is sticking to their formula for their upcoming album, but not without a few unique twists.
"Each record is a new thing with a unique focus," Nichols said. "We have different influences and genres that are tapped for each record. The songwriting is the same throughout, though. Some songs are better than others, but it all boils down to rock and roll in the end."
And a rock and roll show is what Fayetteville will get tonight. The four-piece hopes for a rowdy show with "folks singing along," but, they hope, no fights throughout the crowd, Nichols said.
"If you like drinking and rock and roll, it's going to be the place to be," he said.
While the Memphis-based four-piece have been around for a little more than a decade, Lucero recently signed a four-album deal with major label Universal Music Group, a deal which looks to promote the band to more national notoriety in its musical genre. Even though Lucero - comprised of guitarist/vocalist Ben Nichols, guitarist Brian Venable, bassist John C. Stubblefield and drummer Roy Berry - are finally able to bask in their new -found success, it is definitely a different music industry than the one that existed when they began their journey in 2008.
"Obviously the advent of iTunes and the ubiquitous iPods is the major thing," Nichols said. "People are getting their music in new ways. Hell, they're listening to it in new ways. Being able to instantly download a single song for under a buck is a big deal and definitely changes the way people buy music."
The band also has hit a trend with several acts and musicians embracing the mixing of musical genres, but Nichols does not see this as a new trend nor does he see Lucero as any kind of innovator in the country-rock persona.
"I think it's been that way for a while now," he said. "I mean, rock and roll by definition is a mix of black R&B and white hillbilly music."
Although some bands change sounds and mix things up to avoid repetition, Lucero is sticking to their formula for their upcoming album, but not without a few unique twists.
"Each record is a new thing with a unique focus," Nichols said. "We have different influences and genres that are tapped for each record. The songwriting is the same throughout, though. Some songs are better than others, but it all boils down to rock and roll in the end."
And a rock and roll show is what Fayetteville will get tonight. The four-piece hopes for a rowdy show with "folks singing along," but, they hope, no fights throughout the crowd, Nichols said.
"If you like drinking and rock and roll, it's going to be the place to be," he said.
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