Lucero’s sixth studio album and major label debut, 1372 Overton Park, is due October 6 on Universal Republic Records. Produced by Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem) and featuring horn arrangements by legendary Memphis session player Jim Spake (Al Green, John Hiatt, Solomon Burke, Cat Power), the record marks a decided turn toward the Memphis soul sound that has long informed the band’s records from afar. 1372 Overton Park follows the band’s 2006 release, Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers, hailed by Pitchfork as “the best showcase for the band’s taut dynamic yet.” After a run of festival and club dates this summer, Lucero will tour throughout the fall in support of the new album with the Lucero Ramblin’ Roadshow & Memphis Revue, a traveling roadshow featuring Amy LaVere, Cedric Burnside with Lightnin’ Malcolm, Jack Oblivian, John Paul Keith & the One Four Fives and The Dirty Streets. Please see reverse for a list of dates.
The new album’s name comes from the address of the Memphis loft in which all four band members lived, practiced and even recorded portions of their 2003 release That Much Further West (the history of the space itself is even more colorful—in the ..70s, 1372 Overton Park was a karate dojo where local resident Elvis Presley, among others, took lessons). Over recent years band members have gradually moved out leaving lead singer and guitarist Ben Nichols the sole resident of the space until word finally came down that the building would be sold and demolished. Almost as if marking the end of an era not only for the building but for the band as well, this record turns the page and signals a strong move toward the Memphis soul sound that has long served as an influence for the group. Nichols explains, “When [saxophonist] Jim Spake put that first horn track down, we began thinking of the record as having a certain sound. We heard pieces of Memphis history being played over our songs and it floored us and we just went with it.”
While 1372 Overton Park serves as a love letter to Memphis and its musical heritage, the band has far from abandoned the country/rock/punk influences that they’ve become known for over their previous five records and countless tour dates in front of rabid fans. “I think the fact that we don't claim a genre is very important to what Lucero is,” according to Nichols. “There are too many rules in punk rock. Too many rules in country music. We’re hard headed and…god damn if we don’t do things the way we want to do them.”
Playing between 150-200 live shows a year, Lucero has come to be known as much for their hard-touring work ethic as for their critically acclaimed records. In addition to his work with the band, lead singer Ben Nichols also released a solo record in early 2009 and co-stars in MTV’s $5 Cover, a series about the Memphis music scene.
Ultimately, Lucero live to rock and rock to live. No more. No less. Its really that simple. -Amy Sciarretto
Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers was released September 26, 2006 on Lucero's own Liberty & Lament label.
I've been coming to your guys' shows for years now...but will not show Wichita any love. I'm not sure what it's going to take to get you guys here. I talked to the bar that's been trying to get you guys here, and they're tellin' me it's not going to happen. Why is that? What can we do to get Wichita on your list? I've traveled to Cleveland, Iowa City, Ft. Worth, Kansas City, Lawrence to see you. Was there a bad experience in Wichita?
just heard you guys on the radio for the first time the other day! Congrats! I love you guys, I've been a fan for quite some time now and have been to 3 of your shows in Portland, OR!...glad other people can appreciate your music as much as I do! :)
Thanks for rockin' Mountain Stage last night we just added a ton of great pics from last night! For all of you who didn't make it to the POST MOUNTAIN STAGE JAM it was EPIC! www.mountainstage.org
Thanks for coming over and jam during the Post Mountain Stage Jam last night! We've added a ton of great pics from that epic show. You guys are always welcome back to play here on down the road.
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