Since the Packers have been mathematically ruled out of the playoffs (quiet you, it’s my way of coping), March madness not quite around the corner yet, and spring training light years away, I figure why not talk about something else outside of sports tonight.  I suppose I could talk about the Bucks, but my goal of these writings is too intrigue you, not bore you.  To anyone that really knows me well; they know that music is a general passion of mine.  Listening, creating, playing… I love it all.

Lucero rocking the house in Milwaukee

As I sat around tonight after the playoffs I found myself listening to one of my favorite bands of all time… Lucero.  That being said, I’m willing to bet less than five of you faithful readers will know who they are.  Turned on to them during my college days, I found them to be the perfect blend of country and rock.  The band hails from one of the Mecca’s of music, Memphis, Tennessee. They are the perfect band to feed my needs of punk like lyrics, southern twang, and a catchy beat, I knew right away that I must listen to them more and more.  I now own all of their albums and just last summer, I finally got to see them live, as they came to Wisconsin for the first time ever.

I went with a friend who is also a hardcore fan of them and we started our two hour drive down in the rain.  The scenario fit the band like a glove, as the show was at Turner Hall, a very old and nostalgic venue in the city of Milwaukee. You could hear the bass and could see the alcohol in the glasses on the bar softly ripple.  The venue was on the next floor directly above this bar, so we walked up another flight of stairs.  The old stage being prepped with all the bands equipment, paint chipped pillars holding the place together, hardwood floors that creaked with every new person that walked in.  You could definitely tell this place has seen its fair amount of shows and breathed musical history.

The ambiance was incredible and the atmosphere equally as perfect. Beards and plaid button downs in every corner of the room.  (To those who don’t know, lead singer Ben Nichols is notorious for his grizzled beard and cowboy/punk look of denim jeans and a plaid).  Tall boys of PBR held in everyone’s hand, while whiskey the undertone on everyone’s breath. Every single person there had to have been a diehard fan, as everyone knew the lyrics to every song.  Between songs, random shouting to Ben on what to play next, but it was a two-way street as Ben would talk back.  Never in my entire life have I been to a show that was so intimate and just fit to perfection.  THIS. IS. LUCERO.

This went on for the entirety of the show and the crowd ate it up.  From the classic songs like “Bikeriders”, “Kiss the Bottle” and “San Fransisco” to some of their newer songs off of their most recent and just released album “1372 Overton Park” the Memphis boys covered the field.  I think I could speak for every single person that was there, when I say they put on one hell of a show.  Before we left we got to chit chat with the bands guitarist Brian Venable.  We left with a sense of pure satisfaction.  The parking ticket I received for parking in supposedly an “employee” lot didn’t even damper my night. Same went for the pouring rain.  I was in a state of pure bliss.  To cut my ramblings short, I’ll just say this, check out the band. If you have any country, punk or rock infused in your body, I guarantee you will enjoy this band.

Here are a few of my favorite songs by them…