
at: Emo's
I recently became obsessed with Glossary. I mean really obsessed. The last two albums have been in almost constant rotation in my car and home stereo. I bought a bunch of copies at their last Milwaukee show and The Better Angels of our Nature has been my standard birthday gift to friends for the last 6 months. I really tried to evangelize the band using the free copy of the album available on their web site, but it seems my friends are too lazy to even get free music these days. (what is it with music fans? - Save that thought for another blog.)
I had heard of Lucero. One of my great friends, Kyle, had lent me That Much Further West which bounced around my place for almost a year before he asked for it back. I listened a few times, but was never really drawn to it. He also favors Drag the River, Bobby Bare Jr, and the Jayhawks, none of which hold my attention, so I grouped Lucero in with those acts and never gave them another thought.
My travels allowed me to be in Dallas for the show at Club Dada and Austin for the show at Emo's. I have since learned that Club Dada, right off the main drag in a section of Dallas called Deep Ellum, was once a primary player in the Dallas punk scene and has a lot of history. While it is very small, I would guess this punk history makes it a sentimental choice for Lucero.
I entered the club with music playing and was scared that I had missed the start of Glossary's set, but did not recognize the tunes. Started to think perhaps Sleepercar was on first. Turned out to be a local start up band called Somebody's Darlin'. Typically when I see a lead singer on stage with an acoustic guitar I expect to be bored, but these guys really converted me. The female lead singer must get sick of comparisons to Janis Joplin, but the wild hair, aggressive stage presence and uber powerful pipes make it a deserved comparison. The songs on their myspace page fail to excite, but I understand that their first proper CD is coming later in the year along with a possible tour up HWY 35 (ala This is American Music 07).

The set was great. About 1/3 of the people near the stage seemed to know the words to their songs, especially the ones from Better Angels. Two highlights for me were Almsgiver and Shout it from the Rooftops. Both where performed with extreme gusto and the crowd reacted accordingly.



This was a Monday night. This place was packed like a Milwaukee bar would be packed on a Friday or Saturday. The cameras were flashing out of control. Taking pictures of the guys plugging in their guitars and tuning... the show had not even started.
I wound up sitting right at the corner of the bar about 10' from the stage next to the Somebody's Darlin gang and asked if this was a normal sized crowd and Azure explained to me that this is far from typical for the club, but to be expected for Lucero.

Now I have never been to a Bon Jovi concert, but this is what I imagine the front 10 rows would be like. Everyone knows every word and shouts them at the top of their lungs.
Besides the completely kick ass crowd, the band was also incredible. Drums and voice stuck out for me the most. Both so sure and authoritative while remaining organic and earthy. Springsteen, booze-soaked, heart felt, anthem, epic... the classic list of exhaltations all apply in spades. I felt like I had stumbled into the Stone Pony in 1970-71 and caught one of the first shows by Springsteen... when only people in NJ knew who he was and would never miss a chance to see him play.
Songs like What Else Would You Have Me Be borrow heavily from Springsteen in terms of chord structure (see Born to Run's I VI V verse) and over all format, but the song pulls in the Wall of Sound Phil Spector rhythm section sound. Lyrically it should resonate to any one who has had a partner that wanted them to change or grow up. How can anyone resist screaming along to:
"You used to love me
A drunkard running wild out in the streets
C'mon baby, what else would you have me be?"
Another favorite of mine is I Can Get Us Out Of Here which details the plea to "dump the one you are with and run away with me."
"Long legs use 'em and run
Blue eyes that blind like the sun
I might not be the one
But that's alright
I can get us outta here tonight"

The Show at Emo's was excellent too. Unfortunately we lost Somebody's Darlin, but that was more than made up for with the incredible performances by the other three bands. Glossary had more time, seemed less rushed, had a larger stage to spread out. Prior to starting Almsgiver Joey pointed out that

Well, I am now the proud owner of both Nobody's Darling (the Lucero album) and Rebels Rogues and Sworn Brothers. If I had to pick one, in an attempt to get someone into the band, I think I would have to pick Rebels... in fact, I just ordered 5 additional copies, so I you are someone who gets birthday presents from me, you can pretty much bank on a brand new Lucero CD.
Happy Birthday!