Ben Nichols of Lucero has a gravelly, urgent voice full of hard wilderness. I cannot fully tell you how excited I am by the fact that his new solo album The Last Pale Light In The West is inspired by the Cormac McCarthy book Blood Meridian , which I coincidentally just started reading last week. McCarthy is one of my favorite authors , and Nichols has the chops to compose the perfect atmospheric soundtrack to his writing. [...]
Lucero lead singer Ben Nichols was kind enough to give me some of his limited pre-show time at the Black Cat recently when he came through DC with Chuck Ragan , Tim Barry , and special guest Frank Turner on the Revival Tour . The show was a true hootenanny that included individual and collective sets by Nichols, Ragan, Barry, and a rotating special guest (in DC, it was Frank Turner). (Ben Nichols) [...]
Ben Nichols, lead singer of Lucero, will be releasing his first solo record The Last Pale Light In The West in early 2009. The album is an acoustic piece inspired by the book Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy and it would make Wilie Nelson proud. It's the perfect soundtrack for a western movie, where outlaws outrun the law on horseback through wind and rain. Nowhere is that them more apparent than on my favorite track, "The Kid": We killed in the desert we killed in the streets. We chose what shall [...]
The fabulous Lucero will be back in the studio for their follow up to "Rebels, Rogues, and Sworn Brothers" come early 2009. They announced yesterday they'll be back on the road (briefly) for two shows in December and two in February 2009. 12/12/08 - Portland, OR @ Berbatis Pan 12/13/08 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon 2/6/09 + 2/7/09 - NYC, NY @ Terminal 5 (with The Black Keys and Heartless Bastards) Look for Between Love and Like's interview with Ben Nichols next week. [...]
You Should Know Ben Nichols' name might sounds familiar to you. He's the lead singer of Memphis alt. country outfit Lucero, who has put out a string of solid albums over the last 7 years or so. While Nichols' debut full-length won't be released until next year, he's offering a 7-song EP over at Lucero's webstore . Influenced by Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian , The Last Pale Light In The West is more stripped-down and acoustic-based than Nichols' material with Lucero. If you're into whiskey-soaked [...]
Today marks the release of All Aboard: A Tribute To Johnny Cash , featuring The Gaslight Anthem and Ben Nichols of Lucero in a one-two punch, along with artists like Chuck Ragan, Dresden Dolls (featuring Franz Nicolay of The Hold Steady ) and a variety of other punk/indie/Americana bands. Some artists I've not previously heard of, but they do the songs an interesting turn. Aside from a few missteps, in general the rough edges of this collection suit the songs well. [...]
The week of the 12th is a CRAZY week for upcoming shows. Some good ones of note: Sunday, 10/12.... What a one-two punch of an evening. The Morning Benders are opening for Walter Meego and Ra Ra Riot at the Black Cat (tickets are $12).... ...then we'll be testing how fast one cabbie can race from NW to NE that evening because Delta Spirit is headlining that same night at Rock and Roll Hotel (with The Moderate and Andy Zipf opening). I can't promise [...]
another piece of awesomeness has alluded me, but luckily for not very long. as it turns out, my man ben nichols, of lucero, is releasing a 7 song mini album entitled, the last pale light in the west . its not being released until 09, but you can get it now for a mere 22 bucks. for that 22 bucks you get an instant download of the last pale light, a physical cd, and a limited edition shirt. soafb! he's playing tomorrow eve in atlanta @ the masquerade. he's got a bunch of upcoming tour dates, so [...]
During our SXSW interview with Ben Nichols of Lucero , he revealed having a solo record in the works. Well, wait no longer as The Last Pale Light in the West is now available digitally. A 7-song offering inspired by Cormac McCarthy's ( The Road , No Country for Old Men ) Blood Meridian can be pre-ordered today with an instant digital download available with payment. Spend a little more dough to get a limited [...]
Today is a wonderful day in ninebullets.net world. There is a definite taste of fall in the air, the weekend is almost here and Ben Nichols solo cd was made available today. For those who don't know, Ben is the lead singer of ninebullets.net fave, Lucero . His solo album, The Last Pale Light In The West , is based on the novel Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy and features Ben on guitars and vocals, Rick Steff on accordion and piano and Todd Beene on pedal steel and electric guitars. While the [...]
Since 2005's Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line was released, followed by last year's parody, Walk Hard , the Johnny Cash homage overload has pretty much died down. However, praise of the late legend will resume with the Anchorless Records release of All Aboard: A Tribute To Johnny Cash on October 21st. Taglined by the label as "Punk/Indie Greats Honor The Man In Black," the album will offer renditions from the likes of The Bouncing Souls, The Dresden Dolls (Feat. Franz Nicolay Of The Hold Steady), The Gaslight Anthem, The Sainte [...]
If Ben Nichols writes about you, you're probably pretty OK. In "Tears Don't Matter Much," easily one of our favorite Lucero tunes, off "That Much Further West," Nichols canonizes a few of his songwriting pals — Matt Bradley, Doug Deluca , and Cory Branan . The song poignantly captures the very nature of being a fan — and a man like Nichols, who wields a dangerously pithy pen, can't help but succumb either. Witness: Matt Bradley's got the broken teeth He wears a jean jacket with a bullet in the sleeve [...]
Tim Barry ( Avail ), Chuck Ragan ( Hot Water Music ), Ben Nichols ( Lucero ) & guests Bob and Austin Lucas are coming to Louisville's Skull Alley on Oct. 4 for " The Revival Tour ." While the show will feature individual sets from each artist, in the old tradition of true folk music, the performance will largely feature artist collaborations, as each performer will have guests coming on and off stage, including the other solo [...]
Can you remember back in April when we announced The Revival Tour featuring Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music , Ben Nichols of Lucero , and Tim Barry of Avail ? Our wish for this "match made in folk-punk heaven" has been granted with a performance at Milwaukee's Turner Hall Ballroom on Sunday, October 19th . Tickets: $13 / General Admission On Sale: Friday, August 15th @ Noon Myspace: Hot Water Music [...]
ok, i can still make it. i think i only have 3 to go to make it to 24 posts within 24 hours. here is lucero @ the loft in atlanta on 9.9.05. 1. across the river 2. aint so lonely 3. tonight aint gonna be good 4. raisin hell 5. kiss the bottle 6. nights like these 7. sixteen 8. [...]
tashi delek, schmoopy! i was pretty psyched to find out that the sonic slop of mudhoney's superfuzz bigmuff is being reissued, with all the expected extra goodies, by subpop on 5.20. more info can be found here . not only that but they gots a new record, being released ont the same day, entitled the lucky ones . cant wait for these two. in case you have never found yourself confronted by the music of mudhoney now's your chance. dig it... sonic infusion off since we've come translucent the straight [...]
sup, gaywads? hope everyone had a loverly weeks end. mine was just fine. nothing too exciting, just lots of sierra nevada and rogue dead guy. oddly enough, no hangovers like i reported later last week. friends of captains dead, the line of best fit have a very cool comp for download made available from the fine folks at something in construction records . the comp features the likes of loney, dear, sambassadeur, sons of noel and adrian, the leisure society, and a bunch more. clicky to visit and download. admittedly, i get a [...]
nice find by muzzle of bees yesterday, delivering news that lucero's ben nichols has been hanging out in the studio with the hold steady as the ready their new album...tonight however, nichols is in chicago, playing a solo show at schubas, while the rest of his band gears up for two nights at the metro this weekend with post-hardcore outfit, hot water music...both nights are sold out. download: ben nichols - dog day night
Earlier last week A.D. friend, and fellow Lucero enthusiast, Muzzle of Bees, turned us on to the new Ben Nichols track "Dog Day Night" off of the new Thick Syrup Records Arkansas Compilation. The track has a fantastically rough Mississippi Delta vibe [...]
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