Switchblade Comb

Tonight I played my last show ever at the Uptown Bar with my band Spacewolf. We played from 10:15 – 10:45 and then immediately after loading out I hauled ass over the Varsity Theater with my friends Kat and Lisa to watch Lucero. On the way there I absent mindedly blurted out, “If I miss them playing Kiss the Bottle I’m gonna be pissed”. Luckily, the moment we walked in the door the opening chords to the Jawbreaker cover wafted towards the entrance and I was ready for my favorite Lucero show I’ve ever seen.

The first time I saw Lucero play was at the Triple Rock quite a few years back and they were like pancakes to me at that show: All exciting at first but by the end of their hour and a half set I was sick of them. Everything was too similar sounding. It was like sitting at home and listening to the record. This time was quite the opposite. In the last 5 years they have transformed from a country western by way of punk rock band into the best pure rock n’ roll band playing today. Amidst the the drunken frat boys and stumblin’ hipster girls that made up the majority of the crowd I saw something beautiful; a singer that laid his heart on his sleeve and a band with the chops to back up that sincerity.

The set was filled with an even mix of old favorites coupled with new rockers from the latest album backed up at times by a three person horn section which made me imagine the awesomeness of a potential tour with them and local favorites, Chooglin’.

Unfortunately, the incredible night was nearly ruined when halfway through the set I went to the bathroom and was promptly interrupted when I found myself in the middle of a fist fight between two assholes who were arguing over a spilled beer or something equally as stupid. As the girl next to me grabbed onto my arm to steady herself from the falling intoxicated college students I wondered to myself if this is the harsh reality that a band like Lucero has to reconcile with on a daily basis. They’re all dudes that comes from a punk rock / country music background but because of the style of their music they attract somewhat of a douchebag Counting Crows style crowd. Or maybe they have no awareness of that aspect at all. We all know that it sucks when fucking assholes infiltrate a music scene that you have a strong connection to but what we don’t always know is if it’s the same for a band. As the fight was broken up and the set continued I realized that it didn’t matter. The music that you enjoy is always eventually gonna be overrun by people that you do not like. That’s just the nature of music. What really matters is the feeling you take away from your favorite band playing your favorite song regardless of who else enjoys it, or why they enjoy it. What matters is the songs, not the crowd.

Aside from the one disruption it was a perfect night filled with great music and reconnecting with rarely seen friends. Everything a rock n’ roll show should be.

I know a lot has been said about The Hold Steady being the best bar band in America but after seeing what Lucero is bringing to the table I have to say that the bar has been raised quite a bit. Our generations’ Replacements? Probably not. Our generations’ version of The Replacements? Quite possibly, only time will tell.