Lucero

American country-rock band Lucero formed in Tennessee in 1998, curating a unique sound which combines soul, country and rock. The band released their latest studio album earlier this year in January 2021. When You Found Me like a couple of their other records, was recorded at Philips Recording in Memphis with producer Matt Ross-Spang (Jason Isbell, Rival Sons etc). It was released through Liberty & Lament and Thirty Tigers.

Since their formation in Memphis, the group has toured extensively, and released multiple albums, mostly through their own label.

In 2000, Lucero recorded The Attic Tapes in guitarist, Brian Venable's Dad’s attic. It was recorded straight to an 8 track cassette and self-released by the group. Six years later, the album was reissued with an extra track - a cover of Jawbreaker song, Kiss The Bottle.

Their self-titled album followed in 2001, and included some of their biggest tracks. 2002’s Tennessee has become one of Lucero’s most popular albums with their fans, and includes favourites like Sweet Little Thing, Nights Like These and Here At the Starlite.

While,fourth album, That Much Further West, saw guitarist Brian Venable take a break from the band, with The Paper Hearts allumni Todd Gill taking over to play on the record. Nobody’s Darlings followed in 2005 and included tracks inspired by the band’s personal experiences. The War takes inspiration from Lucero frontman, Ben Nichols’ grandfather and his time in the army during World War II, while the track, Bikeriders, is based on Danny Lyon’s book of the same name, The Bikeriders.

In 2008, the group signed a four-album deal with Universal Music Group. Though this partnership didn't last long, they did however release 1372 Overton Park through the label, which pushed them in a new direction, and included a horn section. Three years later, Women & Work further integrated this sound, as well as introducing a pedal steel guitar, keyboards and a gospel chorus.

In more recent years, Lucero have continued to explore their new-found Memphis-soul influences with All a Man Should Do (2015). In addition, their cover of fellow Memphis band, Big Star's track I'm In Love With A Girl, featured backing vocals from Big Star drummer himself, Jody Stephens.

Producer Matt Ross-Spang came on board for 2018’s Among the Ghosts, which was recorded live in a single room at Sam Phillip’s Recording in Memphis. The brass section now a distant memory, the group’s sound was reinvented again, and became more stripped back. They also joined forces with actor and director Michael Shannon on the track, Back to the Night which features spoken word lyrics, delivered by Shannon, who is a frequent collaborator of frontman Ben Nichols' brother, the film director Jeff Nichols.

Latest release, When You Found Me came out last January (2021). Like their previous album, the new record was produced by Matt Ross-Spang, recorded at Sam Phillip’s Recording and released on their own label, Liberty & Lament. It was written during, and recorded between lockdowns in 2020 and reflects on Ben Nichol’s time with his family.