The Lucero part of the show is where it gets a little tricky for me. I’m a really short person so it’s always a problem for me to actually see the performers no matter my relation to the stage, unless of course, I ride the rail. As I get older, I tend to not do that so much. Other people need to enjoy the show too and as long as I can halfway see and hear then I’m satisfied. I ended up on stage right for most of the night.
There were a few individuals who were kind, but the rest of the crowd is a different story. Now don’t get me wrong, when I go to a rock show, I expect a ROCK crowd. This one was definitely an exception to the rule of rock crowds. Crowd surfing, beer spilling and more fights than I could shake a stick at. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed in the Nashville fan base.
The crowd issues completely ruined my Lucero experience. I don’t know what else to say about it really. It was so bad that myself and another individual had to hold one of the PA speakers up because the crowd was moving around so much that it was about to knock over. I don’t think the venue or the fan’s feet who would’ve been crushed would have been happy campers. The entire crowd seemed to be completely wasted on whiskey. I guess I wasn’t in the same mindset as everyone else — I was just trying to not get hurt and escape with my camera unscathed (it did hit the floor once and eventually got doused in PBR).
After I finished trying to take as many half-way tilted and out-of-focus photos as I could, I quickly moved to the back of the venue to observe from a distance. Lucero is a band whose songs have become anthems for every member of the crowd. Their songwriting is about whiskey, women, cigarettes, depression, love and everything in between — their lyrics do a fantastic job of relating to the ever elusive everyman. I know that’s why I like them so much. If I hadn’t stumbled upon Rebels, Rogues, and Sworn Brothers while at my old radio station I don’t know where I’d be. That album and every other one that proceeded it have spoken to me personally and helped me get through some really tough times. I’m thankful for that.
Even the band was a little miffed at the crowd. They flubbed the lyrics a few times to which the crowd responded by heckling them. All par for the course at a Lucero show. After a few fights broke out, the band stopped playing until the fighting was over and then left the stage when the fighting started up again. They later returned after half the audience had left and treated the faithful fans who remained with a few more songs to carry them into the next night’s performance.
Nevertheless, I’m happy I discovered Lucero and hope that they continue to grow, write, create and tour — I just wish they could do it with a better crowd.
Lucero
1/30/09
Mercy Lounge
Nashville, TNOne Set: That Much Further West, Nights Like These, Unknown (new song), Kiss the Bottle, Nineteen Seventy Nine, Joining the Army, Last Night In Town, Sixteen, Sweet Little Thing, Unknown (new song), It Gets the Worst at Night, I Can Get Us Out of Here Tonight, Slow Dancing, Here At the Starlite, What Else Would You Have Me Be?, Mine Tonight, She Wakes When She Dreams, Unknown (new song), Drink ‘Til We’re Gone, Bikeriders, Wasted, Chain Link Fence, California – cut due to fight, The Last Song, Tears Don’t Matter Much, Nobody’s Darlings, Fistful of Tears
2 Responses
john c (bass player of lucero)here,
i have never felt the need to comment on any review whatsoever, how ever, i was just as miffed and disheartened as you were if not more. i felt for you and the other 95% of the crowd that were trying to enjoy the show. you were in the crowd and could only wittness that which was going on aroud you, i however saw every punch thrown, every reactionary knucklehead who was acting as if they were there to make a name for themselves by acting out machismo acts of violence. it made me want to vomit.grant it it was extremely crowded, but damn if you feel like you are going to hit some one, remove yourself from the situation, go outside and smoke a cigarette. You are dont realize how much of a diservice you are doing to yourself, your “scene”, and the performers on stage{who have spent a lifetime honing their craft to share w/ and bring happiness and joy to others} only to have a few backassward knuckleheads try and ruin the whole affair. If you cant handle your liqour or have social anxiety issues so bad that you have no choice but to act out in violence, please, just stay home. Grant it the promoter chose to book two nights in the mercy lounge for a “more intimate experience” as oppossed to the larger cannery row ballroom, does not justify what went on that night. in retrospect it was like having a monster truck ralley at a bmx track.I just dont know what else to say.
shake them hips, dont throw them fists
your pal,
john c