Lucero: 1372 Overton Park

LUCERO’S 1372 OVERTON PARK OUT OCTOBER 6
BAND’S FIRST MAJOR LABEL RECORD LOOKS TO MEMPHIS SOUL INFLUENCES

Lucero

Playing between 150-200 live shows a year, Lucero has come to be known as much for their hard-touring work ethic as for their critically acclaimed records. After releasing five studio albums Lucero has managed to land a major label contract with Universal/Republic Records. The band’s new album, 1372 Overton Park, due out October 6, was produced by Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem) and features horn arrangements by legendary Memphis session player Jim Spake (Al Green, John Hiatt, Solomon Burke, Cat Power). The record marks a decided turn toward the Memphis soul sound that has long influenced the band’s sound from afar.

The new album’s name comes from the address of the Memphis loft in which all four band members lived, practiced and even recorded portions of their 2003 release That Much Further West. Over recent years band members have gradually moved out leaving lead singer and guitarist Ben Nichols the sole resident of the space until word finally came down that the building would be sold and demolished. Almost as if marking the end of an era not only for the building but for the band as well, this record turns the page and signals a strong move toward the Memphis soul sound that has long served as an influence for the group.

While 1372 Overton Park serves as a love letter to Memphis and its musical heritage, the band has far from abandoned the country/rock/punk influences that they’ve become known for over their previous five records and countless tour stops. “I think the fact that we don’t claim a genre is very important to what Lucero is,” Nichols said. “There are too many rules in punk rock. Too many rules in country music. We’re hard headed and… god damn if we don’t do things the way we want to do them.”

Lucero is currently streaming “The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo” off the forthcoming album at their website here: luceromusic.com.

Lucero Tour Dates:
08/15/09 Sat Subterranean Chicago, IL
08/16/09 Sun Eckhart Park Chicago, IL
09/11/09 Fri The Crossroads Kansas City, MO
09/15/09 Tue Rumba Cafe Columbus, OH
09/17/09 Thu Pygmalion Music Festival Champaign-Urbana, IL
09/19/09 Sat Rumba Cafe Columbus, OH