An Evening With Lucero @ The State Room

Sunday night, November 15th, was the second of a two-part concert event with southern country-punk rockers Lucero at The State Room in Salt Lake City. Both nights features double sets from Ben Nichols and company. The first set was reserved for softer acoustic favorites, and the second for the louder rock jams, complete with brass section. The three-hour show was sold out before the night began, and many fans attended both Saturday and Sunday performances, giving Lucero a real first-hand experience with Salt Lake musician hospitality. The sets spanned the band’s impressive career, playing favorites like “Nights Like These,” “Texas & Tennessee,” “Little Silver Heart,” “That Much Further West” and “It Gets The Worst At Night.” Ben Nichols’ soulful, scarred voice was even more impressive in a live setting, and fans were treated to slight variations of familiar songs that really put a charm on the whole performance. Rick Steff was crazy fun to watch, switching between keyboards and accordion with ease, and pulling faces that anyone will recognize as “shred face” when he launched into his own solos. Drummer Roy Berry even had two different kits set up for each set to ensure the truest quality of sound—and of course, each kit was equipped with a taxidermied alligator head. Fans took a small break in between sets to refill at the bar or catch a quick smoke before the second half began, and the dance music only livened up an already fantastic mood to the place. Because Lucero played two sets in Salt Lake, we were treated to tracks that hadn’t been played on tour yet, as Nichols and Co. didn’t want to repeat performances for all the people who had showed up both nights. It was a special performance for Lucero fans—one that likely won’t be repeated for a very long time.