I can’t say enough good things about the Lucero album, Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers that was released yesterday. It will definitely be on my list of favorite albums when the year draws to a close. Tonight I will be heading to Milwaukee to catch the first show of the Lucero tour in support of the new album. Make sure to be at Mad Planet right at 9pm to take in the amazing opener William Elliot Whitmore. I was fortunate enough to get a little of Ben Nichols time leading up to the show as we talk The Hold Steady, live album rumors, and the new album.

Q. Milwaukee is the first stop on your tour in support of Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers. A few days later you’ll be in Minneapolis for a two-night stint at the Triple Rock. I’ve heard rumors you’re recording a live album over the course of those two nights. Can you lend any insight to that and what you have in mind for a Lucero live album?

I think we drunkenly discussed it one night. I’m pretty sure it only got as far as… “Hell, the Triple Rock would be a great place to record a live album.” So yeah, just rumors. We’d love to do a live record one day, but nothing’s on the table yet. Closest we’ve come is the compilation of odds and ends live tracks that we put together to accompany the DVD Aaron Goldman made about us, “Dreaming in America“.

Q. I thought the way you went about releasing the new album was genius. You offered people via your website the opportunity to pre-order the record, in return you promised to send out the MP3 version almost immediately as well as ship the album to purchasers ahead of time. To me this is the perfect scenario to appease both band and fan. You guys are able to sell records while at the same time providing those that choose an opportunity to get the album ahead of time instead of downloading it illegally. Who came up with the idea, how happy are you with the results of this, and do you see yourselves doing the same for future releases?

The idea to pre-sell the record was actually our manager’s, Thaddeus Rudd. It worked out great. I think everyone that pre-ordered the record was excited to get an early copy. It worked pretty smoothly as far as I know. And it was good for the band because the money from records we sell off the website comes straight to us. We never really see the profits from records sold through a distributor. Those profits go back to East West first and if there’s any left over we get a little chunk of it. So far there’s been nothing left over. So it was nice to actually see a little money for once.

That got us through the lean summer months. Woulda been tough without it.

Q. I have to thank you guys for introducing William Elliott Whitmore to me and bringing him out on the tour with you. How’d you guys meet up and what can you tell us about his music?

We first saw him when he played a show with us at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee . Within two songs he had everybody in the club on his side. He just killed ‘em. And we were right there shouting along too. He won us over immediately. He’s got such a distinctive sound… it’s one of those things where you’re watching him, and you just can’t believe how good he is.

It’s that impressive. Just gut wrenchingly raw and beautiful.

Q. When I talked with you in Philadelphia you said you were listening to the Hold Steady’s Separation Sunday a lot on the road. Just a few weeks ago Craig Finn of the Hold Steady stated his affection for Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers in a Pitchfork Interview. If you guys had to cover one song from Separation Sunday what song would you pick, and what song of yours would you like to hear Hold Steady’s take?

Damn. Good question. I’ve actually been listening to their first record a lot lately… The Hold Steady Almost Killed Me. Offa that one I’d do “Certain Songs”. Great fucking song. Offa Separation Sunday it’d probably be “Charlemagne in Sweatpants”. We got a song on the new record called ” San Francisco “. I think the Hold Steady would just tear it up

Q. You released Dreaming in America on DVD in 2005. How much, if anything, has changed in the band that we see on that film with the band that just released this new album?

We’ve recorded two records since then and probably learned a few lessons in the process, but basically it’s the same band. Same band just a little further down the line. Still touring a bunch. Still trying to figure out how to make a living playing music. Still trying to write better songs. Still trying not to drink too much on stage.

Lucero – I Can Get Us Out Of Here Tonight [mp3]