What a difference twenty to thirty tour dates makes. I caught the first show of the Lucero tour at the end of September in Milwaukee and was absolutely enamored with their performance. It wasn’t until last nights show at Alley Katz in Richmond that I truly feel I experienced all that the band has to offer. I had no idea that a band could put on one of your favorite shows of the year, and then not even two months later completely exceed all your previous experiences with them.

That’s what happened last night, and if you don’t believe me feel free to talk to one of the 300 plus witnesses in attendance. The energy between band and audience was something I’ve only been a part of perhaps a handful of times in my life. The crowd drank the entire venue out of beer a good five songs before the show came to an end. Read that last sentence again.

Every single song, even those off their latest album Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers might have well been live band karaoke because there wasn’t a single soul in the audience who didn’t appear to know all the words, and they weren’t afraid to sing along. Like all Lucero shows there never is a real set list. Instead, the band plays what they want and along the way is happy to oblige the pretty girl and tattooed rockers yelled requests.

You’ve got exactly one month to catch this band on the road, and if you live in the Southern portion of the US, there is a great chance they’ll be coming your way soon. I can only hope that each and every person that decides to see this band is privileged to see the same kind of performance the band put on in Richmond, because it’s not one I’ll soon forget. Make sure to get there early because the two man version of opening act Drag The River are worth the price of admission themselves.