Brixton Windmill
01.05.07
It’s safe to say that the good folks who run this tiny south London pub probably haven’t witnessed scenes like these before. Tonight may only be Lucero‘s second UK gig, but the sold-out, booze drenched crowd are enraptured; hugging, crowd-surfing and clambering all over the bar as they howl along to every single word of every single song. In the drinking stakes, this lot would leave the Dropkick Murphys choking on their Guinness.
Their devotion is understandable, though; as the Memphis alt-country quintet are so much more than your average bar band. Singer/guitarist Ben Nichols exudes southern bonhomie as he rasps his way through the likes of ‘Slow Dancing‘ and ‘San Francisco‘; punk-infused gems that tell tales of lovers lost, lifelong friends and years spent touring in rusty transit vans. It’s precisely this raw honesty that enables Lucero to connect so well with their fans; there’s no insincere posturing, no unnecessary grandstanding – just five unshaven, tattooed guys with a knack for a great tune and a whole lot of stories to tell.
By the time the Social Distortion-esque ‘California‘ segues into a ramshackle cover of ‘Ring Of Fire‘, Nichols is almost swallowed up by the fans spilling onto the stage. Make no mistake: they’ll all be talking about this one for years to come.
Alex Gosman
Akercocke have seen their new album Antichrist refused by a US pressing plant due to its “anti-Christian” perspective.
Dizzee Rascal has announced some UK dates this month to promote his upcoming album Maths & English.
Muse and My Chemical Romance have been involved in a death threat scandal after they were forced to cancel several tour dates.
Another day, another Pete Doherty story – this time about him selling paintings he’s done in his own blood.
Unearth have decided to continue as a group without drummer Mike Justain.
The annual Austrian get together organised by 
Flicking through the mainstream press can be a rather dispiriting experience when you’re confronted by page after page of so-called ‘hardcore’ bands with suspiciously elaborate haircuts, so be thankful that bands like Pulling Teeth exist; guaranteed as they are to restore your faith in the genre.
I can’t really say I’m a massive fan of all these new indie-pop bands popping up every other day, but Good Shoes debut album Think Before You Speak is making me change my mind about the ‘latest sensation’. I have to admit, I went to see them play recently, and due to my booze intake and the size of the venue, I kind of missed their set. I heard them though, and was quite impressed.
Issue 128 of