Drag The River at the Casbah, 11.26.2010

Friday night was a good night. I started the night early and caught Steve Poltz and Tim Flannery at Anthology. Our seats were in the bar so I didn't bother taking photos but suffice it to say, Steve was Steve and played a great set and had a bunch of notables join him for the show. From Anthology, we bolted to the Casbah and got there just before Drag The River started. The show had been sold out for a while and it was packed. My friend noted how at one point, Lucero had opened for Drag The River and how it was a little odd that now the opposite was true, but I was happy for it because it meant I had some room to breathe up front. It was just Jon and Chad and they always sound incredible, and despite the stupid drunk bitch next to me who was yelling at the band throughout their set (and at one point, hilariously put her leg up on the monitor while her other leg slipped out from under her, landing her on her fat ass), they were fantastic. My only complaint was that they didn't play Medicine.

This is a playlist of most of their set (though I missed a few while at the bar). Click the right or left arrows to see more. There are 10 videos in total.


I have to admit that while I really like Lucero (and had a close encounter when Ben Nichols walked right into me on the smoking patio), the bar was so incredibly packed during their set that I enjoyed it from afar. They had a horn section which I don't think they had last time I saw them, and it sounded so good but I just couldn't deal up front.

As the show was winding down, we joined a bunch of friends, including Jon and Chad, and headed to the Tower Bar for Vena Cava. I'm uploading those videos now and will add them to this post when they're done.

Overdue Recap: Lucero, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Glossary @ Casbah 7.22.08

Tuesday night I was stoked that Lucero was back in town because it had been a long time since the last time I saw them play. I was a little surprised that by the time I got there, just a little after 10, that the show was completely sold out. I always forget that there's this unique punk/rockabilly crowd that always shows up when Lucero or Drag The River or similar bands come around, call it an 'outlaw country' crowd, I guess.

When I got there, I was able to catch the last two songs from Glossary and they sounded incredible. O was up front and after the set noted that the band's performance was the best he's seen by any band in years. "You can tell they just get it," he said. This made me sorry I'd missed most of their set.



Jessica Lea Mayfield was the second act to take the stage. Backed by a full band, it was hard not to compare her to Lucinda Williams. Country rock with a punk edge for sure. Her band was great, her brother noting how bummed she was that she was under 21 and had to hang outside during the other bands. She did a couple solo songs, too, which sounded great save for the bar chatter. The whiskey was flowing heavily in the bar that night.



Finally Lucero took the stage and it was packed to the gills. I was briefly able to get close to the stage but after a few songs it was just a little overwhelming so I moved toward the back, but no matter where you were, the band just rocked. The gravelly vocals are so intense, it's easy to get lost in the music, and that's exactly what I chose to do.





After the show, I hung on the patio for a while, chatting with friends and some of the guys in the bands who were so pleasant and really a pleasure to talk to.



The night definitely geared me up for the Rocky show the next night. Click 'keep on reading' for more pics.



Jessica Lea Mayfield




Lucero