It's a long road from Texas to The Bodega, but Uncle Lucius made that journey last week, filling the intimate Nottingham venues with tales of whiskey, bar fights and God's own country...
I've reviewed some really great bands in 2024 — Yorkshire riot predictors The Kaiser Chiefs, Scottish stadium giants Texas and Simple Minds, and Led Zeppelin-inspired glam-rockers The Darkness to name just a few. Any of these huge stadium-filling rock bands would literally blow the roof off The Bodega, and could sell out this tiny venue for a hundred nights in a row if they ever chose to play here.
So why am I watching a band from Texas, who defy musical definitions and play the kind of music you’d only really expect to hear on the live circuit of rough-and-ready roadhouses along interstate-10 that stretches from Houston to New Orleans?
Well, because they’re absolutely brilliant. And I knew this was going to be special.
Uncle Lucius last toured in the UK in 2016. They’ve chosen to return in 2024 with just three dates in Manchester, Nottingham and London. The Bodega is a small, intimate venue which will no doubt make the guys feel at home — much like playing the type of venues that they're used to on the
independent music scene of Austin, Texas where they cut their teeth. They sing songs of whiskey, bar fights, the Devil, and above all their beloved mighty state of Texas. They bristle with crackling energy playing the sort of Gulf coast states country-soul music that only Americans can, in which every song mentions a city like Tuscaloosa, Lafayette or San Bernadino.
Everything feels free flowing, as if they just wrote it yesterday
Uncle Lucius are Kevin Galloway (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Mike Carpenter (lead guitar, vocals), Jonny Grossman (keyboards and lead vocals on select songs), Josh Greco (drums), and Johann Valles (bass) and honestly they barely fit on the stage of the Bodega.
They’re a band without limitations, exploring different areas of American roots music, with Southern influences, fusing styles effortlessly to create a unique blend of old-time country, blues, soul, and good old fashioned rock ’n’ roll. This is a band made up of supremely talented musicians who are clearly very capable of playing different styles. They’re tight but loose — entirely capable of effortlessly jamming whenever the situation arises. Everything feels free flowing and as if they just wrote it yesterday, rather than feeling overly rehearsed or polished. Galloway has the type of sincere emotion in his voice and lyrics of which other vocalists can only dream. When he sings you’ll believe that he’s telling you his best kept secrets.
They begin with Trace My Soul which opens with a great guitar riff, only to immediately switch to Galloway singing almost on his own for the first verse before the band kicks in again. It speaks of his soul telling a story through song, and how it’s a natural for tragedy to give way to comedy.
All The Angelenos is a tongue-in-cheek song about the apparent mass migration of residents from Los Angeles to Texas as they buy up the cowboy hats, enjoy the lower rates of taxation, and go to the rodeo. You’ve never seen the likes of it — in your whole life!
Taking In The View is a song about the Devil leaving the suburban sprawl of Chicago. He’s heading down to Asheville, Carolina (via Ohio) in his vintage ragtop car to listen to classic vinyl, enjoy the rich four-season climate, and the ridge of mountains blue, where
he’ll spend his golden years… taking in the view.
Mid-set Galloway leaves the stage, wonders over to the bar, orders a pint, and takes a selfie with a fan. The rest of the band continue to jam out some blues whilst Galloway nonchalantly watches on
before applauding them. Back on stage Galloway introduces the band’s best known track Keep The Wolves Away with five simple words — “This is a true story,” it’s a poignant heartfelt song about how his father suffered an industrial accident whilst working on an oil tanker off Galveston Bay.
Shadow People, a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover, and Pocket Full of Misery, a full on celebration of rock ’n' roll with Galloway’s growling vocals, screaming bluesy guitars and great lyrics, complete the set.
Uncle Lucius exude the type of swagger that only Texans can pull off. They’re a bunch of guys that are comfortable with themselves and having a good time. They’re a tremendous band and while
they've won awards and had Gold-certified records, why they haven't enjoyed greater mainstream recognition is a mystery.
Uncle Lucius performed at The Bodega on 30th October 2024. Support came from The Exile Club, also pictured in the gallery below.
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