Album Review – Lucky Tubb’s “Del Gaucho”
A pleasant surprise for early Fall is the unexpected release of Lucky Tubb’s fourth LP entitled Del Gaucho, and folks, this is a good one.
Right after Lucky’s set at The Muddy Roots Festival, in a rush, he handed me this CD. I asked him when it was going to be released. He said “Now”, and jumped in his tour van to play the world famous Midnight Jamboree named after his Great Uncle in Nashville.
Though I was surprised to see the album was ready to go, this wasn’t the first I had heard of Del Gaucho. When Lucky was touring Europe earlier in the year with his band The Modern Day Troubadours, I’d heard rumors of a recording session over there that had given rise to a slightly new direction for Lucky, one using drums, with a more rockabilly or Western feel, and that I was going to be blown away once I heard it. That Euro session and another one in Austin is what comprises Del Gaucho’s 13 delicious tracks.
In some ways, I’m surprised that the music on Del Gaucho works so well. So many other artists and bands, to take this same selection of covers and originals and record them, it would just come across as cheesball retro country with it’s anachronistic language and outmoded style. But Lucky Tubb has a swagger that makes him immune to such concerns. To him, this isn’t playing country like it used to be done, this is playing country like it is supposed to be done, and with that purity of purpose, and with heart and a good barometer for what is cool, he’s able to take classic sounds and themes and makes them as fresh and relevant as anything else being put out right now. He’s also aided by a solid band, with a ‘Robin’ to his ‘Batman’ in fiddler and singer Natalie Page, Casey (The Barber) Gill on bass, and the silly-sided William Owen-Gage, who has the tone and taste of Lucky’s neo-traditional style dialed right in.
Like most of Lucky’s albums, Del Gaucho includes a few songs from Tubb’s famous songwriting family, a song highlighting Natalie Page, and is finished out with Lucky’s originals. Though a few of the selections took a little warming up to, I wouldn’t second guess any track on this album, even the two sappy ones not written by Tubb blood, “White Silver Sands”, and “Lil Ole Wine Drinker, Me”. Lucky’s choices of Justin Tubb’s “Bachelor Man”, his uncle X Lincoln’s “Never Shoulda Fell In Love” and “Stood There” by Glen Douglas Tubb all feel like they could be written for this album exclusively. And like all of Lucky’s previous albums, his originals are the best songs of all.
Lucky Tubb pens instant classics. The songs are so good, and carry such classic themes, you keep looking back at the liner notes, swearing someone must have done that song before. There’s a few songs here that will fit right into his top tier of his signature songs. There’s possibly more of these from this album than any other. The fun “Officer Garero”, the classically-sweet “Guess I’m a Fool”, the exquisitely-arranged “Heard Your Name”, “Rhythm Bomb”, and my personal favorite, the final track “That’s What I Get” are all ‘A’ list material. The instrumentation, performances, singing, style, songwriting on these songs, it’s all superb.
My only nit pick about this album, and it was something I noticed immediately when I first listened to it, is that the music sounds a little foggy, like it wasn’t mastered, or was mastered hastily. Or maybe it was made that way on purpose, but either way, I found it slightly frustrating to the ear, though the fervor for the music subsides this concern over time. I’m also not sure about Lucky’s tendency to use backup singer chorus lines in his songs. It reminds me a little too much of the Nashville Sound, and seems to stick out a bit in his style. Stylistically though, this is Lucky’s best album, if not his best grading it on all fronts. He creates that classic Western space in “Heard Your Name”, has an almost mod 50’s feel in “Never Shoulda Fell” and “Rhythm Bomb”. There’s a lot of boogie here, though staying solidly more country than rock n’ roll.
To say that songwriting is strong in the Tubb bloodline is an understatement, but beyond Ernest, performance and singing have mostly been second thoughts. Until it came to Lucky. He has the smooth, unique voice and sense of style, with a showbiz swagger that commands a room from center stage. He also has the demons that tend to haunt those humans with the aforementioned attributes, but as long as they’re tamed, at least to some extent, those demons help to draw an energy and authenticity to the music, making Lucky a wickedly-engaging performer. And above all the other kudos for Del Gaucho, translating Lucky’s engaging persona is the album’s marquee accomplishment.
Two guns up!
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Preview Tracks on Roots CD
Please note: Lucky’s music is never available on Amazon or iTunes, and he does not have a personal online store. The best place to get his music is at his Lone Star Music store, but Del Gaucho is not available there at the moment. The only place to get it at the moment is at a Lucky Tubb live show or an Ernest Tubb Record Store, or on rootscd.com from the UK. You can find his current tour date with Ronnie Hymes below. The only place to currently find Lucky Tubb tour dates are on the Saving Country Music Calendar.
Lucky Tubb tour dates with Ronnie Hymes:
- Sunday Sept. 11th – Martin’s Downtown, Roanoke, VA
- Monday, September 12 – Snug Harbor, Charlotte, NC
- Tuesday, September 13 – Black Cat Lounge, Fayetteville, NC
- Thursday, September 15 – Yellow’s Beard, Parkersburg, WV
- Saturday, September 17 – The Basement, Kingston, NY
- Sunday, September 18 – Cafe Nine, New Haven, CT
- Tuesday, September 20 – Snug Harbor, New Paltz, NY
- Friday, September 23 – Portland, ME
- Saturday, September 24 – Hill Country BBQ, New York, NY
- Friday, September 30 – Hillcountry, Washington, DC
- Thursday, October 6 – The Chop Shop, Lakeland, FL
- Friday, October 7 – J&J’s Our Place Saloon, Titusville, FL
- Saturday, October 8 – Kreepy Tiki Festival, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Sunday, October 9 – Junkyard Saloon, Deleon Springs, FL
September 11, 2011 @ 10:55 am
Great review Triggerman. I don’t care for the back-up singers either, and I think Natalie’s song is a little weak (at least compared to “Honky Tonkin’ Is All We Got”, which I love). But besides that this is a great album. “That’s What I Get” is my favorite track as well, and every time I hear “Heard Your Name” I’ll think of the Muddy Roots crowd going nuts! I prefer my country music straight up like Lucky delivers, but I like the rockabilly elements on this album, they work really well.
September 11, 2011 @ 1:03 pm
Natalie’s track isn’t my favorite on the album, but I think it’s cool that every Lucky album takes the time to feature her, and that his live show starts off with her leading the band. As big as a personality that Lucky is, this shows a streak of humility and appreciation for his band.
September 11, 2011 @ 2:04 pm
Oh for sure, I’m a Natalie fan. I guess my point was just that I don’t have much negative to say about this album!
September 11, 2011 @ 4:49 pm
Isn’t Natalie his girl? In that case that just makes him a smart cookie 😉
Seriously, I love this guy. He really is the whole package. He deserves to be a superstar. With the way this underground scene is surging, with Shooter getting his anti-Nashville song on CMT and the general stupidity of mainstream ‘pop’ country … hey, who knows? I nominate Lucky Tubb as the breakout star of our delicious underground scene.
September 11, 2011 @ 12:00 pm
Lucky will be on this months episode of ibwip
September 11, 2011 @ 1:03 pm
Sweet!
September 11, 2011 @ 1:44 pm
There’s just somethin’ special about that Lucky Tubb. I think he’s one of the most straight up talents I’ve ever seen. Great review Triggerman.
September 12, 2011 @ 10:16 pm
I have to agree 100% with you on thet one .
September 11, 2011 @ 5:15 pm
I’d love to talk shit and hate on this fucker for where he’s touring, but that was pretty cool.
September 11, 2011 @ 5:27 pm
This sounds awesome, I just wish Lucky would get better distribution. This is probably the only thing holding him back from being an even bigger star on the underground country circuit.
September 11, 2011 @ 9:02 pm
I bought this album last night at his show in Ohio. Fantastic to add more Lucky to my collection! I was just pineing to somebody the other day about having only 3 releases so when I seen it I bought it quicker than you could scream Hillbilly Fever. Great album!
September 12, 2011 @ 6:14 am
I saw Tubb and the boys in Circleville Ohio this past weekend and it was an amazing show.. Lucky walked into the place, sat his guitar down and walked over and gave me a hug. He knows who his fans are and he’s not afraid to embrace them.. thats a quality that these “underground” guys need to have if they plan on making it. fans come first.. we are really all they have..
back to the point.. Lucky took the stage and played “honky tonkin” and he had the place rocking.. after that song, he told the crowd that his brother lost everything in a fire down in texas. Brian, Lucky’s brother, is his driver and they have been on tour so he has no idea what he’s going home to. Proceeds from the merch and donations are being taken to help out. if you get to see a Tubb show, find Brian and give him a hug or shake his hand and let him know you are thinking about him.
despite the bad news, Lucky still put on one of the best shows i have ever seen him play and i have seen him several times. Lucky has an energy behind that mic that is unmatchable. He has his Honky Tonk Swagger and with Casey and Will behind him, Its pretty unbelievable how three people can make it sound like there is a huge production going on.
Bob Wayne opened for Tubb and he had a good turn out but as soon as that 5 gallon hat took the stage, everyone in the place migrated to the front. He rocked the place till 2 in the morning and it was a great show..
If you get a change to see Tubb, do it.. you will not regret it.. it will have you on a high for days..
September 12, 2011 @ 7:20 am
That’s sad to hear, I knew Lucky lived around Bastrop and that his brother drives him pretty much everywhere, so it only stands to reason. Hopefully they have something to come back to, but if they live on the west side of Bastrop, there a good chance they don’t.
September 12, 2011 @ 9:07 am
I hate hearing it too. I hope everyone buys something. Merchandise isn’t usually that expensive and every penny helps. It sure is hard starting over. For those who can’t make a show, is there somewhere to send a bit?
September 12, 2011 @ 9:33 pm
The samples sound great. I echo Metalman’s sentiment in that I wish Lucky had better distribution. There’s so many options for bands/artists to host their music online nowadays. I hate to see such a good artist as Lucky not using the web to reach more people.
September 13, 2011 @ 12:47 pm
can’t wait to hear the new Lucky Tubb album!
September 14, 2011 @ 12:36 am
Lucky Tubb is one of my favorite artists. He is real, shoots from the hip, knows who he is and knows where he’s going. He’s a country performer- the real kind. He keeps his proud family tradition alive. And pays tribute to it with every album. This one is as solid and good as the others, although I do agree with the point about the sound. I believe it was intentional which is great but I think it would HAVe been better produced like Hillbilly Fever. I wish Lucky and the Troubadours,s performance at the Muddy Roots festival could HAVe been longer but it was one of the best all the same. He drank shine from the crowd and kicked serious ass. Natalie Page is beautiful and equally talented. Catch Lucky and the troubadors if You can.
September 14, 2011 @ 8:10 pm
Very much so! Natalie can belt a song and she kicked up her texas swing out in the crowd at the last show I was at. The whole band knows how to deliver.
September 14, 2011 @ 8:00 am
Triggerman, I wanna be the first to say thanks for the digital album cover here. When I searched for one on Tuesday after Muddy Roots there was only a small thumbnail of an album cover from Roots CD. I love this album, probably the best cd I picked up that weekend.
September 16, 2011 @ 1:07 pm
Awesome CD, picked it up Wednesday, Lucky’s song writing is excellent and his delivery is phenomenal (as usual)!