When we heard Austin Lucas was coming to Memphis to play a headlining show at The Buccaneer, we knew we had to get him into Ardent Studios to play some songs for us! Lucas’ connection to Tennessee musicians is long and strong. He’s played with everyone from Lucero, to Cory Branan to Glossary. As a matter of fact, he’s getting ready to record a new album with Glossary as his backing band.
So, take a listen to our interview and preview three great tunes before tonight’s show. Lucas talks about the new album, his Memphis connections and how he feels about being called a “folk punk” artist. Then get off your ass and go see him tonight at The Buc!
Raised in the backwoods country of Monroe County, Indiana, Austin Lucas was born into a folk and bluegrass lineage. His father, Bob Lucas, is an accomplished musician and performer in his own right, having earned songwriting credits on two of Allison Krauss’ albums, including 1997’s Grammy-winning So Long So Wrong. Learning to harmonize before learning to read, Lucas honed his vocal control in six formative years as a member of the nationally acclaimed Indiana University Children’s Choir. In a narrative as well-worn as it is true, Lucas rebelled against his upbringing, leaving his Americana roots for the catharsis of punk rock. After the better part of a decade spent crisscrossing the globe with a series of bands in broken-down vans, Lucas hit a musical glass-ceiling, eventually finding respite for his ringing ears in the delicacy of traditional songcraft.
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