BEN NICHOLSSinger, songwriter, and guitarist Ben Nichols is the frontman for the Memphis alt-country band Lucero. Lucero formed in the late '90s and the band has released a half-dozen or so albums since 2001, each drawing praise for the group's gritty, rootsy, and almost punk approach to country-rock and for Nichols' smoky, emotional vocal style. During breaks from Lucero, Nichols began recording more acoustic-based material, and an EP featuring a stripped-down trio of Nichols on acoustic guitar, Rick Steff (Cat Power) on accordion and piano, and Todd Beene (Glossary) on pedal steel and electric guitar appeared under Nichols' name in 2009 from Liberty & Lament Records. Titled The Last Pale Light in the West, the EP's seven songs are all based on characters and situations drawn from Cormac McCarthy's novel Blood Meridian. ~ Steve Leggett
Bikeriders Tour
Bikeriders Tour is a chance for a couple of old friends, Lucero lead singer Ben Nichols and tattoo artist Oliver Peck, to hit the road doing what they love ... riding motorcycles around the country, singing songs, and tattooing.
In each city, Oliver does tattoos at local shops during the day and each night Ben plays an acoustic solo show at a nearby venue, with Oliver acting as host and MC. Ben did the first Bikeriders Tour by himself in 2011, riding his ‘ 07 BMW R1200GS. The follo wing year Oliver and a handful of other tattooers joined on their Harleys and since then they ’ ve carved out a week or two each year to travel together. Music, motorcycles, tattoos, and good times. This year renowned Cleveland tattoo artist Greg Christian w ill be coming along as well.
Simpson Motorcycle Helmets was kind enough to sponsor the tour, providing motorcycle helmets to be raffled off each night, with the money raised going to American Core, a nonprofit involved in veterans mental health.
The tour is named after a Lucero song called “ The Bikeriders ” which was based on Danny Lyon ’ s famous book of photographs from the ‘ 60 ’ s. The book inspired the song and the song inspired the tour. Ben still rides the same bike he started the tour on in 2011.