Review- Uncle Lucius: Like It's The Last One Left
Hearts were broken all over Texas - and indeed, the American Independent Music Scene - in September 2017 when Kevin Galloway announced his impending departure from, and the ostensible breakup of, Uncle Lucius. Of the band he co-founded in 2002 with Hal Jon Varpohl in Austin, Texas, frontman and vocalist Galloway said, “12 years, five vans, 4 studio albums, countless miles, and friendships forged in fire, a lifetime of lessons and positive experiences, I’m forever grateful. I have no regrets. I’m moving on. To the fans … thank you for your belief and support. To the band … thank you for teaching me to be just one part of the whole.” This statement was ultimately followed by a farewell show in March of 2018, appropriately staged at the historic Gruene Hall.
Photo by Mark Abernathy
However, much like the Japanese art of kintsugi - repairing broken pottery with gold to create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art - Uncle Lucius reunited last year and returned to touring. “The tide has transferred and the forces have realigned, Uncle Lucius is once again making music. After a five year hiatus, the band will be bringing their methods of soul, joy, and thunder to select stages across the country. All we’ve got is now,” they said in late 2022. Nearly a year to the day later, the aptly titled Like It’s The Last One Left will be released via Thirty Tigers, using musical gold to mend the hearts of Independent music lovers across the Lone Star State and beyond.
“Independent” is really one of the best ways to describe Uncle Lucius to the uninitiated: they cannot be reduced to a single genre, sound, or style. With elements of jazz, funk, rock, red dirt country, and even orchestral strings added to this album (courtesy of the Tosca String Quartet) that “really brought everything home,” says Galloway, Uncle Lucius is, simply, a “vibe.” While many casual fans may be familiar with radio stalwart tracks “Pocket Full of Misery” and “Keep the Wolves Away” (which was later featured on an episode of Yellowstone), new fans and ride-or-dies alike will be both surprised and soothed by the offerings found on Like It’s The Last One Left.
Like It’s The Last One Left opens with the current single “Keep Singing Along,” a bluesy tune with an upbeat message about being true to yourself, set against a groovy, mellow bass line provided by Drew Scherger. If “Keep Singing Along” puts the listener in mind of a 1940s smoky, roadside juke joint, then the second track, “Civilized Anxiety,” will certainly catapult the same listener forward in time to a jazzy hipster club. Josh Greco’s driving drum intro leads to a sludgy guitar, while Jonathan Grossman's Moog-like organ sounds feel as 1960s mod go-go dancers as they do 21st century overcrowded urban freeway at rush hour, emphasized by Galloway's growling vocal that the “concrete cannibal coffin is suffocating me.”
While Uncle Lucius may be most recognizable by Galloway’s rich, velvety vocals, make no mistake: Like It’s The Last One Left is a full band effort, and it shows. A deep cut on this album, “Draw the Line,” is a fantastic instrumental interlude that effortlessly blends a synthesized vibrato into some folksy acoustic guitar, eventually giving way to what sounds like electric guitar picking distorted for an ultra-retro-futuristic effect. Seriously, this is the coolest little jam you could hear without being at the sound check for a live show, and it demonstrates, albeit briefly, the depth of talent and musicianship of Uncle Lucius. In addition to the previously mentioned members, the band is rounded out by both Michael Carpenter and Doug Strahan bringing that electric and acoustic guitar heat. And while Varpohl is no longer touring with the band, he continues to write songs and lend additional instrumental support in the studio. Varpohl serves as Producer for this album as well.
With such full, evocative sounds available to the listener in virtually any output, it is worth noting that the album was recorded live to analog with the full band playing each song until they felt that they had the best possible take (with the exception of the Tosca String arrangements, which were added later). E.A.R. Studio near downtown Austin was a perfect location for recording such great music not only because of the phenomenal room sound and analog recording capability, but also because friends-turned-featured-players like Cody Braun (Reckless Kelly) were a phone call away. Spoiler alert: listen for Braun’s fiddle mastery on “All the Angelinos.”
“Tuscaloosa Rain” and “Trace My Soul” are standout tracks for me. Both are equally excellent songs with individually notable qualities, and they are a perfect illustration of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. In the wild differences of these two songs - the former being hypnotic, laid back AM radio gold and the latter is post-grunge style riffs with introspective lyrics - together, they exemplify that Uncle Lucius “vibe.” There is no doubt that it is the same band is performing such disparate songs, and absolutely killing both of them.
The album winds up with my personal favorite track “Heart Over Mind,” a gorgeous, slow dance waltz that could easily be an “our song” kind of song between lovers or friends, as well as a personal pick me up tune for your blues. The lyrics speak to the encouragement, self-care, and patience that comes with the inherent Optimism of Maturity. This is not only a good reminder for yourself or someone you care about, but it encapsulates the overarching theme of the entire album.
It would be easy in our modern, speed-of-light society to give only a passing glance to a recently reunited band in favor of the new-now-next or a constant din cranking out corporate Nashville rewrites, make-overs, and covers. However, the personal and professional growth reflected in Like It’s The Last One Left gives Uncle Lucius the proverbial leg up in a conscientious music fan’s playlist because there is simply No. One. Else. Like. Them. They have metamorphosed, they have grown; they have rejuvenated and revitalized. They have produced original, Independent music that people want to hear. Kintsugi. They are the Red-Dirt Phoenix… and they are rising again Like It’s The Last One Left.
Like It’s The Last One Left releases on all platforms December 8, 2023.
Find out more about Uncle Lucius at the links below:
