A well known name in studio circles having worked with Calexico, Neko Case, Howe Gelb, Devotchka, etc. Now he's got a powerful new four piece rock band and a killer new album called Fractions.

11 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, ROCK: Modern Rock

Show all album songs: Fractions Songs


Details:
Maybe you think you know what to expect from Nick Luca.

Sure, heâs the same Nick Luca -- front man for the band Luca (no duh!) -- whoâs recorded and played with the likes of Calexico, Howe Gelb, Devotchka and Neko Case (to name a few).

And yes, his old band was the more jazzy Nick Luca Trio. Heâs also the same guy that works on Tucson radio station 92.9 The Mountainâs âStudio Câ and helms the board at the infamous Wavelab Studios.

But Nickâs got a new MO. Heâs morphed his bandâs sound from âexperimental indie trioâ to âfull-blown 4-piece rock juggernaut.â

Lucaâs last CD, the 2006 release Sick of Love, moved the bandâs sound into rock territory. To help him go in that direction, Nick enlisted guitarist Joey Unger and drummer Ryan Janac, both from Tucsonâs sonic-popsters Sunday Afternoon. And yes, Nickâs longtime band mate, bassist Chris Giambelluca, is still onboard.

But the band now sports a more driving, guitar-based attack. The songwriting is infused with psychedlia, Beatles-esque pop and classic rock. And then thereâs the mark of storied producer Sean Slade (Radiohead, Hole, The Pixies, Dresden Dolls), who brought a new perspective to the talented band and helped them capture their musical evolution on tape (not Pro Tools) at Wavelab.

Nick wrote 9 of the 11 songs on Fractions. The opening guitar churn of âPretty Mamaâ feels like a Badfinger flashback. (A good thing, that.) âItâs Not Over Yetâ rides on a menacing wash of chords until it breaks into the undeniable hook of the chorus. âOne Way Ticket Homeâ immediately gets the head boppinâ and the fingers poppinâ, while âBittenâ is a latenight burner reminiscent of Lucaâs earlier work as the Nick Luca Trio. And the sweet piano melody in âDownâ is ten-derly complemented by Nickâs breathy vocal delivery.

Cover songs on the record include a dreamy, heat-shimmered version of Lou Reedâs âWalk on the Wild Sideâ and an affectionate, fun-loving take on Jonathan Richmanâs quirky âI Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar.â

Guest musicians include Calexicoâs Jacob Valenzuela on trumpet, famous Tucson (and beyond) drummer Winston Watson, sax player Marco Rosano and producer Sean Slade (multi-tasking here on organ, bass clarinet and vibes).