The public bio information on Lucas Minor says he’s from Murray, Nebraska – just south of Plattsmouth. His music “explores the lines” between “country, bluegrass, rock, and folk.” He “aims to explore the harder side of country, and the softer side of rock.” And, he loves to play live around the country. His next stop is the historic Main Street in Plattsmouth, Friday, September 1, 2023 at 6:30 PM.
We wanted to find out more. It is easy for a musician to claim to have feet in more than one genre in the same way a date might say, “I don’t care where we eat, you choose.” And, like the choice of where to eat on a date, if you don’t find out a little more, you might hear, “That wasn’t my first choice,” later.
We listened to Lucas Minor songs, then thought up questions we thought would help us figure out if you’d want to take a bite of what’s on the menu.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – The melodies you sing on “New England” are complicated. They evoke a slide guitar, done with your voice. That’s dangerous because you have to hit the notes just right coming in and out of those slide moments. Otherwise, the result will be less “unique country style,” and more “drunk guy singalong.” How did you develop that style, and do your fans hit those notes with you?
LUCAS MINOR - I don’t think my style is something I have ever worked on. I go through waves of very different styles of writing and listening. New England was actually part of a session with three very good friends of mine, Ben Curran, Vern Furgussen, and Jarron Storm, and I picked / wrote the tunes on that session to fit the styles of the players. I wanted it to have a very live feel. I know that is kind of backwards, but it felt like an opportunity to play good music with good friends. I can’t say I have a lot of people singing New England with me, but I’m sure folks can hit it with me!
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – On the same song, I should note there are not many purely country songs written in A Major / F# Minor. Why did you choose that key rather than G Major / E Minor – which would be more standard? Or, is the question self-evidently answered?
LUCAS MINOR - I have developed a deep interest in guitar playing since COVID, and I was learning that A and E are often natural feeling keys for blues guitar players. I actually wrote New England hoping to show Ben off on the session, but if I remember right, the first take with both solos was almost 14 minutes. We decided we needed to trim it up a bit.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – Finally, on “New England,” have you heard the song, “The Night Cries Out For You” by Rough Cutt? I would put hard money you havent’. Which is interesting because the feel of the two songs is similar. I encourage you to check it out. I mean, even down to your break where you sing, “If you’re still in New England,” and the way the lead guitar is produced, I hear a synergy between those two songs. Since I’m sure you don’t know the Rough Cutt tune, it leads me to wonder if what I really hear is a common musical ancestry that goes beyond country?
LUCAS MINOR - I have never heard the song, but I always appreciate recommendations. Honestly, I have a hard time with genrizing (I made that word up) music. Most of the stuff I think of as country is now called Americana. Most of the stuff I think of as rock is called new wave blues. Most of the stuff I think of as Bluegrass is now called contemporary acoustic music. The list goes on haha. I think what we hear in songs we enjoy comes from the same place regardless of genre.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – In your song, “On Your Own,” you sing, “I’ll be off on an East-Texas road.” In “Johnny’s Song,” you sing, “North of Texas, South of the Dakotas.” First, what do you know about east Texas, and second do you really have a friend named, Johnny who killed a man down there?”
LUCAS MINOR - The line is actually East Texas run, but I suppose those two could be interchangeable. When I was playing music full time, we were mostly doing casino cover shows up north and west in the Dakotas, Wyoming, and Colorado. I was always told that was the road to the East and South Texas music scene. I do have some friends and connections in that area, but the line is more of a longing sentiment rather than claiming to have spent a lot of time down there. Johnny’s song is a collection of probably four or five stories from my childhood and early music days. I can’t say that I know anyone that killed a man in Texas, but I can say that that line has a meaning for sure, just not a literal one.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – Also, from “Johnny’s Song,” you write, “now he sits in Ellis Unit, with a harp and ‘open E’.” Those are super-specific references. Ellis Unit is in Huntsville, Texas (where I can assure your fans you would not want to “sit”), a “harp” is a harmonica, and “open E” is, maybe the least standard of the “open” tunings. Do your fans get these references, like to they ever say to you – about any of your songs – “hey, that really made me think”?
LUCAS MINOR - The harp in open E line came about because the first harmonica set I bought did not have an E harp. I suppose that is a boring reason, but the words felt good. A writer I look up to, Evan Bartels, talked at Buck’s Bar and Grill one night about words that just feel good to say. As for fans and the way my lines are interpreted, I enjoy when people have a different take on one of my songs than me. It makes me think. I suppose that is a part of the give and take of playing original music for people. Artists want people to feel, and we want to feel in return.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – What do your parents think about your musical journey?
LUCAS MINOR - My parents and I have had our hard times, but they have always been behind me. My mom kept us on the road for the better part of a year one season. My step-father always had a spot for the van and trailer and would help with maintenance, and my grandparents often helped with maintenance and vehicles when ours were out of commission. I also have great friends, Toby, Gage, and Greg that would help on the crew for shows and work on broke-down gear with me. There are endless stories I could share of my family and friends bailing us out on the road, and to say I am grateful and indebted to them is an immense understatement.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – Why is Nebraska “the good life” to you? Your non-Nebraska fans won’t get that reference, but as a guy in Nebraska, it sure sticks out to me. What makes Nebraska “the good life” to you, though?
LUCAS MINOR - I love it here, and I love a lot of other places. I suppose Nebraska is special to me for a lot of reasons, but mainly because I grew up here. I started hunting and fishing here, playing music here, and I even met my wife in Nebraska, even though we both spent a lot of our life traveling up to that point.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – Do you have a connection with Plattsmouth?
LUCAS MINOR - I grew up in Murray, NE, which is about 15 minutes south of Plattsmouth. With Plattsmouth being the closest “big town” growing up, we spent a lot of time in town. While I was working at the Schafer Angus Farm west of Nehawka, I would often go into Plattsmouth for lunch at Mom’s Cafe. I even worked in Plattsmouth for a while at Herban Coffee Lab.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – George Strait, George Jones, George Michael, or George Benson?
LUCAS MINOR - At the moment probably George Jones, but I grew up hearing a lot of George Benson and similar artists.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – Who does all the lead work in studio? It’s clean, raw, and not what I would call “pure” country. There’s a bit of blues and rock there, too.
LUCAS MINOR - Ben Curran does the lead work on the session including New England. At the time, he was in Lincoln, NE and we played a lot together. He has since moved to Nashville, but we stay in touch. Part of what I always loved about Ben’s playing was that he always had a touch of blues in everything he played.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – What about your band? Are they long time friends or guys you found later in your career who get the “Lucas Minor” vision?
LUCAS MINOR - They are all absolutely friends of mine, but I don’t think there is a different “Lucas Minor” version than what you see on stage. I do not try to put on a persona. We just play the songs and have fun. They probably hear more of my stress and opinions than most anybody else, but the version of me is the same all around.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – How high is your ceiling as an artist? Your lyrics and style are more cerebral than the schlock dumped on Millenials and GenZ-ers. Will you need to dumb things down, or will they have to embrace a guy with a voice, and the ability to sing lyrics with more than two-syllable words?
LUCAS MINOR - When I got into music, I was probably chasing more of a “career” than I am now. Nowadays, I am solely focused on creating the best sound I can with friends that enjoy playing together and that I enjoy playing with. In my case, that is my band. I do not think about selling music anymore. I think about writing words I want to sing, guitar parts that are fun to play, and arrangements that can be adapted live and jammed on. The two things I like to get out of music are a connection to people through lyrics, and a connection to my band and player friends of mine through music. Dumbing down is not something I consider, but I also just think that there are people listening to all kinds of music. There is plenty of room for all of us.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – If someone can’t catch your act live, what’s the next best option?
LUCAS MINOR - New England was a part of a fun session for sure, and folks can find that everywhere you stream music. We also have an acoustic session on YouTube called the Somewhere Session that was a blast to record. The record we have coming out this winter can be found anywhere you stream music.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – What will fans take away from your performance in Plattsmouth this friday?
LUCAS MINOR - I hope folks find connection in my writing, even if it is different than what I felt, and I hope that folks see the genuine fun we have together on stage. I owe the good sounds on stage to my band, Dan White, Fernando Torres, Jay Tolliver, and Colten McCauly. They are the most loyal players and friends a writer could ever ask for.
PLATTSMOUTHTODAY – What did I not ask you that you want to tell our readers?
LUCAS MINOR - I think I would encourage everyone to listen to music. I know that sounds cliche, but I mean it in a deeper way. Listen to whatever you like, whenever you like. Don’t let media tell you what you need to listen to. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to explore new stuff. I struggle with this sometimes, but it is so important. Good music is good music, and all an artist can hope for is that folks enjoy the sounds we are making.
Lucas is right: Good music is good music.
I felt a twinge of sadness, though, when he said, “I do not think about selling music anymore,” because that’s what I said when I was about the age Lucas is now. 30 years later, it’s something I will always wonder about. The difference is, you can see Lucas this Friday at 6:30 PM on Main Street in Plattsmouth. And, you should. His songs are worth it because they are thoughtful, well-crafted, and uniquely-sung by a son from the south side of Plattsmouth.
Lucas Minor and band start at 6:30 PM, Friday, on Main Street in Plattsmouth.
