C.E. HANIFIN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Len's Lounge. (Michael Snyder/ Cincinnati Enquirer)

W H E N   Y O U   G O

What: Len's Lounge album release show, with Appalachian Cancer and the Thirteens. When: 9 p.m. Friday. Where: York St. Cafe, 738 York St., Newport. Admission: $5; 18 and older. Information: (859) 261-9675 or www.yorkstonline.com.

When the members of Len's Lounge decided to record a live album, The Longest Night, they had no idea how long it would take to get back on stage to celebrate the record's release.

The band recorded a pair of shows Dec. 21 - the longest night of the year - at Jack Quinn's Emerald Ballroom, with plans to put out an album by March 20, says singer/guitarist Jeff Roberson .

But extra mixing work pushed the release show back to July 17 at one of the Main Street district clubs, the Cavern.

Then, three weeks before the event, the Cavern shut down, sending Len's Lounge scrambling to find a new date and venue.

After enduring months of delays and snafus, the band will release The Longest Night with a performance Friday at York St. Cafe in Newport.

The album nails down the essence of the group's Americana sound. It also captures Len's Lounge on the cusp of some major lineup changes.

Anne Winslow, who contributed vocals, guitar and mandolin, left the band this summer when she moved to Maine. A new drummer, Katherine Monnig, signed on in June. And the York St. Cafe gig will be violinist Annette Ellis' last show before she exits the group to focus on her teaching job.

Although live albums sometimes get a bad rap, Roberson says the format suited his group's desire to document their 12-year history.

"Not a lot of people put out live albums anymore and when they do, they tend to be illustrations of their proficiency, rather than their ability to live in the moment," he says. "I like living in the moment, with all its warts and problems."

And, of course, the four current members of Len's Lounge all have classic live albums in their own record collections. Roberson, Ellis, Monnig and bassist Paul Cavins listed their favorites.

• Roberson: Friday's the Night, Neil Young (1975).

• Monnig: Live Art, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones (1991) and Living in Clip, Ani DiFranco (1997).

• Cavins: Live at the Apollo, James Brown (1963).

• Ellis: Winter Marquee, Nanci Griffith (2002).

Alt-country up from Tennessee

Lucero's alt-country songs go down smooth but leave a memorable burn, just like the whiskey made in the band's home state, Tennessee. The group rides into town to play a bill with locals Alone at 3am and Lost Hands Found Fingers. 9 p.m. Sunday at Top Cat's, 2820 Vine St., Corryville. $7; 21 and older. (513) 281-2005.

Swarthy Band's CD takes a bow

The members of the Swarthy Band aren't afraid to wear their influences - the Beatles, the Who, Guided by Voices - on their sleeves, but the indelible pop hooks they create are all their own. The Cincinnati group will give fans a much-awaited taste of its first full-length album, Oh Yeah, at a release show. Local rock group Greatmodern is on the bill, too. 9 p.m. Saturday at York St. Cafe, 738 York St., Newport. $5; 21 and older. (859) 261-9675; www.yorkstonline.com.