stillisstillmoving.com

Lukas Nelson & The Promise Of The Real

 The Triple Door
216 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101
Tickets 206.838.4333

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
$15.00
7:30 all ages

www.thetripledoor.net

“So many times, a song is already there. You just need to chisel at it, like a block of wood, and uncover what the universe has already given you,” says Lukas Nelson, songwriter, musician, son of Willie and frontman of the Promise of the Real.  “I’ll say something in my head, or out loud and I’ll think, ‘this could be a song.’ Then I’ll just start writing around the idea.”

Growing up on tour, playing percussion onstage from the age of 5 and being an essential part of the Nelson Family Traveling Circus gave Lukas a love for a constantly fluctuating lifestyle. But it all started in the closet, at age 11.

“Something about music captured me; I knew it was what I wanted to do, right off the bat. I’d lock myself in my closet and play Dylan, the Beatles, Jimi, Stevie Ray, over and over on the guitar,” he recalls. “I knew I wanted to be a performer, like my heroes before me”.

Singing and songwriting were a little later in blooming. “I sang when I was really little, before everything else, but I always thought I sounded like a girl and I stopped for a long time. Then in college I started again; I was bored with school and I’d grab my acoustic guitar and go troubadour style, learning songs that people wanted to hear and putting together 2-hour sets,” shares Lukas.

“Listening to and being around my dad all those years, his style of singing is most natural to me, so I suppose I subconsciously model my style after his,” he continues.    “But I try to blend my sound with Neil Young, Dylan, Aaron Neville, Ray Charles, as well,” continues Lukas: “really, anyone who’s a master at what they do, is an influence on me.”

Being Willie Nelson’s son makes him proud and while it’s always eyebrow-raising, his last name is more of an auspicious beginning than an end in and of itself. “BB King once said, ‘A legendary person is someone who stands the test of time.’ My dad is a musical genius, and a legendary person. I’m proud of him and how he’s dealt with life in the best way possible. He is certainly a part of who I am; but I am also a musician and I write my own songs and after you know I’m Willie Nelson’s son, it matters what I bring to the table,” he reflects.

Promise of the Real features Lukas on lead guitar and lead vocals, Anthony Logerfo on drums, backing vocals and occasional shirt-lifting; Merlyn Kelly plays bass guitar on the band’s EP, while JP Maramba has since joined the band onstage. Promise of the Real leans towards blues, a little folk and good old rock and roll. “I have no idea how to label it,” says Lukas; “but we come to it with a rock and roll attitude!”

(more…)

www.montanakaimin.com
by Justin Franz

Lukas Nelson is on one long tour.

“It’s going to go for the rest of my life,” Nelson said.

Nelson has already been on the road for six months with his new band, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, and will play to the Top Hat in downtown Missoula on Friday, March 12.

While the band is new, 21-year-old Nelson isn’t new to music; he is the son of iconic country singer Willie Nelson, who, at 76 years old, continues to tour and record.

“I grew up in a musical family,” Nelson said. “But I got my interest when I heard Jimi Hendrix for the first time. He inspired me to play.”

But he doesn’t take all the credit.

“Musically, I’ve had a lot of help of people on the road of life,” he said.

Still, Nelson was terrified of singing in front of a crowd, even though he often saw his father do it. His fear didn’t subside until he was 10 years old and had a dream he was on stage before a crowd of millions; suddenly, his fear of performing before a crowd disappeared.

“Ever since that dream, I’ve never been afraid to be on stage,” he said.

His band, which was formed a year ago, has toured extensively, and has gigged at more than just bars and lounges, he said. Over the last year, they’ve opened for Dave Matthews Band, B.B. King and, of course, his dad’s group.

“It’s unheard of for a new band to grow up like this,” he said, adding that he doesn’t see it stopping any time soon.

“I see us going really fast and I want to work to see us go far,” he said.

But it may not have happened this way if Nelson hadn’t left Loyola Marymount University in southern California, where he was studying music just two years ago.

“I just wasn’t feeling it anymore,” he said. “I just stopped going to class. For me personally, what I have learned on the road is 10, 20, 30, maybe 100 times more important. I needed to get out of there.”

And it turned out to be a good decision, as he soon joined up with the musicians that would form Promise of the Real, including Anthony LoGerfo on drums, Tato Melgar with percussion and J.P. Maramba on bass.

This combination, Nelson said, has lead to great success on tour and he feels that the road is a place they will be for years to come.

“We try and rock the house everywhere we’re at,” he said.

Becca Seliskar, director of UM Productions, which is putting on the show, hopes for the same response from the crowd.

“I think Missoulians are going to love him,” she said. “He is new to our scene, but his sound is very much something Missoula can appreciate.”

And it’s not just because of his pedigree.

“Although Lukas is Willie’s son, his music appeals to a broad audience,” she said. “He has a sound that folks who love jam bands, rock, blues and yes, Willie, will enjoy.”

Nelson agreed and said while he doesn’t try to copy what his father did, the influence is there, especially in the vocals, which many believe sound similar to the elder Nelson.

But he is quick to add that what inspires him most about his father isn’t the music.

“He’s inspired me, he’s a good, humble man,” he said. “He’s humble, peaceful and relaxed — he’s been able to stay who he is.”

Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real will play at the Top Hat on Friday, March 12. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the 21-plus show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $7 at the door.

http://www.montanakaimin.com/index.php/articles/article/son_of_country_legend_to_play_at_top_hat_next_week/863

www.indianastatesman.com
by Reggie Edwards

People packed the Verve Wednesday night as Lukas Nelson, son of country music star Willie Nelson, and the Promise of the Real returned to Terre Haute for the first time since October.

“He loves playing here,” Verve owner Connie Wrin said. “They are on the road all the time and this place and a place in Colorado are their favorite places to play.”

Wrin said Nelson brings in a crowd much larger than the average Wednesday night.

“Wednesdays are usually slow, but Lukas brings in a great crowd,” she said.

Nelson was scheduled to play two shows–one Wednesday and another Thursday.

“Last time he played one show, but he came back the next night and jammed with the band that was playing all night,” Wrin said.

Caleb Taylor, a Terre Haute resident, attended when Nelson played in October and jumped at the chance to see Nelson play again.

“I came last time, and my friends told me Lukas Nelson was back again, so I came tonight,” he said.

Taylor said he could not decide whether Nelson’s performance Wednesday was better than the show in October.

“You cannot compare tonight’s performance to last time,” he said. “It is two completely different experiences, and they are both great.”

Nelson played two sets Wednesday night, which included songs from each of his albums as well as covers of many popular songs, including “Get Back” and “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles and “Down By the River” by Neil Young.

During breaks between sets, Nelson said he has been traveling and playing music without much of a break since he last visited Terre Haute.

“We play about 15 to 20 shows a month,” he said. “We plan on flying down to Austin, Texas to record in the studio with T-Bone Burnett right after this.”

T-Bone Burnett is a record producer who has won multiple Grammys and has worked with Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Counting Crows, Roy Orbison, among other artists.

Nelson said life on the road varies from day to day.

“We get up, sometimes at 4 p.m., and just hang out and socialize,” he said. “Sometimes we drink, depending on what we are doing.”

Tato Melgar, Promise of the Real’s percussionist said he usually gets up earlier, compared to the others.

Nelson said the number of shows they play each day often depends on their moods.

“Sometimes we play at one bar, then stop at the next one and have a few drinks,” he said. “It depends on how we feel. If the band is a little lax, sometimes I’ll get up and play with them.”

Nelson, whose show consists of a variety of rock ‘n’ roll, blues and country, said it is difficult to describe his musical style.

“That’s a tough one, but I’d say it is rock ‘n’ roll,” he said.

After his second set, as things were winding down, Nelson talked with the crowd, taking pictures and signing autographs for fans.

“This time was just as fun as the last,” he said.

http://www.indianastatesman.com/a-e/willie-nelson-s-son-performs-for-second-time-at-the-verve-people-packed-the-verve-wednesday-night-1.1115278

“Had my socks knocked off Friday night with BB King’s opening act! WOW, Lukas was incredible!”

– Mary Andrews

Photographer Mary Andrews took these photos at the Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real show in Tucson, Arizona.  Lukas and his band opened for B. B. King.

 See more of Andrew’s photographer:  http://mandrewsphoto.com

For more information on Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real, and to purchase their music and more, visit their website at www.PromiseoftheReal.com.  The site has been tweaked, I think, as it continues to get better and more fantastic.

Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the real performed at Farm Aid, and the crowd loved them, getting some of the loudest most enthusiastic applause of the day.  They really seemed to be having fun, too. 

Lukas Nelson and Anthony Logerfo were sitting up close waiting for Neil Young’s set at Farm Aid last Sunday.  They were talking with fans, taking pictures with fans, and waiting for Neil.   Anthony had told me that they first met at a Neil Young concert years ago.  

Anthony relayed how they had met Neil Young earlier in the day Sunday, after their set.  They were by their bus, when Neil was walking by.  They didn’t approach him or anything, respectfully giving him his space, I expect.  Then Neil walked over to them and said that he had enjoyed their set.  He said he was sleeping and woke up to their rendition of his song “LA”.    How cool is that.

Anthony Logerfo

Anthony and special friend
(so sorry, I wish I’d written your name down.)

For more information about Promise of the Real, and to purchase their new album:
www.PromiseoftheReal.com, and www.MySpace.com/promiseofthereal