Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real are bringing their “country soul funk” to the 9:30 Club on Sunday, Nov. 12. They’re touring behind their latest record, Sticks & Stones, which has earned them some of their strongest reviews. The Austin Chronicle writes, “Self-produced, Nelson noted that he wanted songs that could move a crowd, which Sticks and Stones delivers in sound and ethos.” All Music says the album finds them “stripping away trippy affectations so they can concentrate on such earthy pleasures as blues boogies, barroom dances, campfire singalongs, and copious amounts of liquor.”
As the son of the legendary Willie Nelson, country music and songwriting are in Lukas’s blood. Like his father, he’s also a great guitarist, though he prefers electric. The Promise of the Real have earned a reputation as a tight rock unit over the past several years, touring and recording with Neil Young as his backing band.
Of the new record, Nelson said, “This album is about celebrating the human connection, joy and excitement. We went from quiet and introspective on A Few Stars Apart to something big and fun to really showcase the band’s talent and performance. You can listen to the album Sticks and Stones from start to finish and get the songs to dance to and then the quiet, poignant songs. To me, this album is the perfect setlist.”
Watch the official music video for “More Than Friends” by Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real featuring Lainey Wilson on YouTube:
Since his debut over a decade ago, Texas and Hawaii-based Nelson has played countless sold-out shows and festivals and released seven studio albums to date including the latest, 2021’s A Few Stars Apart. Produced by Dave Cobb, the record spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Americana Albums chart and received widespread acclaim with Rolling Stone declaring, “His best album yet…Nelson’s most compact, streamlined, and focused album,” while The Tennessean asserted, “a collection of lyrically stirring, musically multifarious and ultimately hopeful roots rock storytelling.”
Nelson’s affinity for country music is evident in his albums and in the work he did as the principal musical consultant for the critically acclaimed film A Star Is Born, starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Nelson wrote and produced many of the songs for the soundtrack, and the band played on them as well.
Sunday’s show is bound to be a little bit rock, a little bit country, and a whole lot of fun.
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
9:30 Club
Sunday, Nov. 12
Doors @ 7pm
$35
All ages