What doesn’t fit into the header above is the rather lengthy name of the Lukas Nelson band, The Promise of the Real (POTR). Formed in 2008, after a random meeting at a Neil Young concert between Lukas and drummer Anthony LoGerfo, the tale of how the band name came about is very amusing; consisting of a post-concert party that included midnight surfing, a painful encounter with a sting ray, and listening to Young’s On the Beach album that has the track Walk On and the lines ‘sooner or later, it all gets real.’ Being the son of a Country music legend may get you a seat at some interesting tables but it doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you receive any return invites. You have to earn your own place in the music industry and there is an implied pressure just from the family background alone.
Lukas has been able to not only emerge from any potential shadow that is cast by his father but has walked down his own sunny path of success. His music can best be summed up as Country Soul although growing up with the early influences of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan has also coloured his song arrangements and the extended guitar dynamics that form such an integral part of his overall sound. Lukas Nelson is quite simply a superbly gifted guitarist and on many songs tonight he displays that sublime talent within the song structures that often extend into great band workouts across the five musicians on stage at the Academy.
This is a very impressive return to Dublin for Nelson and he certainly gives everything in a genuinely star-quality performance. His vocal tone is reminiscent of his father at times, especially on the slower numbers, and he can also channel Glen Campbell at other moments. Although there is a new album due shortly, called Sticks and Stones, the bulk of the setlist tonight is focused on the 2017 album, Promise of the Real. Several favourites are greeted by the enthusiastic crowd, with Four Letter Word, Die Alone and Fool Me Once turning up the intensity. More reflective songs like Just Outside of Austin, Set Me Down On A Cloud and Forget About Georgia show off a more country side of his sound, while the standout rendition of Find Yourself is such a special moment with a powerful and soulful vocal performance added to by some dynamic guitar playing.
The show includes a solo slot from Nelson where he performs three songs on acoustic guitar, again demonstrating his impressive technique and tone on Consider It Heaven, The Breath Of My Baby and a beautifully delivered Angel Flying Too Close To the Ground a tribute to his father’s enduring legacy and a real highlight (plus my favourite Willie Nelson song). The funky side of the band is displayed on Carolina, a song that has an addictive groove, reminiscent of Little Feat, running through the rhythm. Throughout, the interplay between the musicians is superb to witness, the years of playing as an ensemble showcasing their consistently high standards. Lukas Nelson (guitar, vocals) is joined as always by Anthony LoGerfo (drums, percussion), Tato Melgar (percussion), Corey McCormick (bass, vocals), and Logan Metz (guitars, harmonica, keyboards, vocals).
The upcoming album is featured with the title track Sticks and Stones kicking off proceedings, alongside Every Time I Drink, More Than Friends, Ladder Of Love and Alcohallelujah. These new songs all sound vibrant and alive, which bodes well for the ongoing success of this impressive artist. Encoring with a full-on workout, Something Real was a perfect way to celebrate the band in all their individual brilliance with a drumming and percussion onslaught that was reminiscent of a Santana showcase, added to by bass guitar and warm keyboard melody, before Nelson brings everything up a notch further in a climax that resembles a metal band in full flow. Exhilarating.
Lukas Nelson has real star quality, not only in his guitar playing and his impressive vocal range but also in his humility and the sense of integrity that he communicates in everything that he represents tonight. The promise of the real? The promise has more than been delivered upon and as a live performer, Lukas Nelson is at the top of his game.
Review and photographs by Paul McGee