There’s no shortage of nepo babies in the music world, many of whom lack the creative talent of their famous parents and deliver mediocrity at best. Lukas Nelson is the opposite. The son of Willie Nelson could have easily adopted a persona similar to his father and, with a voice that is close enough, had a successful career in his shadow. Instead, Lukas taught himself how to shred guitar, formed a kickass band called Promise of the Real, and spent the next decade balancing a prolific output of studio albums and live shows. This has earned him and his band a sizable following of fans, and on Wednesday, February 21st, a nearly sold-out crowd of said fans gathered to catch his band as they came through Portland, Oregon for a show at the Crystal Ballroom in support of their 2023 album Sticks and Stones.
Opening on a high note with the cosmic country ripper “Entirely Different Stars,” the band immediately set the tone for a wild ride that would take them from country to Americana, rock, and R&B. Following the Southern rock anthem stomper “Sticks and Stones” and the easygoing groover “Fool Me Once,” the crowd was treated to an elegant piano introduction leading into one of the first highlights of the night with the pretty “Just Outside of Austin.” Nelson showcased his tender side as well as a nod to his dad with “(Forget) About Georgia,” while “Icarus” saw the band leaning into a honky tonk boogie woogie sound, and “Carolina” was a tender nugget of down-home R&B. “All the Pretty Horses” was another standout moment, with the band balancing poignant lyrics and vocals while Nelson also unleashed some of his most triumphant guitar shredding of the night. Later on, he would dial it back by playing the stirring ballad “Smile” solo on an old standup piano that looked like it was found in a saloon. This tune would blossom into one of the most soulful and dynamic moments of the night that set a warm mood before the bouncy honky tonk vibes of “Every Time I Drink” and the freewheeling rock and roll anthem “Wrong House.”
Over the course of a lengthy set that saw the band move effortlessly between genres, Lukas Nelson demonstrated once again how much he has paved his own way. Even with a heart-wrenchingly beautiful cover of his father’s “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” played acoustically and a rousing taking on “Bloody Mary Morning” sprinkled in for good measure, Nelson was anything but a caricature as he shared his dynamic showmanship of guitar virtuoso theatrics, emotionally connecting vocals, and magnetic charisma. With his path forged and his reputation solidified, it will be fascinating to see where Nelson takes his act next.
All photos by Greg Homolka.
