LUKAS NELSON AND
THE PROMISE OF THE REAL
At the Sinclair, Cambridge, May 24 at 9 p.m. Tickets: $20. 617-451-7700, www.sinclair
cambridge.com
For a mind-blowing introduction to Lukas Nelson, head to YouTube and look up his cover of “Hoochie Coochie Man,’’ the Willie Dixon song made famous by Muddy Waters, from Farm Aid 2010. Nelson doesn’t so much play the guitar as toy with it, like a cat with a mouse. He’s virtuosic, a talented musician who just happens to have a famous dad — that’d be Willie.
Of course, you can’t ignore the fact that the younger Nelson’s voice — taut, wavy, a smidge of twang — smacks of young Willie. But Lukas Autry Nelson’s guitar style was unquestionably learned at the altar of Neil Young, specifically the “Ragged Glory’’ years. His band’s name, Promise of the Real, was inspired by lyrics from Young’s 1974 “Walk On.’’
Born in Austin and raised on the island of Maui, Nelson, 27, calls his sound “cowboy hippie surf rock.’’ He’s been riding waves, writing songs, and handling a guitar most of his life. He checked in by telephone in advance of his May 24 show at the Sinclair, prior to a Neil Young tour that winds through Europe before a Desert Trip rendezvous with Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and others in October.
Q. Your dad recorded your first song, “You Were It,’’ which you wrote when you were 11.
A. Yeah, writing songs, I’ve been doing that longest. Growing up with so much great music, I was inspired to write a song one day. It came to me while I was on the school bus. I thought of the line: “I once had a heart, now I have a song.’’ I thought that would be a cool title . . . but Dad called it “You Were It’’ when he recorded it.
Q. It’s amazing you wrote that at 11 — it sounds like a Hank Williams song.
A. I must’ve been going through a rough time, been bummed out about life for whatever reason. I was a depressed little kid in some areas. [Laughs] Songwriting has been my main passion. Kris Kristofferson encouraged me; I remember him telling me “Luke, you’re a songwriter, whether you like it or not.’’
Q. Neil Young is an obvious influence.
A. Neil’s a huge influence. We’re similar artists in terms of how our careers have seemed to go, in terms of songwriting. Neil loves country; he went to Nashville and did the country thing — both of us really connect with that. And Dad is the godfather of it all. We’re both students of dad’s music.
Q. How did your tour with Neil come together?
A. Neil and Dad were going to play a protest in Nebraska to protest the Keystone pipeline [and] Neil said, “Hey, let’s jam together.’’ We played on the bus, and it was amazing. It was incredible. It was like we’d been playing together forever.
Q. You guys are doing Desert Trip, which looks insane.
A. Yeah, it’s gonna be insane. Just insane. So cool. It’s going to be incredible.
Q. Have you played with Bob Dylan before?
A. A while back I heard he considered inviting me out as a guitar player, but I was doing so much with my dad and my band that I didn’t have time, and I think he respected that. Dylan is my favorite songwriter besides my dad. I respect him immensely. We did those ballpark tours with him and Dad and John Mellencamp when I was 16, 15. I played with Bob and his band. Bob reminds me of Tom Waits; I like how he always reinvents himself.
Q. Did you get to hang out with Dylan after the show?
A. Oh yeah, he was really cool. He didn’t talk too much. There’s a lot of unspoken with Bob, and I appreciate that. Same with Neil. If you don’t have to say anything, don’t say anything. Just be, and appreciate the gravity of the people around you without having to communicate with words.
Q. So hanging with Bob Dylan at 15 is pretty amazing. Are there any other weird things that have happened to you, just from growing up being Willie Nelson’s kid?
A. I started smoking weed at a young age. I knew all the research; I knew it wasn’t bad for you. I wasn’t scared of it. I knew past the propaganda.
Q. How old were you?
A. I can’t say that; I’d probably scare some old ladies. [Laughs] I was, like, 12. As soon as I was old enough to think I was a man, I started smoking.
Q. What other weird things happened, growing up with Willie?
A. Giving Eric Clapton a hug when I was 10. I was really young and super into Eric Clapton, and I saw him and didn't even say hi; I just went up and hugged him. I remember going to the White House and meeting Bill Clinton when Dad got the Kennedy Center honors. Every night with Neil has been a great moment. It’s just been a cool life.
LUKAS NELSON AND THE PROMISE OF THE REAL
At the Sinclair, Cambridge, May 24 at 9 p.m. Tickets: $20. 617-451-7700, www.sinclaircambridge.com
Interview was condensed and edited. Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com.
