Center For Cultural Events

Willie Nelson’s son bringing band to Auburn

Lukas Nelson, left, performs with members of his band,
Promise of the Real, in a photograph supplied by his press agent.
The band will perform Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the
DeKalb Outdoor Theater in Auburn. Admission
will be free of charge.PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

BY DAVE KURTZ dkurtz@kpcnews.net
Tuesday, 27 July 2010 00:10

AUBURN — People tell Lukas Nelson he sounds like his famous father when he sings, and he agrees.

Local fans can judge for themselves when Willie Nelson’s son takes the stage Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the DeKalb Outdoor Theater in Auburn.

The younger Nelson will bring his band, Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real, for a free concert in the theater’s Friday Night Performance Series.

Lukas Nelson says his rock-blues guitar style has been influenced by his father, who plays blues and jazz as well as country music.

Nelson, 21, grew up on his dad’s tour bus, making his first road trip at only 5 weeks old with legendary musicians Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson.

As he grew older, the younger Nelson needed more privacy. He said he would lock himself in his bedroom and imitate his guitar heroes.

“I got into Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix when I was a young kid,” Lukas Nelson said. “Mike Bloomfield was a big influence — Clapton, the list goes on.

“Giving respect to those influences. I hope to emerge with my own style from that blend,” he said.

During the first two weeks of July, Nelson and his band opened 10 concerts for another of his heroes, B.B. King.

At his shows, Lukas Nelson said, “Sometimes I’ll go on with boots on and a hat. Sometimes I’ll go barefoot and no shirt. There’s a lot of energy, and we try and connect with the crowd, and it’s fun. We have fun.”

The younger Nelson formed his four-man band in January 2009 and has been touring nearly nonstop since then, he said.

“When we formed the band, we promised to be real, and that’s where the name came from,” Nelson said in his official biography. He added that he hopes to still be touring when he reaches his father’s age — now 77.

“I’m happy where we are,” Lukas Nelson said in a telephone interview. “I’ve been able to play with a lot of my heroes and share experiences with them.”

At age 21, he feels privileged to have been on stages with music legends such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Derek Trucks.

“We’re making music and making a living and have a nice place to live,” he said. “Whatever comes next is just a bonus.”