Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real

Martyrs’ – June 19, 2021, Jam Productions

October 2016 – Empire Polo Club in Indio California. I was one of the lucky ones that got tickets for this show which has come to be known as Desert Trip. A three-day concert – Night 1 Bob Dylan / the Rolling Stones. Night 2 –Paul McCartney / Neil Young with Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real. Night 3 – The Who / Roger Waters. Quite an event to say the least. One of the acts that really stood out was Neil Young. It was my first introduction to Lukas Nelson and POTR. From quite a distance their sound was incredible, and I knew I was seeing something great.

Summer 2018 – Ravinia Tickets to Willie Nelson and Family. Again, I saw Lukas and POTR much closer but same energy same great sound. I was soon to become a fan of this group.

Summer 2019 – Farm Aid at Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. Raining from morning till night, but again one of the highlights was seeing Lukas and POTR.

March 2020 – He was scheduled to play in Madison Wisconsin on March 30. I had purchased 2 tickets all set to see him in a much different venue. Along came COVID and the concert was cancelled, refunds given, no need to contact the promoters.

A year with no live music or any theatre events. I had since signed up on his page so I could see when he might tour again. On June 21 he released his new album “A Few Stars Apart” and announced 4 touring dates, one of them being a stop at Martyrs’ in Chicago. A very small intimate venue, it would be difficult to get tickets I was sure. Isn’t life funny, filled with twists and turns. Sold out was what I kept getting. But finally, 2 tickets became available and I was able to secure them. The irony being the last concert I was going to, cancelled and the first live concert post pandemic, Lukas Nelson and POTR.

Turns out the four dates he played were as one of his band members said “warm up shows” before they announced a longer tour beginning in September and ending in November.`

Seeing him on a jumbotron or seeing him at a soaking wet venue was certainly no comparison to being front row center at a venue that holds about 300 people.

They hit the stage at about 8:30 opening the show with “Start to Go,” and never put on the brakes. Lukas and the boys played about 2.5 hours covering songs from their five-album catalog including their new album “A Few Stars Apart” which quickly climbed to the top of the American radio chart shortly after being released. An extremely talented group of musicians they played tight and gave the fans just what they were there to see.

The member of POTR are Lukas Nelson (lead vocals, guitar), Anthony LoGerfo (drums, percussion), Corey McCormick (bass, guitar, vocals), Logan Metz (keyboards, lap steel, guitar, harmonica, vocals), and Tato Melgar (percussion). Rounding out the group was Leon (son of Tato Melgar). He strapped on his guitar, moved around the stage with the big boys, having as much fun as the audience.

Lukas sang with so much intensity at one point his mike broke and had to be repaired on the spot. He played a variety of guitars including a Telecaster, Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul Jr., a couple acoustics one featuring his dad’s signature.

The set list was very impressive. Songs included “Little Girl,” “Carolina,” Just Outside of Austin,” “Set me Down on a Cloud,” and “Georgia.” He sang “Find Yourself” with such emotion and even included audience participation complete with lots of singing and dancing in the crowd. Switching gears from some of the rowdiness he sat down at the piano and with a gentleness played “Smile” from his new album. There was a five-song encore including “Entirely Different Stars,” and “Diamond on the Soles of Her Shoes” a Paul Simon cover, featuring a great rhythm solo by drummer Antony and percussionist Tito. In closing they played “Something Real” a fitting song to finish such a great show.

Now while he might not be a household name to everyone, he certainly has quite a big following. As a matter of fact, there were 4 girls around me that had met at one of his concerts, came to be friends and all travelled from different states to meet up and see several of his shows.

After a year without live music just like that it is back. And Lukas Nelson and POTR proved that a year away may have made them a few stars apart but now those stars are shinning again.

Reviewed by Gayle Kirshenbaum / Terry Giardina