Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real + Spirit Family Reunion May 21, 2012

For Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, 2011 was a year packed with over 200 high-energy, spirited performances, including such mega-musical events as Farm Aid, Bridge School Benefit, Stagecoach, and Country Throwdown, the chance to spread their unique brand of gritty rock and roll to millions of people via the greatest of the late night shows, Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the adoption of the name Realers by their growing base of supporters.

But 2011 was also the year, through blood, sweat and trying times, that Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real - which also includes drummer Anthony LoGerfo, percussionist Tato Melgar and bassist Corey McCormick - made good on that promise to keep it real, and to make their way out of the shadow of a famous father and into the hearts and souls of music fans nationwide the way that they wanted to... on their own downhome rock and roll merits.

During the summer of 2011 Nelson, 22 years old at the time, found himself in the most intense writing jag of his early career. His journey spanned three soul-searching summer months during an intense 15-week tour. The result, the band's second full-length album, Wasted. On Wasted the band's familiar sound evolved from past recordings. A huge influence on this was Neil Young, whom Lukas calls a "distant mentor" and who suggested the band try a different approach to recording their new album. Helping the band fine tune their sound was Wasted co-producer Jim "Moose" Brown, the Grammy Award-winning session musician/songwriter/producer and Bob Seger guitarist.

The album also pays homage to two of Lukas' favorite musicians, Jimi Hendrix and Neil Young, through creative renditions of a "Pail Gap" / "Hey Baby, "and "LA". There's also a cover of the song "Peaceful Solution" co-written by Lukas' father Willie Nelson and sister Amy Niccore. Lukas' dad also offers backing vocals on "Sound of Your Memory" and "Fathers and Mothers." Lukas' aunt, Bobbie Nelson, plays the piano on "Fathers and Mothers" as well.

The band had a magical time in the studio, taking Nelson's acoustic guitar renditions of the 14 tracks and turning them into true Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real creations. With the line-up in place and the new record out, POTR set out in 2011 to deliver their message of love, peace and honesty to the world.
http://www.promiseofthereal.com/

Spirit Family Reunion play homegrown American music to stomp, clap, shake and holler with. Ever since they started singing together on the street corners, farmer's markets and subway stations of New York City, their songs have rung-out in a pure and timeless way. When Spirit Family Reunion gather to sing, there is communion. Strangers and neighbors come to rejoice in the sound, and there is no divide between performer and spectator.
"Dusty acoustic guitars, wailing fiddles and weeping accordions, with a woozy-yet-skintight rhythm section-- and topped off with burr-edged vocals that sound like they've been soaked in a Mason jar for generations -- it's the type of music that blurs the line between past and present so thoroughly, and so deftly, that time feels irrelevant." -Paste Magazine Best of What's Next
http://www.spiritfamilyreunion.com/

Official Website: http://www.jamminjava.com/