It is always neat to bring exciting new music and artists to people’s attention and the perfect example of that is today’s column. Tonight, Empire Dine and Dance, 575 Congress St., Portland, will host Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. The foursome is made up of Anthony LoGerfo, drums; Tato Melgar, percussion/ sound effects; Corey McCormick, bass, vocals; and lead vocalist/guitarist Lukas Nelson, who is the son of country legend Willie Nelson. They are on tour supporting their sophomore album “Wasted,” which came out April 3 — because they are going to be in Maine tonight, a phone interview was arranged with not just one member, but two: LoGerfo and Nelson (in that order). The drummer was reached first by cell phone at a restaurant in Wilmington, N.C., on the 10th of this month.
Q: I take it you are out on the road now?
Logerfo: Oh, yeah, we’re playing here tonight. We’re in the middle of the tour right now.
Q: Have you ever played in Maine?
Logerfo: You know what? We might have never played Maine before. It might be our first time. I’m looking forward to it.
Q: Let’s talk about “Wasted” for a moment. I found it to be a delightfully varied album. What do you attribute this variety to?
Logerfo: Well, I think we’re a diverse band, first of all. We all come from different background and we all are influenced by a lot of different styles of music. Then the record was written all last summer while we were on the road and reflects our touring experiences — hence the name, “Wasted.” It’s also about not wasting your life away so it’s not really about being wasted or promoting that. But as far as the diversity goes, we have a percussionist from South America. I’m from Los Angeles, our bass player is from Northern California and Lukas is from Texas and Hawaii, so you definitely get just a really eclectic mix of people and music.
Q: Well, there is a decidedly familiarity to the vocal aspect of your band in that Lukas is definitely his father’s son. His voice is so similar to his dad’s.
Logerfo: He definitely has his vocal influence and his writing influence, but what’s great about Lukas is he’s influenced by so many different musicians and I think that really comes out in his playing, as well.
Q: Is there anything you’d like me to pass on to the folks reading this article?
Logerfo: We’re all excited to be heading to the east coast seeing we’re all from the west coast pretty much. We’ve heard that Maine is beautiful and we’re looking forward to playing there for a new audience.
Three minutes later I called to chat with Lukas Nelson and began with a question to possibly confirm LoGerfo’s belief that this was the band’s first time playing in Maine.
Nelson: I don’t think we have ever played up there before, to be honest.
Q: You guys seem to spend a lot of time on the road.
Nelson: Yeah, quite a bit.
Q: I was just talking with Anthony and we discussed the diverse nature of your new album — I liked that the listener doesn’t really know what the next song will sound like which makes for an interesting and surprising listen.
Nelson: I tried to make it so that it was an unexpected kind of journey. You can’t really predict where it’s going.
Q: Are you the principle songwriter for the group?
Nelson: Yeah, and I’m evolving as a writer … I’m learning different styles of writing and absorbing different things I’m listening to. Like, recently I wrote a song that was like pure, radio-style country and then there was another one that was real pop-y. I’m just trying all these different kinds of things just to be the best and most consummate writer that I can … and then I wrote another one that sounded like kind of Radiohead-ish/Flaming Lips-like. So I’m trying all the different kinds of fields.
Q: What does your father think of all this?
Nelson: I think he likes it, yeah, I think he loves it. You know, we play together a lot and write together and I think he’s proud just like I’m proud of him.
Q: Seeing this will be your first time in the state, is there anything you would like to have passed on to the readers of this article, Lukas?
Nelson: Ah, I just want people to come with an open mind, and ready to dance.
Lucky Clark has spent over four decades writing about good music and the people who make it. He can be reached at luckyc@megalink.net if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.
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