Some people say that they were born to play music; however, saying that about Lukas Nelson - son of Country music singer/songwriter Willie Nelson - is definitely an understatement. That being said, it came as no surprise when it was discovered that Lukas inherited his father’s musicality, his song writing ability and his love for the road.

As the sixth child of one of the most acclaimed and beloved music stars of all time, Lukas knew from an early age that he wanted to play music – he even took his first steps on his dad’s tour bus! Although very fortunate that his father passed down his musical genius, he is also lucky to have inherited his humility and genuine spirit. It is those traits that make his father so personable and well-liked by his music fans, and Lukas should have no trouble in that area either.

Starting his music career at the age of nine, he began playing in a rock band titled Kalice. Lukas then moved on to a reggae band in high school, and formed another band with his younger brother, Micah, at the age of 19. After dropping out of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where he was studying music, his parents cut him off and he decided to get in touch with what is real. He lived out of his car for a year; couch surfed and worked as a street performer. By making this bold decision, Lukas felt that he was getting his own “life” education and during the process he learned how to gather a crowd while performing.

Lukas’s band Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real includes members Anthony LoGerfo (drums), Tato Melgar (Percussion), Corey McCormick (bass) and of course, Lukas Nelson (vocals/guitar). They chose the name Promise of the Real from their joint decision to try to do it the real way. The band member’s goals in life are to stay human, stay real, stay humble and stay grounded. By using Willie Nelson as an example, Lukas learned how he can live his life while still being a rock star and how to keep his humility throughout. The band’s first 13-track CD Promise of the Real was written throughout 2009 and 2010 and recorded in Austin, Texas in Fall/Winter 2010 (however the bassist on this track was former band member John Avila).

Their latest CD, titled Wasted, was released April 3, 2012 and sounds like a wonderful mix of Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. This 13-track CD has bluesy-rock tunes with vibes of soul and charm mixed in. Written during the band’s 2011 summer tour for their first CD Promise of the Real, the band is excited to spread their unique brand of gritty rock and roll to their growing fan base and supporters.

The album Wasted was recorded in Nashville at Moose Lodge Studios, home to co-producer and Grammy-award winner Jim “Moose” Brown. This CD is about the idea of wasting your time, your life, your creativity, and reminding yourself to stay true to your values and ideals – and with vintage, hard rock, yet danceable songs that have feel-good vibes, you can’t help but love it.

If you’re looking for an album to add to your collection of “road trip” CDs, I highly recommend Wasted by Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real. For more information on the band, to listen to their music and to find out about their upcoming show dates, check them out on their personal website www.promiseofthereal.com.