Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real have a new album coming soon, and I can’t wait.
He previously released the lead single from Sticks and Stones with Lainey Wilson called “More Than Friends,” and I haven’t stopped listening to it since… I mean, what a duo, right?
And today, he dropped the second song from the tracklist, a clever and cheeky little tune called “Alcohallelujah.”
I’ll be the first to admit, when I saw the title of the song I had no idea what to expect, because sometimes titles like that can be fun, but hard to pull off lyrically when you have to incorporate it into a whole story.
But Lukas is a master with the pen, and the song is equal parts heavy and introspective as it is really damn fun.
It finds him praying to God that he can get help with his drinking problem, while also acknowledging the fun parts of consuming alcohol, and he also throws in a reference to his father, Willie Nelson’s, “Whiskey River,” which of course I love:
“Coast clear, crack a beer
We been kissin’, whiskey river
Take my mind again
Wash away my sin
Caught a little luck
The door’s a little stuck
Maybe ‘fore we leave the truck
We can have a real quick…”
And actually, the entire record was written solely by Lukas, and he says it’s a departure from the heaviness and introspective nature of their previous 2021 album A Few Stars Apart:
“This album is about celebrating the human connection, joy and excitement. We went from quiet and introspective on ‘A Few Stars Apart’ to something big and fun to really showcase the band’s talent and performance.
You can listen to the album ‘Sticks and Stones’ from start to finish and get the songs to dance to and then the quiet, poignant songs. To me, this album is the perfect setlist.”
The production on “Alcohallelujah” is super groovy too, and I’m sure will be a thrill to hear live, as well.
They put on one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen, so if they’ll be anywhere near you this year, do not miss your chance to see Lukas & POTR in concert.
Sticks and Stones will be out everywhere on July 14th, and I look forward to it more and more with every new release:
“Alcohallelujah”
“More Than Friends”
Sticks And Stones tracklist:
1. Sticks and Stones
2. Alcohallelujah
3. Every Time I Drink
4. More Than Friends feat. Lainey Wilson
5. Ladder of Love
6. Wrong House
7. Icarus
8. If I Didn’t Love You
9. Overpass
10. Lying
11. All Four Winds
12. The View
Lukas Nelson & POTR 2023 tour dates:
June 13—Oxford, UK—O2 Academy Oxford
June 14 —Wolverhampton, UK—Wolverhampton Civic Hall
June 15—London, UK—O2 Form Kentish Town
June 16-18—Royal Turnbridge Wells, UK—Black Deer Festival
June 17—Bristol, UK—SWX
June 19—Manchester City Centre, UK—O2 Academy 2
June 20—Glasgow, UK—City Halls & Old Fruitmarket
June 22—Belfast, UK—Ulster Hal
June 23—Dublin, Ireland—Academy
September 27—Boston, MA—TD Garden*
September 28—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden*
*supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band
