1 00:00:15,436 --> 00:00:31,956 Speaker 1: Pushkin, You're gonna waste your house and home doing your 2 00:00:32,076 --> 00:00:36,956 Speaker 1: money was so long? Good back to love you, Thank you, 3 00:00:38,116 --> 00:00:42,876 Speaker 1: gambling woman, don't let your love run dry. Growing up 4 00:00:42,876 --> 00:00:46,116 Speaker 1: with a family full of musicians, Lucas Nelson was basically 5 00:00:46,276 --> 00:00:50,396 Speaker 1: raised on stage. Lucas started playing guitar and his dad, 6 00:00:50,396 --> 00:00:53,276 Speaker 1: Willie Nelson's band when he was just eleven years old. 7 00:00:53,996 --> 00:00:56,556 Speaker 1: In those early days, he spent all of his time 8 00:00:56,636 --> 00:01:00,116 Speaker 1: practicing and made a point of earning his stripes instead 9 00:01:00,156 --> 00:01:03,756 Speaker 1: of just coasting on his dad's success. Beautiful bis, I 10 00:01:03,996 --> 00:01:10,796 Speaker 1: see your Hi don't make good colors. That hard works 11 00:01:10,836 --> 00:01:13,596 Speaker 1: paid off. In two thousand and eight, Lucas formed his 12 00:01:13,596 --> 00:01:16,356 Speaker 1: acclaimed band, Promise of the Real, who've also spent the 13 00:01:16,436 --> 00:01:20,396 Speaker 1: last six years as Neil Young's touring band. In twenty seventeen, 14 00:01:20,796 --> 00:01:22,876 Speaker 1: Lucas and the band were cast and a Star was 15 00:01:22,916 --> 00:01:26,596 Speaker 1: born as Bradley Cooper's backing band. Cooper learned how to 16 00:01:26,636 --> 00:01:29,556 Speaker 1: embody a rock star on stage through working with Lucas, 17 00:01:29,796 --> 00:01:32,156 Speaker 1: who also wrote the opening riff for Shallow and co 18 00:01:32,316 --> 00:01:35,236 Speaker 1: wrote some other songs on the soundtrack sung by Cooper 19 00:01:35,276 --> 00:01:39,676 Speaker 1: and Lady Gaga. On today's episode, Lucas Nelson sings some 20 00:01:39,756 --> 00:01:42,956 Speaker 1: songs from his latest album, A Few Stars Apart. He 21 00:01:42,956 --> 00:01:46,116 Speaker 1: also talks to Bruce Headlam about the very relatable experience 22 00:01:46,396 --> 00:01:49,476 Speaker 1: of quarantining with his parents and talks about how the 23 00:01:49,516 --> 00:01:52,636 Speaker 1: first song he ever wrote saved him from getting evicted 24 00:01:52,676 --> 00:01:59,756 Speaker 1: from an apartment after leaving college. This is broken record 25 00:01:59,916 --> 00:02:07,996 Speaker 1: liner notes for the digital Age. I'm justin Richmond. Here's 26 00:02:07,996 --> 00:02:11,236 Speaker 1: Bruce Headlam and Lucas Nelson. So thank you so much 27 00:02:11,236 --> 00:02:13,796 Speaker 1: for doing this. You've got this new album, A Few 28 00:02:13,796 --> 00:02:16,516 Speaker 1: Stars Apart with your band promise of the reel. Can 29 00:02:16,556 --> 00:02:20,556 Speaker 1: you just start by telling me a bit about this album. Yes, 30 00:02:20,836 --> 00:02:26,916 Speaker 1: the record was recorded at OURCA Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. 31 00:02:27,436 --> 00:02:31,556 Speaker 1: It's a historic place. Elvis and my father and so 32 00:02:31,676 --> 00:02:35,196 Speaker 1: many others have recorded there. You can feel that history 33 00:02:35,196 --> 00:02:39,476 Speaker 1: when you go in the building. Dave Cobb was the 34 00:02:39,516 --> 00:02:44,556 Speaker 1: producer on our record, and he has produced many fantastic 35 00:02:44,636 --> 00:02:51,236 Speaker 1: artists including Chris Stapleton, Brandy Carlyle. And he's just a 36 00:02:51,356 --> 00:02:55,676 Speaker 1: really cool guy and was really happy to work with 37 00:02:55,756 --> 00:02:58,996 Speaker 1: him because he tends to work the way we like 38 00:02:59,116 --> 00:03:02,236 Speaker 1: to work, which is sort of analog, live in the studio, 39 00:03:02,916 --> 00:03:05,396 Speaker 1: a little bit old school. You might say, but he 40 00:03:05,436 --> 00:03:09,636 Speaker 1: can produce a fresh sound with that process. You know, 41 00:03:09,676 --> 00:03:12,556 Speaker 1: we were really happy to be with him. Was this record? 42 00:03:12,756 --> 00:03:17,116 Speaker 1: Was it written while you were in lockdown for COVID? Yeah, 43 00:03:17,156 --> 00:03:19,636 Speaker 1: I mean we looked. We looked through a bunch of 44 00:03:19,636 --> 00:03:22,676 Speaker 1: the songs that I had written in the last few years, 45 00:03:23,396 --> 00:03:26,636 Speaker 1: and a good portion of the songs we picked to 46 00:03:26,796 --> 00:03:31,156 Speaker 1: be on this record were written during quarantine. Okay, Now, 47 00:03:31,276 --> 00:03:34,556 Speaker 1: you're from a great musical family. Your father, Willie or 48 00:03:34,876 --> 00:03:37,436 Speaker 1: your aunt has been his piano player for a long time. 49 00:03:37,636 --> 00:03:40,236 Speaker 1: Got other musicians in your family. Were you able to 50 00:03:40,236 --> 00:03:43,476 Speaker 1: see them at all during quarantine? I was with my 51 00:03:43,596 --> 00:03:48,636 Speaker 1: mother and father during the beginning the first six months 52 00:03:48,636 --> 00:03:52,876 Speaker 1: of quarantine, which was great. It was It was really 53 00:03:52,996 --> 00:03:54,996 Speaker 1: nice to be able to be with them. One of 54 00:03:55,036 --> 00:03:59,396 Speaker 1: the greatest pains in my life before the pandemic was 55 00:03:59,956 --> 00:04:03,676 Speaker 1: the fact that we my father and I had separate schedules, 56 00:04:03,676 --> 00:04:06,916 Speaker 1: and so, you know, him being in his later years, 57 00:04:06,956 --> 00:04:08,796 Speaker 1: I want to spend as much time with him as 58 00:04:08,796 --> 00:04:12,476 Speaker 1: I can, and my work was taking me away from him, which, 59 00:04:12,796 --> 00:04:17,116 Speaker 1: even though I knew that he was proud and happy 60 00:04:17,156 --> 00:04:19,276 Speaker 1: that I'm out doing my own thing and on the road, 61 00:04:19,676 --> 00:04:23,316 Speaker 1: I felt pained not to be with him as much 62 00:04:23,316 --> 00:04:26,996 Speaker 1: as possible, and so when when the pandemic hit, we 63 00:04:27,116 --> 00:04:28,916 Speaker 1: just happened to be in the same place and I 64 00:04:28,956 --> 00:04:34,036 Speaker 1: couldn't leave anywhere anyway, So we got quarantined together, and 65 00:04:34,116 --> 00:04:36,836 Speaker 1: it was the greatest five or six months I'd ever 66 00:04:36,876 --> 00:04:40,556 Speaker 1: spent with them. Now, I mean most people I've been 67 00:04:40,596 --> 00:04:43,956 Speaker 1: away from my family. Your father, as you mentioned, is 68 00:04:44,036 --> 00:04:47,836 Speaker 1: he's I think eighty eight. Now, you did a very 69 00:04:47,916 --> 00:04:51,716 Speaker 1: lovely version online of Hello in there when John Prime 70 00:04:51,796 --> 00:04:54,196 Speaker 1: first got sick, and of course very sadly he died 71 00:04:54,236 --> 00:04:58,196 Speaker 1: of COVID. Yeah, was your family okay through all this? Well? Yes, 72 00:04:58,756 --> 00:05:02,596 Speaker 1: I mean we were. We were relatively fine. Absolutely. I 73 00:05:02,636 --> 00:05:04,756 Speaker 1: think that you know, when you look at how many 74 00:05:04,796 --> 00:05:07,676 Speaker 1: people were suffering, I mean we were just sitting up 75 00:05:07,676 --> 00:05:10,676 Speaker 1: on a hill in Austin, you know, with horses and 76 00:05:11,716 --> 00:05:15,396 Speaker 1: eating food together and having family dinners and you know, 77 00:05:15,556 --> 00:05:18,156 Speaker 1: things that we hadn't done in years, and so I 78 00:05:18,196 --> 00:05:21,436 Speaker 1: suppose we were very grateful. I mean there were challenges, 79 00:05:21,556 --> 00:05:26,316 Speaker 1: especially challenges and in living together after so long, you know, 80 00:05:26,396 --> 00:05:30,116 Speaker 1: some childhood things came up, and you know, there's a 81 00:05:30,156 --> 00:05:32,596 Speaker 1: funny there's a famous quote, and I can't remember who 82 00:05:32,596 --> 00:05:36,916 Speaker 1: said it? Could have been Ramdas or or or Rinpoche, 83 00:05:37,236 --> 00:05:41,516 Speaker 1: one of these these famous Buddhist monks. They say, if 84 00:05:41,556 --> 00:05:47,116 Speaker 1: you think you're enlightened, spend a week with your parents. 85 00:05:47,916 --> 00:05:51,556 Speaker 1: And I, you know, I can't stress enough. A lot 86 00:05:51,596 --> 00:05:53,636 Speaker 1: of us, I was having a conversation the other day, 87 00:05:53,636 --> 00:05:56,716 Speaker 1: a lot of us really feel like as adults, we've 88 00:05:56,956 --> 00:06:01,476 Speaker 1: sort of become well, hopefully those of us that feel 89 00:06:01,516 --> 00:06:05,316 Speaker 1: this way feel that we've become the most peaceful version 90 00:06:05,356 --> 00:06:09,116 Speaker 1: of ourselves, and you know, our ability to let things slide, 91 00:06:09,556 --> 00:06:11,276 Speaker 1: you know, at least for me, I feel like in 92 00:06:11,676 --> 00:06:16,556 Speaker 1: my entire life, the most challenging experiences have been when 93 00:06:16,556 --> 00:06:20,396 Speaker 1: I've been forced to spend them all that time with 94 00:06:21,596 --> 00:06:24,116 Speaker 1: the people who've been able to trigger the darkest parts 95 00:06:24,116 --> 00:06:27,716 Speaker 1: of my personality. And so it really is a great, 96 00:06:27,996 --> 00:06:31,836 Speaker 1: a great lesson and test in mastering oneself in order 97 00:06:32,156 --> 00:06:34,236 Speaker 1: when you're spending time with people who know how to 98 00:06:34,276 --> 00:06:36,756 Speaker 1: press your buttons and who you know how to press 99 00:06:36,796 --> 00:06:40,156 Speaker 1: their buttons, and so to to not to not say 100 00:06:40,196 --> 00:06:42,796 Speaker 1: the wrong thing that will set them off, you know, 101 00:06:43,156 --> 00:06:46,036 Speaker 1: And I don't I don't know anybody who hasn't experienced 102 00:06:46,076 --> 00:06:50,676 Speaker 1: that at this you know, even at very enlightened levels. 103 00:06:50,916 --> 00:06:53,476 Speaker 1: You know, I think that we're all in that same 104 00:06:53,516 --> 00:06:57,076 Speaker 1: boat together. Even the Dalai Lama probably gets annoyed at 105 00:06:57,076 --> 00:06:59,596 Speaker 1: some point, you know, but then he's able to he's 106 00:06:59,596 --> 00:07:02,476 Speaker 1: got the tools to not let that show or not 107 00:07:02,556 --> 00:07:07,876 Speaker 1: let that affect how he responds. The difference between reacting 108 00:07:07,916 --> 00:07:11,836 Speaker 1: to something and then responding is that one is sort 109 00:07:11,876 --> 00:07:16,916 Speaker 1: of unconscious reaction and the other is conscious response. And 110 00:07:16,956 --> 00:07:20,756 Speaker 1: so that that lesson has been great, and I think 111 00:07:20,756 --> 00:07:23,196 Speaker 1: I've learned how to do that a lot better. These days. 112 00:07:23,476 --> 00:07:26,716 Speaker 1: I have to ask, what would trigger your family? When 113 00:07:26,756 --> 00:07:30,716 Speaker 1: you're at home? What would you do to trigger your family? Oh? 114 00:07:30,716 --> 00:07:34,196 Speaker 1: My goodness, Oh, there's so many triggers that we have. Um, 115 00:07:34,516 --> 00:07:37,876 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, we're we're all flawed human beings. 116 00:07:38,036 --> 00:07:41,396 Speaker 1: You know, we've we've got we've got these cracks in 117 00:07:41,516 --> 00:07:44,876 Speaker 1: us that but they remind me of the cracks in 118 00:07:44,996 --> 00:07:48,156 Speaker 1: the bulls in Japan where they filled the cracks up 119 00:07:48,196 --> 00:07:52,076 Speaker 1: with gold, you know, because there is no imperfection. Really, 120 00:07:52,196 --> 00:07:55,116 Speaker 1: it's all perfect. But you know, we have tempers. I mean, 121 00:07:55,156 --> 00:07:58,636 Speaker 1: the Nelson, the Nelson family has has never been accused 122 00:07:58,676 --> 00:08:04,356 Speaker 1: of being impassionate. We are very passionate people. Uh, we 123 00:08:04,356 --> 00:08:09,876 Speaker 1: we have strong opinions about things, and we have a 124 00:08:10,076 --> 00:08:14,356 Speaker 1: difficulty not expressing those opinions. I'll commit the question one 125 00:08:14,396 --> 00:08:18,476 Speaker 1: other way, and it reminds me. You're in Texas, where 126 00:08:18,476 --> 00:08:20,956 Speaker 1: I guess trigger should be left for that should be 127 00:08:20,956 --> 00:08:22,876 Speaker 1: the name of a horse, not something people do to 128 00:08:22,876 --> 00:08:25,996 Speaker 1: each triggers the name of my dad's guitar. That's right. 129 00:08:26,076 --> 00:08:29,196 Speaker 1: It is completely forgotten that, all right, I am wondering, 130 00:08:29,236 --> 00:08:31,636 Speaker 1: and it can, especially if it was in a musical opinion. 131 00:08:31,716 --> 00:08:33,996 Speaker 1: Oh no, you know, none of that. No, you guys 132 00:08:34,036 --> 00:08:36,196 Speaker 1: don't argue about music, and we don't argue about music, 133 00:08:36,316 --> 00:08:41,596 Speaker 1: and I don't really argue much. It's oftentimes small things 134 00:08:41,756 --> 00:08:45,476 Speaker 1: like you know, when you're when you're stuck, you know, 135 00:08:45,516 --> 00:08:49,636 Speaker 1: in a room together, and you know, maybe someone feels 136 00:08:50,036 --> 00:08:53,076 Speaker 1: unappreciated for the work they've been doing or pulling their 137 00:08:53,076 --> 00:08:56,276 Speaker 1: weight in the family, you know, and then you know, 138 00:08:56,396 --> 00:08:59,836 Speaker 1: somebody says something and it triggers something else. But listen, 139 00:09:00,076 --> 00:09:04,596 Speaker 1: all of these things are universal. They're not unique to 140 00:09:04,636 --> 00:09:09,076 Speaker 1: my family. No, I know, because you're describing my family. Yeah, exactly. 141 00:09:09,476 --> 00:09:11,516 Speaker 1: You know, we may have different views. You know. I 142 00:09:11,796 --> 00:09:14,596 Speaker 1: don't like to watch the news. Then they they like 143 00:09:14,716 --> 00:09:18,716 Speaker 1: to have that news on twenty four to seven. So I, 144 00:09:18,796 --> 00:09:20,436 Speaker 1: you know, for me, I don't like to you know, 145 00:09:20,516 --> 00:09:23,196 Speaker 1: walk into a room and I'm all, I'm just like 146 00:09:23,356 --> 00:09:26,036 Speaker 1: boom right there, it's in my face all these headlines 147 00:09:26,036 --> 00:09:28,116 Speaker 1: and you know, and for me, I just you know, 148 00:09:28,236 --> 00:09:31,876 Speaker 1: I prefer to get my information very quickly. I get 149 00:09:31,876 --> 00:09:34,596 Speaker 1: notifications on my phone, I see the general headlines, and 150 00:09:34,636 --> 00:09:37,036 Speaker 1: I turn it off. But you know, for some reason, 151 00:09:37,356 --> 00:09:41,476 Speaker 1: that generation, my father's generation, my parents' generation, they love 152 00:09:41,596 --> 00:09:44,556 Speaker 1: to just have the news on. And I, you know, 153 00:09:44,636 --> 00:09:46,796 Speaker 1: twenty four to seven, I wrote a song called turn 154 00:09:46,876 --> 00:09:49,276 Speaker 1: off the News and build a Garden, and that was 155 00:09:49,956 --> 00:09:52,556 Speaker 1: so you know, we have differences in there, and and 156 00:09:52,556 --> 00:09:55,236 Speaker 1: that's okay. You know, you know, it's their house. At 157 00:09:55,276 --> 00:09:57,916 Speaker 1: that point, I was staying at their house, so you know, 158 00:09:57,996 --> 00:10:00,676 Speaker 1: I can't complain when I when it's you know, on 159 00:10:00,716 --> 00:10:05,396 Speaker 1: every TV. Well, despite what you're describing, Yeah, there's a 160 00:10:05,396 --> 00:10:07,676 Speaker 1: couple of things that struck me about this album. It's 161 00:10:07,676 --> 00:10:12,076 Speaker 1: a very very full albums. Togetherness may have been tough 162 00:10:12,156 --> 00:10:15,796 Speaker 1: at points, but it's very much an album about togetherness. 163 00:10:16,196 --> 00:10:18,036 Speaker 1: Do you see it that way? Oh? I do? And 164 00:10:19,276 --> 00:10:25,156 Speaker 1: after a couple months of rediscovering the tools to live 165 00:10:25,196 --> 00:10:28,556 Speaker 1: with each other. You know, we've been gone, We've been 166 00:10:28,596 --> 00:10:30,796 Speaker 1: we hadn't been with each other. We'd been sort of 167 00:10:31,316 --> 00:10:33,956 Speaker 1: in and out of contact and talking all the time, 168 00:10:33,996 --> 00:10:38,116 Speaker 1: but really spending time together. We hadn't done that a lot. 169 00:10:38,436 --> 00:10:41,756 Speaker 1: And so once we did, once we sat down, once 170 00:10:41,836 --> 00:10:48,596 Speaker 1: we started hanging and I've rediscovered these beautiful people that 171 00:10:48,676 --> 00:10:53,156 Speaker 1: were my parents, I felt so grateful and hopeful, and 172 00:10:53,236 --> 00:10:58,076 Speaker 1: it gave me a stronger sense of peace than I'd 173 00:10:58,076 --> 00:11:01,636 Speaker 1: ever had a stronger sense of contentment, of being comfortable 174 00:11:01,636 --> 00:11:05,076 Speaker 1: in my own skin, of security, because you know, the 175 00:11:05,156 --> 00:11:08,876 Speaker 1: insecurities that you carry with you from the relationship with 176 00:11:08,916 --> 00:11:12,756 Speaker 1: your parents throughout life are very strong, and if you're 177 00:11:12,836 --> 00:11:16,956 Speaker 1: lucky enough to be able to sort of confront those 178 00:11:16,996 --> 00:11:21,196 Speaker 1: insecurities firsthand with the tools that I mean, I had 179 00:11:21,276 --> 00:11:25,716 Speaker 1: learned how to do meditation, and I'd learned the tools 180 00:11:25,796 --> 00:11:28,876 Speaker 1: that you need in order to respond and not react. 181 00:11:29,236 --> 00:11:32,836 Speaker 1: And so even though I failed many times, towards the 182 00:11:32,956 --> 00:11:35,636 Speaker 1: end of that period of time where I was stuck 183 00:11:35,676 --> 00:11:38,716 Speaker 1: with them, we were really getting along and we worked 184 00:11:38,716 --> 00:11:40,356 Speaker 1: through a lot of stuff, and it was really a 185 00:11:40,796 --> 00:11:44,116 Speaker 1: necessary time for all of us. Well, you're giving hope 186 00:11:44,156 --> 00:11:46,596 Speaker 1: to an entire country that's coming out of COVID. I 187 00:11:46,636 --> 00:11:51,596 Speaker 1: hope you know that. Well, listen, what better gift could 188 00:11:51,596 --> 00:11:54,556 Speaker 1: one hope to give? Well? You are. One of the 189 00:11:54,556 --> 00:11:57,396 Speaker 1: gifts on this album is will Be all Right, which 190 00:11:57,436 --> 00:12:01,716 Speaker 1: is the first song. Was that written with anybody in mind? 191 00:12:02,276 --> 00:12:05,596 Speaker 1: That was written with everybody in mind, that was written 192 00:12:05,716 --> 00:12:08,476 Speaker 1: with the whole world in mind. It's a pretty heavy 193 00:12:08,476 --> 00:12:12,036 Speaker 1: song in some ways because it's you know, talks about 194 00:12:12,156 --> 00:12:18,356 Speaker 1: empires falling and understanding that everything's impermanent, but you know 195 00:12:18,436 --> 00:12:21,236 Speaker 1: through it all through the world. I write a lot 196 00:12:21,276 --> 00:12:25,556 Speaker 1: about sort of the outside world collapsing and yet love being, 197 00:12:26,756 --> 00:12:31,036 Speaker 1: love being what keeps us strong through that. I would 198 00:12:31,036 --> 00:12:35,716 Speaker 1: say that I'm a classic liberal, classical liberal, uh not 199 00:12:36,156 --> 00:12:38,876 Speaker 1: a not a neoliberal, but a classical liberal, in which 200 00:12:38,916 --> 00:12:43,236 Speaker 1: I really believe in the strength of individuals, knowing that 201 00:12:43,316 --> 00:12:48,276 Speaker 1: things around will be at times very very very difficult, 202 00:12:48,676 --> 00:12:52,836 Speaker 1: and so giving people the tools. Instead of saying, you know, 203 00:12:52,956 --> 00:12:57,756 Speaker 1: let's let's eradicate bullying from the world, maybe instead say 204 00:12:57,876 --> 00:13:02,276 Speaker 1: let's learn how to not let bullying affect you. You know, 205 00:13:02,396 --> 00:13:05,796 Speaker 1: let's learn how to take people's words and let them 206 00:13:05,836 --> 00:13:09,196 Speaker 1: slide off and not really let them affect you, you know, 207 00:13:09,396 --> 00:13:12,636 Speaker 1: spilled the strength from within so that we learned to 208 00:13:12,676 --> 00:13:17,516 Speaker 1: be strong people instead of relying on or trying to 209 00:13:17,556 --> 00:13:21,916 Speaker 1: just say, well, let's eradicate negativity or let's let's take 210 00:13:21,956 --> 00:13:24,556 Speaker 1: this bad thing. And because you're never going to do that, 211 00:13:24,556 --> 00:13:26,556 Speaker 1: there's always going to be a new thing that pops up. 212 00:13:26,876 --> 00:13:30,316 Speaker 1: So rather than campaigns against the thing itself, maybe the 213 00:13:30,316 --> 00:13:34,676 Speaker 1: thing should be learned how to deal with inside. And 214 00:13:34,756 --> 00:13:37,716 Speaker 1: that's sort of a theme that I think recurs in 215 00:13:38,316 --> 00:14:05,796 Speaker 1: a lot of my songs. You are the image of 216 00:14:06,036 --> 00:14:26,876 Speaker 1: love encased in this moll moment, suspendedible, and we can 217 00:14:26,916 --> 00:14:41,516 Speaker 1: hold on through struggle and strike despite all the darkness. 218 00:14:45,676 --> 00:15:02,996 Speaker 1: We'll be all right. Solved as the river flows, bowl 219 00:15:06,796 --> 00:15:22,676 Speaker 1: in water is silence delivers the goal. You can jump 220 00:15:22,796 --> 00:15:41,596 Speaker 1: in any time. Just see you're ready, I'll say, your mind, 221 00:15:46,036 --> 00:15:57,676 Speaker 1: and we will be all right. If we land on, 222 00:16:00,516 --> 00:16:13,476 Speaker 1: our love will guide us where we belong. Oh, and 223 00:16:13,676 --> 00:16:37,356 Speaker 1: empires will fall and everything don't work. Theyly we'll be 224 00:16:37,556 --> 00:16:47,996 Speaker 1: all right. That's will be all right From Lucas Nelson 225 00:16:48,036 --> 00:16:50,876 Speaker 1: and promise of the reels new album A few Stars apart, 226 00:16:51,436 --> 00:16:53,956 Speaker 1: We'll be right back with more from Lucas Nelson. After 227 00:16:53,996 --> 00:17:01,316 Speaker 1: a quick break, we're back with more from Lucas Nelson 228 00:17:01,516 --> 00:17:06,596 Speaker 1: and Bruce Headler. Your father had a difficult relationship with 229 00:17:06,676 --> 00:17:09,516 Speaker 1: Nashville when he was a songwriter there, Sure, and he 230 00:17:09,716 --> 00:17:13,636 Speaker 1: returned to Texas. Some of you, some of your experiences 231 00:17:13,836 --> 00:17:16,476 Speaker 1: remind me a bit of Rosanne Cash, whom we've interviewed, 232 00:17:16,516 --> 00:17:20,756 Speaker 1: whose father also had a difficult time with Nashville, sure 233 00:17:21,636 --> 00:17:25,036 Speaker 1: and didn't want to be there. What's it like for 234 00:17:25,076 --> 00:17:27,916 Speaker 1: you to go to Nashville, which is not just a city, 235 00:17:28,596 --> 00:17:32,876 Speaker 1: not just a place with great studios and great great musicians, 236 00:17:33,716 --> 00:17:37,476 Speaker 1: but a kind of industry that represents a certain way 237 00:17:37,476 --> 00:17:41,996 Speaker 1: of thinking about country music. I think Nashville has changed 238 00:17:42,076 --> 00:17:45,916 Speaker 1: quite a lot since those times, especially in that there's 239 00:17:45,956 --> 00:17:49,956 Speaker 1: a lot of quality music coming out of Nashville now, 240 00:17:50,476 --> 00:17:53,916 Speaker 1: separate from what the radio stuff is, you know, separate 241 00:17:53,956 --> 00:17:58,116 Speaker 1: from what the new country you know that comes out. 242 00:17:58,676 --> 00:18:03,076 Speaker 1: There's really good stuff coming out of Nashville. But there's 243 00:18:03,276 --> 00:18:05,956 Speaker 1: there's great stuff coming all over the place now because 244 00:18:05,996 --> 00:18:07,956 Speaker 1: we have the Internet and we don't need to be 245 00:18:07,996 --> 00:18:11,236 Speaker 1: in a specific spot really to you know, there is 246 00:18:11,316 --> 00:18:16,796 Speaker 1: no hub but Nashville itself has an energy and going 247 00:18:16,836 --> 00:18:21,156 Speaker 1: there it can help inspire I think good music to come. 248 00:18:21,836 --> 00:18:25,476 Speaker 1: But and the level of musicianship that is condensed into 249 00:18:25,596 --> 00:18:28,396 Speaker 1: Nashville is incredible. Some of the best musicians in the 250 00:18:28,436 --> 00:18:31,316 Speaker 1: whole world. It's sort of one of the last places 251 00:18:31,756 --> 00:18:37,436 Speaker 1: where people really appreciate musical talent in terms of proficiency 252 00:18:37,436 --> 00:18:41,116 Speaker 1: at an instrument and not like proficiency at you know, programming. 253 00:18:41,396 --> 00:18:44,516 Speaker 1: And speaking of which, you did this whole album on analog. 254 00:18:44,676 --> 00:18:47,396 Speaker 1: You did it on tape, didn't you? We did, yes, yeah, 255 00:18:47,476 --> 00:18:50,156 Speaker 1: did you edit it digitally but just recorded on tape 256 00:18:50,316 --> 00:18:52,836 Speaker 1: or well, we didn't do much editing at all. It 257 00:18:52,916 --> 00:18:55,876 Speaker 1: was all live for the most part. There were hardly 258 00:18:55,916 --> 00:18:58,716 Speaker 1: any overdubs, I don't think. And it's funny because you know, 259 00:18:58,996 --> 00:19:02,636 Speaker 1: people don't really know that, they don't notice that because 260 00:19:02,676 --> 00:19:05,436 Speaker 1: everything has been edited that they listened to to the 261 00:19:05,476 --> 00:19:08,316 Speaker 1: most part for the most part. So a lot of 262 00:19:08,356 --> 00:19:11,996 Speaker 1: times people think that our music is really slick, when 263 00:19:12,036 --> 00:19:15,236 Speaker 1: at the same time, it's just that, you know, this 264 00:19:15,316 --> 00:19:18,916 Speaker 1: band is really really good. They're really good, and so 265 00:19:18,996 --> 00:19:20,996 Speaker 1: they sound like it's been It sounds like it's been 266 00:19:20,996 --> 00:19:23,676 Speaker 1: produced and edited or whatever, but it is. It isn't. 267 00:19:24,836 --> 00:19:27,036 Speaker 1: It hasn't. And these guys are just good and they're 268 00:19:27,076 --> 00:19:30,036 Speaker 1: good musicians, and so I'm proud of them for that. Yeah, 269 00:19:30,076 --> 00:19:31,996 Speaker 1: there's not a lot of auto tune on your voice. 270 00:19:31,996 --> 00:19:36,196 Speaker 1: I noticed. I wish I could sing better and tune, 271 00:19:36,276 --> 00:19:38,756 Speaker 1: but you know, I try. I've heard that you don't 272 00:19:38,796 --> 00:19:41,516 Speaker 1: like your own voice. Is that true. It's not that 273 00:19:41,556 --> 00:19:44,116 Speaker 1: I don't like it, It's just that I'm it's a 274 00:19:44,436 --> 00:19:47,436 Speaker 1: work in progress. I mean to say, I actually liked 275 00:19:47,476 --> 00:19:50,676 Speaker 1: my voice. But I can hit any note. You know. 276 00:19:50,716 --> 00:19:52,996 Speaker 1: I can hit high notes, I can hit low notes. 277 00:19:53,796 --> 00:19:58,196 Speaker 1: It's just a different sound, a different timbre, and but 278 00:19:58,236 --> 00:20:01,436 Speaker 1: it's getting more character to it as time goes by, 279 00:20:01,636 --> 00:20:04,876 Speaker 1: as I go through more things in life, and it 280 00:20:04,916 --> 00:20:08,596 Speaker 1: gets a little more weathered, and so you know, I'm 281 00:20:08,636 --> 00:20:11,996 Speaker 1: I'm trying not to judge it yet. I think your 282 00:20:11,996 --> 00:20:14,396 Speaker 1: mother said that she thought you'd found your voice on 283 00:20:14,476 --> 00:20:17,516 Speaker 1: this record. Yeah, what do you think she meant? There's 284 00:20:17,556 --> 00:20:20,156 Speaker 1: certain songs where I'm actually really happy with the sound 285 00:20:20,156 --> 00:20:23,716 Speaker 1: of my voice. She said that specifically regarding a song 286 00:20:23,756 --> 00:20:26,756 Speaker 1: called Throwing Away Your Love, which is sort of a 287 00:20:26,836 --> 00:20:30,756 Speaker 1: more conversational sort of tam or as a lower register 288 00:20:30,876 --> 00:20:33,596 Speaker 1: of my voice, and I like that lower register that 289 00:20:33,676 --> 00:20:37,076 Speaker 1: a higher register. You know, I couldn't sing that lower 290 00:20:37,556 --> 00:20:40,716 Speaker 1: when I was when I was younger, but I'm able 291 00:20:40,756 --> 00:20:43,316 Speaker 1: to sing it now. You know, get a little lower 292 00:20:43,356 --> 00:20:45,276 Speaker 1: down there. Do you want to play a song for us? 293 00:20:45,276 --> 00:20:57,676 Speaker 1: And we'll keep talking after sure? Time wasted again and again, 294 00:20:58,836 --> 00:21:06,116 Speaker 1: criminal intentions. I sense a deeply rooted network of confusion 295 00:21:06,396 --> 00:21:12,916 Speaker 1: in my brain. My pain is so very elementary. I 296 00:21:12,996 --> 00:21:16,716 Speaker 1: think the child and me is banging on the wall 297 00:21:16,756 --> 00:21:21,476 Speaker 1: that separates me from the light on the other side. 298 00:21:22,556 --> 00:21:28,636 Speaker 1: And I'm trying to remember why I might have left 299 00:21:28,756 --> 00:21:38,516 Speaker 1: your love behind. Oh, and I like to testify me 300 00:21:38,676 --> 00:21:44,916 Speaker 1: half of my word mine for the crime of throwing 301 00:21:45,036 --> 00:21:53,796 Speaker 1: away your love, throwing away your love, throwing away your love, 302 00:21:55,556 --> 00:22:03,236 Speaker 1: throwing away your love. Exhibb it ain't, mama. I've got proof. 303 00:22:03,996 --> 00:22:07,156 Speaker 1: I have a lot of pretty memories I can show you. 304 00:22:07,276 --> 00:22:12,396 Speaker 1: Dust them off, fancy that you're the perfect girl for me. 305 00:22:12,716 --> 00:22:16,636 Speaker 1: But somehow he slipped away for reasons I can't see. 306 00:22:17,676 --> 00:22:21,596 Speaker 1: I'd like to boy ahead plead insanity. My mind is 307 00:22:21,796 --> 00:22:26,676 Speaker 1: not my friend. I think it wants me to be lonely, 308 00:22:27,196 --> 00:22:33,116 Speaker 1: and I'm trying to remember why I might have left 309 00:22:33,276 --> 00:22:42,796 Speaker 1: your love behind. Oh, and I'd like to testify on 310 00:22:42,956 --> 00:22:49,476 Speaker 1: the half of my mind for the crime of throwing 311 00:22:49,596 --> 00:22:58,396 Speaker 1: away your love, throwing away your love, throwing away your love, 312 00:23:00,116 --> 00:23:08,876 Speaker 1: throwing away your love in my life. Oh, the sit 313 00:23:08,956 --> 00:23:16,516 Speaker 1: you vision is beyond my control of you gone me too, 314 00:23:16,796 --> 00:23:24,036 Speaker 1: hundred thousable. I'd like to testify be have of my 315 00:23:24,356 --> 00:23:37,676 Speaker 1: word mind for the crime of throwing away lowe away, 316 00:23:40,196 --> 00:23:51,516 Speaker 1: throwing away your lie. That was fantastic. Thank you so much. 317 00:23:51,916 --> 00:23:55,036 Speaker 1: I'm gonna tell all our listeners now to run out 318 00:23:55,116 --> 00:23:57,356 Speaker 1: and listen to the album version because it's got a 319 00:23:57,516 --> 00:24:02,196 Speaker 1: very full it almost sounds like the band. Yeah, band 320 00:24:02,276 --> 00:24:05,316 Speaker 1: like that descending bass, and it feels like Rick Danko 321 00:24:05,436 --> 00:24:07,956 Speaker 1: singing it. And that's just such a different, wonderful version. 322 00:24:08,076 --> 00:24:10,236 Speaker 1: Thank you, Oh, thank you. Can you tell me about 323 00:24:10,276 --> 00:24:13,156 Speaker 1: writing that one? Yeah, that was one of the ones 324 00:24:13,196 --> 00:24:18,356 Speaker 1: that I wrote a while ago, and I just I 325 00:24:18,556 --> 00:24:21,316 Speaker 1: can't help but just feel like it was sort of 326 00:24:21,356 --> 00:24:24,196 Speaker 1: written like a band song. It's very like, you know, 327 00:24:24,596 --> 00:24:27,116 Speaker 1: I wanted to write a song it was that was 328 00:24:27,236 --> 00:24:30,436 Speaker 1: groovy but mellow and and and it is sort of 329 00:24:30,516 --> 00:24:33,036 Speaker 1: I think it's one of the more fun lyrical songs 330 00:24:33,116 --> 00:24:36,076 Speaker 1: I've written. I was having fun playing with words on 331 00:24:36,196 --> 00:24:38,956 Speaker 1: that song. You know. It just felt like I was 332 00:24:39,116 --> 00:24:43,076 Speaker 1: tangled up in my emotions, you know, and I was 333 00:24:43,196 --> 00:24:47,196 Speaker 1: sort of like trying to write about leaving this girl behind. 334 00:24:47,396 --> 00:24:50,916 Speaker 1: And maybe I was watching some law and order show 335 00:24:51,076 --> 00:24:53,516 Speaker 1: or something, or I felt like, you know, I was 336 00:24:53,636 --> 00:24:58,996 Speaker 1: using a bunch of legal terms. Yeah, and this album 337 00:24:59,236 --> 00:25:02,916 Speaker 1: is more for people who have followed you. It's a 338 00:25:02,996 --> 00:25:06,196 Speaker 1: more country album. You and your band are. You're a 339 00:25:06,316 --> 00:25:10,396 Speaker 1: kind of very heavy guitar driven California style band, but 340 00:25:10,516 --> 00:25:13,716 Speaker 1: this one feels a little more Austin to me. Yeah. 341 00:25:13,956 --> 00:25:17,556 Speaker 1: I don't know where that California style got thrown into 342 00:25:17,636 --> 00:25:20,756 Speaker 1: all those articles. I mean, you know, we we we did. 343 00:25:21,116 --> 00:25:24,556 Speaker 1: The first record was in Austin. We've actually only recorded 344 00:25:24,596 --> 00:25:28,236 Speaker 1: one record in California, or two records in California. But 345 00:25:28,636 --> 00:25:33,076 Speaker 1: most of the time I grew up listening to Austin, 346 00:25:33,236 --> 00:25:38,556 Speaker 1: Texas musicians and Seattle musicians. There's no there's no bands 347 00:25:38,596 --> 00:25:42,836 Speaker 1: that I was influenced really from California, unless you include 348 00:25:42,916 --> 00:25:45,916 Speaker 1: like Buck Owens or or you know, the sort of 349 00:25:45,956 --> 00:25:49,396 Speaker 1: the Bakersfield sound, Merle Haggard, that kind of thing, or 350 00:25:49,476 --> 00:25:52,516 Speaker 1: in Neil Neil Young. I guess supposedly, you know, made 351 00:25:52,596 --> 00:25:56,236 Speaker 1: his real sound down there in California. But we called 352 00:25:56,276 --> 00:25:59,996 Speaker 1: ourselves cowboy hippie surf rock when we started out, so 353 00:26:00,196 --> 00:26:03,396 Speaker 1: maybe California was just sort of grandfathered in. At that 354 00:26:03,516 --> 00:26:07,916 Speaker 1: point I mentioned you're from this storied musical family. Not 355 00:26:08,036 --> 00:26:10,556 Speaker 1: only you grew up in your musical family, you joined 356 00:26:10,596 --> 00:26:14,436 Speaker 1: the family band pretty early, didn't you. Yeah, I started 357 00:26:14,516 --> 00:26:18,716 Speaker 1: playing when I was thirteen fourteen in the band. How 358 00:26:18,796 --> 00:26:21,516 Speaker 1: long have you been playing? By that point a few years. 359 00:26:22,156 --> 00:26:26,796 Speaker 1: I really got proficient, at least good enough to hang 360 00:26:27,236 --> 00:26:30,756 Speaker 1: By the third year I was playing. Because I spent 361 00:26:30,836 --> 00:26:33,436 Speaker 1: hours and hours and hours and hours and hours playing, 362 00:26:33,476 --> 00:26:36,756 Speaker 1: I didn't stop. I wanted to be an Olympic athlete 363 00:26:36,796 --> 00:26:38,676 Speaker 1: when I was a young kid. I wanted to be 364 00:26:38,916 --> 00:26:43,996 Speaker 1: a swimmer, and I knew what it took, and I 365 00:26:44,116 --> 00:26:47,356 Speaker 1: wanted to give that same amount of focus and attention 366 00:26:47,436 --> 00:26:50,916 Speaker 1: and practice to music. To stand out as someone who 367 00:26:51,236 --> 00:26:54,356 Speaker 1: definitely made their life about music, to stand out as 368 00:26:54,476 --> 00:26:59,116 Speaker 1: someone who loves music and embodies music and isn't just 369 00:26:59,636 --> 00:27:04,076 Speaker 1: writing on coat tails or something, you know. I feel 370 00:27:04,076 --> 00:27:06,316 Speaker 1: like I had a little something extra to proof and 371 00:27:06,596 --> 00:27:10,236 Speaker 1: to myself as well as to others, but mostly did 372 00:27:10,396 --> 00:27:13,916 Speaker 1: myself that I was okay on my own and that 373 00:27:14,356 --> 00:27:18,676 Speaker 1: if my father hadn't been famous, I would still be 374 00:27:18,876 --> 00:27:22,716 Speaker 1: capable of putting in the effort required and working hard 375 00:27:22,876 --> 00:27:26,676 Speaker 1: enough to stand and be heard. No matter what what 376 00:27:26,796 --> 00:27:30,436 Speaker 1: happened to Swimming Well, I got distracted by music. At 377 00:27:30,436 --> 00:27:33,556 Speaker 1: a certain point. I started putting more into music than 378 00:27:33,636 --> 00:27:36,796 Speaker 1: I did to swimming. Music has taken me all over 379 00:27:36,876 --> 00:27:42,796 Speaker 1: the world. Music has taken me to loves in my life. 380 00:27:42,876 --> 00:27:47,196 Speaker 1: It's given me confidence, It's given me strength. If there 381 00:27:47,356 --> 00:27:49,556 Speaker 1: is a God, I think God is music, you know. 382 00:27:50,396 --> 00:27:53,396 Speaker 1: So when did the songwriting start for you? When I 383 00:27:53,556 --> 00:27:56,156 Speaker 1: was eleven years old, I wrote a song called You 384 00:27:56,276 --> 00:28:00,076 Speaker 1: Were It, and my dad liked it so much he 385 00:28:00,156 --> 00:28:03,156 Speaker 1: put it on his record It Always Will be At 386 00:28:03,196 --> 00:28:06,836 Speaker 1: the time, I was probably about eleven years old when 387 00:28:06,916 --> 00:28:11,556 Speaker 1: that happened. So you're eleven you start to get royalty 388 00:28:11,676 --> 00:28:13,796 Speaker 1: checks from one of your dad's albums. I have a 389 00:28:13,836 --> 00:28:17,196 Speaker 1: funny story about that too, because when I was older, 390 00:28:18,036 --> 00:28:22,996 Speaker 1: I was living in California. I went to Well. I 391 00:28:23,076 --> 00:28:26,876 Speaker 1: went to Loyal and Merrymount University. Briefly I dropped out, 392 00:28:26,996 --> 00:28:29,516 Speaker 1: but as I went after I dropped out. I was 393 00:28:29,596 --> 00:28:34,716 Speaker 1: paying rent at this place in Venice, California, and month 394 00:28:34,796 --> 00:28:37,356 Speaker 1: to month it was kind of difficult. I was going 395 00:28:37,436 --> 00:28:40,076 Speaker 1: on the road and making money, but there there were 396 00:28:40,196 --> 00:28:44,116 Speaker 1: times where I was not almost going to make my rent. 397 00:28:44,196 --> 00:28:47,436 Speaker 1: And I remember one day the day of the rent 398 00:28:47,556 --> 00:28:51,156 Speaker 1: came due and I didn't have the money. I didn't 399 00:28:51,156 --> 00:28:54,516 Speaker 1: have hardly any money at that point. I'm not sure 400 00:28:54,516 --> 00:28:58,396 Speaker 1: if anybody realizes, but I'd never take money from my parents. 401 00:28:58,516 --> 00:29:01,196 Speaker 1: I just I'm just kind of I don't know. I 402 00:29:01,316 --> 00:29:05,276 Speaker 1: forced myself to separate from that because I again, it 403 00:29:05,436 --> 00:29:08,676 Speaker 1: was my own thing, so I couldn't pay the rent. 404 00:29:08,716 --> 00:29:12,156 Speaker 1: And I was driving down the PC and something just 405 00:29:12,316 --> 00:29:15,396 Speaker 1: came over me, like, Okay, I'm gonna be okay no 406 00:29:15,556 --> 00:29:18,516 Speaker 1: matter what. I'm just gonna trust you know that life 407 00:29:18,676 --> 00:29:22,796 Speaker 1: is life is going to be okay. And I got 408 00:29:22,916 --> 00:29:24,956 Speaker 1: a call. As soon as I had that thought, I 409 00:29:25,076 --> 00:29:28,076 Speaker 1: got a call and it was that I had a 410 00:29:28,156 --> 00:29:31,396 Speaker 1: package at FedEx, and so I drove to FedEx and 411 00:29:31,516 --> 00:29:33,356 Speaker 1: I opened up the package and it was a check 412 00:29:34,036 --> 00:29:38,716 Speaker 1: from writing that song for exactly what was due or 413 00:29:38,836 --> 00:29:44,276 Speaker 1: my rent, the exact to the dollar amount. And I said, wow, 414 00:29:44,876 --> 00:29:46,876 Speaker 1: you know, and that point. At that point on I 415 00:29:46,996 --> 00:29:48,876 Speaker 1: just started. I just sort of said, you know what, 416 00:29:49,036 --> 00:29:52,916 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna keep trusting that is fantastic story. Yeah, 417 00:29:52,916 --> 00:29:54,996 Speaker 1: I'll play that song. Let's see if I can remember it. 418 00:30:02,196 --> 00:30:10,276 Speaker 1: You were it, the one, the only one one who 419 00:30:10,716 --> 00:30:22,476 Speaker 1: onderstood it all when we fought out loud. You be 420 00:30:23,436 --> 00:30:32,876 Speaker 1: the one who made me feel so small. You could kill, 421 00:30:34,236 --> 00:30:43,036 Speaker 1: you could hurt and bring out the worst inveryone you, 422 00:30:46,636 --> 00:30:55,236 Speaker 1: but no one could ever bring the worst out of you. 423 00:30:59,876 --> 00:31:14,316 Speaker 1: But now I'm fine. All the pain is gone. I 424 00:31:15,076 --> 00:31:31,556 Speaker 1: once had a heart. Now I have a song that 425 00:31:31,756 --> 00:31:35,916 Speaker 1: was fantastic. Thank you. That's pretty heavy for eleven year old. 426 00:31:36,276 --> 00:31:38,876 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, I was a pretty heavy eleven year old 427 00:31:38,916 --> 00:31:43,836 Speaker 1: for sure. We'll be back after a quick break with 428 00:31:44,036 --> 00:31:51,116 Speaker 1: more from Lucas Nelson and Bruce Hedler. We're back with 429 00:31:51,196 --> 00:31:54,876 Speaker 1: the rest of Bruce's conversation with Lucas Nelson. Tell me 430 00:31:54,916 --> 00:31:58,116 Speaker 1: about meeting Bradley Cooper and how your work on A 431 00:31:58,196 --> 00:32:01,836 Speaker 1: Star Is Born came around. Well. At first, I was 432 00:32:01,956 --> 00:32:05,076 Speaker 1: hired because he saw us that desert trip with Neil 433 00:32:05,156 --> 00:32:08,876 Speaker 1: and he's a huge Neil fan, and he hired me 434 00:32:08,956 --> 00:32:14,876 Speaker 1: to be an authenticity consultant. He wanted to basically, uh, 435 00:32:15,236 --> 00:32:17,396 Speaker 1: he wanted he wanted me to let him know what 436 00:32:17,596 --> 00:32:20,356 Speaker 1: looked authentic on stage and how to be you know, 437 00:32:21,196 --> 00:32:23,756 Speaker 1: a rock and roller on stage, and what kind of 438 00:32:23,796 --> 00:32:26,516 Speaker 1: guitars to use. And but we ended up singing. I 439 00:32:26,676 --> 00:32:29,876 Speaker 1: ended up having helping him sing, learned to sing, and 440 00:32:30,076 --> 00:32:34,436 Speaker 1: I ended up being the guitar and the music. And 441 00:32:34,836 --> 00:32:37,276 Speaker 1: I ended up bringing my band in and then writing 442 00:32:37,316 --> 00:32:42,196 Speaker 1: a bunch of songs with them, and producing U and 443 00:32:42,756 --> 00:32:45,236 Speaker 1: having brought the band in, and and and we you know, 444 00:32:45,716 --> 00:32:49,636 Speaker 1: I mean one of the great experiences were I mean 445 00:32:49,796 --> 00:32:53,756 Speaker 1: he was just sitting with him and watching his voice 446 00:32:53,796 --> 00:32:59,876 Speaker 1: progress and then having him you know, really get pretending 447 00:32:59,956 --> 00:33:04,836 Speaker 1: to play down pretty well. But but it was cool 448 00:33:04,916 --> 00:33:08,076 Speaker 1: seeing our music come off the big screen and you know, 449 00:33:08,796 --> 00:33:17,636 Speaker 1: here my lick, you know here. And so you know 450 00:33:17,796 --> 00:33:22,076 Speaker 1: that working with Stephanie with Gaga was great too. You know, 451 00:33:22,156 --> 00:33:25,036 Speaker 1: it gave us a lot of validation. I think as 452 00:33:25,116 --> 00:33:28,316 Speaker 1: musicians we felt like we're we could hang with with 453 00:33:29,476 --> 00:33:33,596 Speaker 1: with these you know, pop stars as well as we 454 00:33:33,636 --> 00:33:37,476 Speaker 1: could hang with you know, the legends. It was great. 455 00:33:37,716 --> 00:33:39,956 Speaker 1: What's it like to write with some of New N't 456 00:33:39,956 --> 00:33:41,996 Speaker 1: because he he did write some of the songs or 457 00:33:42,076 --> 00:33:43,876 Speaker 1: co wrote some of the songs. Yeah, we wrote black 458 00:33:43,956 --> 00:33:46,956 Speaker 1: Eyes together and a couple other ones. Yeah, he has 459 00:33:47,036 --> 00:33:51,156 Speaker 1: great ideas. He's really musical. And then Stephanie Lady Gaga. 460 00:33:51,356 --> 00:33:53,156 Speaker 1: You didn't have to teach her how to sing. She 461 00:33:53,316 --> 00:33:54,796 Speaker 1: was didn't have to teach her how to saying no, 462 00:33:55,436 --> 00:33:58,196 Speaker 1: she could sing her ass off, but you know she 463 00:33:58,516 --> 00:34:01,196 Speaker 1: you know, it was nice to h to have the 464 00:34:01,276 --> 00:34:04,556 Speaker 1: band in there, and she was a great producer, and 465 00:34:04,996 --> 00:34:08,036 Speaker 1: I'm glad that she chose to keep my version of 466 00:34:08,716 --> 00:34:11,756 Speaker 1: you know, the band's version of shallow pretty much you know, 467 00:34:11,876 --> 00:34:14,276 Speaker 1: on the record as well. It's a trip to hear 468 00:34:14,436 --> 00:34:18,796 Speaker 1: your guitar out there when all of these you know, 469 00:34:18,956 --> 00:34:21,756 Speaker 1: young kids are singing along to it and they don't 470 00:34:21,796 --> 00:34:24,316 Speaker 1: know that promise of the real is the band they're 471 00:34:24,356 --> 00:34:26,636 Speaker 1: singing too. You know, you know, one of the people 472 00:34:26,716 --> 00:34:28,756 Speaker 1: you've worked with a lot, and I want to talk 473 00:34:28,796 --> 00:34:31,276 Speaker 1: about different people in your life that have helped you, 474 00:34:31,756 --> 00:34:33,796 Speaker 1: but he's a good example of someone who has so 475 00:34:33,916 --> 00:34:36,756 Speaker 1: much material you're never sure when it's coming out. And 476 00:34:36,836 --> 00:34:40,396 Speaker 1: that's Neil Young. Yeah, you've been his backup band, you've 477 00:34:40,436 --> 00:34:43,756 Speaker 1: played with them, or can you tell me a bit 478 00:34:43,796 --> 00:34:46,596 Speaker 1: about how you guys first met and how that all 479 00:34:46,636 --> 00:34:50,276 Speaker 1: came about. Well, Neil and I had known each other 480 00:34:51,276 --> 00:34:55,196 Speaker 1: just peripherally because we did farm aide every year, but 481 00:34:55,356 --> 00:34:58,156 Speaker 1: I was always kind of you know, I'd never really 482 00:34:58,276 --> 00:35:02,596 Speaker 1: spoke to him until maybe I was sixteen, and I 483 00:35:02,716 --> 00:35:06,156 Speaker 1: wrote a song called American Dream, which I have I 484 00:35:06,236 --> 00:35:08,156 Speaker 1: have to go find that. I don't know where it went, 485 00:35:08,356 --> 00:35:11,396 Speaker 1: but it was like a farmer's song. And I wrote 486 00:35:11,476 --> 00:35:15,676 Speaker 1: that song and then I got the courage to to 487 00:35:15,956 --> 00:35:19,116 Speaker 1: go up and play it for him and uh, and 488 00:35:19,276 --> 00:35:21,996 Speaker 1: to play it for with my brother, and we went 489 00:35:22,036 --> 00:35:23,996 Speaker 1: and played it for him and he was like, oh, 490 00:35:24,116 --> 00:35:26,356 Speaker 1: that's great, sounds good. We were out by the buses 491 00:35:26,436 --> 00:35:28,636 Speaker 1: and farm Maide. I remember clear as day. That was 492 00:35:28,716 --> 00:35:32,596 Speaker 1: the first longer conversation that we had with him, and Uh, 493 00:35:33,036 --> 00:35:35,036 Speaker 1: I don't know. Part of me thinks that maybe he 494 00:35:35,236 --> 00:35:38,476 Speaker 1: was he was impressed that we had the courage to 495 00:35:38,556 --> 00:35:41,516 Speaker 1: come up and do that. And then so over time 496 00:35:41,556 --> 00:35:43,436 Speaker 1: I think he started to pay attention to what we 497 00:35:43,556 --> 00:35:46,876 Speaker 1: were doing. And Um, we covered one of his songs 498 00:35:47,116 --> 00:35:51,236 Speaker 1: at a farm Maide in two thousand and ten in Milwaukee, 499 00:35:52,396 --> 00:35:55,596 Speaker 1: covered a song we were doing a song called la 500 00:35:56,756 --> 00:36:03,476 Speaker 1: Uh it's like from a record that kind of didn't 501 00:36:03,516 --> 00:36:06,236 Speaker 1: come out, time fades away. It wasn't like, you know, 502 00:36:06,436 --> 00:36:08,836 Speaker 1: sort of if you're a die hard fan, you know it. 503 00:36:09,156 --> 00:36:13,516 Speaker 1: It h and he really liked it, and so he 504 00:36:13,636 --> 00:36:16,956 Speaker 1: came and said something after we played, said we did 505 00:36:16,996 --> 00:36:19,396 Speaker 1: a good job. And then then we just sort of 506 00:36:19,436 --> 00:36:22,036 Speaker 1: kept in touch his pen pals, and he started to 507 00:36:22,036 --> 00:36:25,596 Speaker 1: give me some feedback and ideas and over the years, 508 00:36:25,676 --> 00:36:28,356 Speaker 1: and then one day he invited us into the studio 509 00:36:28,596 --> 00:36:33,596 Speaker 1: to record and we did the Monsanto Years, which actually 510 00:36:33,676 --> 00:36:36,836 Speaker 1: aged quite well. I think, you know them having been 511 00:36:37,476 --> 00:36:41,116 Speaker 1: found guilty of a number of different things involving glyph 512 00:36:41,276 --> 00:36:45,756 Speaker 1: estates specifically, and so that that was our first foray 513 00:36:45,876 --> 00:36:48,196 Speaker 1: into into his world. And we ended up going on 514 00:36:48,276 --> 00:36:51,916 Speaker 1: the road extensively after that. And we still love him. 515 00:36:52,076 --> 00:36:55,796 Speaker 1: He's our great captain. So what is it like to 516 00:36:55,916 --> 00:36:59,636 Speaker 1: play on stage with him? It's like the fullest expression 517 00:36:59,716 --> 00:37:02,716 Speaker 1: of our dreams as as a children. I mean, when 518 00:37:02,756 --> 00:37:04,916 Speaker 1: I was a kid, I dreamed about playing rock and 519 00:37:05,036 --> 00:37:08,436 Speaker 1: roll like that on a stage for eighty thousand people. 520 00:37:08,556 --> 00:37:11,996 Speaker 1: I mean, your trip was quite quite an incredible show. 521 00:37:12,116 --> 00:37:15,356 Speaker 1: And you know, if I do say so myself, I 522 00:37:15,476 --> 00:37:18,436 Speaker 1: thought we'd made quite a statement on that show. A 523 00:37:18,516 --> 00:37:21,036 Speaker 1: lot of people saw that show and really loved it. 524 00:37:21,636 --> 00:37:24,396 Speaker 1: You know, he's this character who always seems a little 525 00:37:25,436 --> 00:37:27,476 Speaker 1: never out of control, but on the verge of being 526 00:37:27,516 --> 00:37:29,796 Speaker 1: out of control is Do you feel that way when 527 00:37:29,796 --> 00:37:32,676 Speaker 1: you're on stage with him? Yeah, but I relate to it. 528 00:37:33,156 --> 00:37:36,876 Speaker 1: We all sort of exhibit a sense of abandoned we're 529 00:37:36,956 --> 00:37:41,156 Speaker 1: out there. It's what we love about being on stage 530 00:37:41,196 --> 00:37:44,076 Speaker 1: with Neil because that's where your rock and roll spirit 531 00:37:44,156 --> 00:37:48,516 Speaker 1: can really shine. What about songwriting? Has he influenced you 532 00:37:48,636 --> 00:37:52,676 Speaker 1: in that way? Sure? Yeah, I mean in the same 533 00:37:52,756 --> 00:37:54,956 Speaker 1: way that my father has. You know, we wrote a 534 00:37:55,036 --> 00:37:59,356 Speaker 1: little bit together, and you know, he's got great feedback 535 00:37:59,436 --> 00:38:02,436 Speaker 1: on the music. And another guy you knew. I don't 536 00:38:02,476 --> 00:38:04,236 Speaker 1: know if you knew him growing up, but you've talked 537 00:38:04,236 --> 00:38:08,356 Speaker 1: about him in the past is Chris Christofferson. Oh yeah, yeah, 538 00:38:08,596 --> 00:38:11,956 Speaker 1: another one of the great songwriters of our generation, if 539 00:38:12,036 --> 00:38:14,956 Speaker 1: not ever. Yeah, you see the kind of guy you 540 00:38:15,076 --> 00:38:17,596 Speaker 1: ever went to and said, I've got this song was 541 00:38:17,636 --> 00:38:20,756 Speaker 1: inspired by something you did? Can I play it for you? Sure? 542 00:38:21,276 --> 00:38:25,476 Speaker 1: He was really a fan of art music. He is 543 00:38:25,636 --> 00:38:28,196 Speaker 1: a fan of art music. He's writing something you do 544 00:38:28,436 --> 00:38:30,996 Speaker 1: every day, or do you write just when it comes 545 00:38:31,196 --> 00:38:34,556 Speaker 1: all write often every other day, you know, I mean 546 00:38:34,596 --> 00:38:38,116 Speaker 1: there there it comes in bursts where like one week 547 00:38:38,196 --> 00:38:40,516 Speaker 1: I'll write eight songs or something. You know, I might 548 00:38:40,556 --> 00:38:42,956 Speaker 1: not write again for a month. But you know, that's 549 00:38:42,996 --> 00:38:44,996 Speaker 1: how it works. You never worry it's not going to 550 00:38:45,076 --> 00:38:47,516 Speaker 1: come back. You always no. And at this point, I 551 00:38:47,676 --> 00:38:51,956 Speaker 1: have enough material for five records before I have to 552 00:38:51,996 --> 00:38:55,836 Speaker 1: write another song, so I you know, it's actually kind 553 00:38:55,876 --> 00:38:59,236 Speaker 1: of like it's kind of annoying because I have all 554 00:38:59,316 --> 00:39:02,236 Speaker 1: this material and I don't know you know when it's 555 00:39:02,276 --> 00:39:05,596 Speaker 1: going to come out, you know. And sometimes you write 556 00:39:05,636 --> 00:39:07,436 Speaker 1: something and you want it to come out right away 557 00:39:07,436 --> 00:39:09,956 Speaker 1: because it's how you're feeling at that moment. But like 558 00:39:10,116 --> 00:39:12,636 Speaker 1: in the case of Perennial Bloom, which is a song 559 00:39:12,756 --> 00:39:15,996 Speaker 1: from our record that's that's sort of been on the 560 00:39:16,196 --> 00:39:20,116 Speaker 1: radio a lot, and it's uh, that song was written 561 00:39:21,156 --> 00:39:24,556 Speaker 1: May of twenty twenty, and there's a line there this 562 00:39:24,756 --> 00:39:28,156 Speaker 1: was like right when the pandemic had hit, but the 563 00:39:28,596 --> 00:39:31,636 Speaker 1: summer was supposed to be when you know, the virus 564 00:39:31,796 --> 00:39:35,276 Speaker 1: maybe would go away because of the heat, and we 565 00:39:35,356 --> 00:39:38,636 Speaker 1: were feeling really hopeful and it was like Summer's healing 566 00:39:38,756 --> 00:39:42,956 Speaker 1: coming soon, and somebody, someone beside me actually smiled without 567 00:39:43,036 --> 00:39:46,596 Speaker 1: a mask, and it was more of a metaphor for 568 00:39:46,756 --> 00:39:50,276 Speaker 1: someone smiling without, you know, the metaphorical mask because of 569 00:39:50,396 --> 00:39:54,756 Speaker 1: being themselves. And yet that song didn't get released until 570 00:39:54,796 --> 00:39:58,996 Speaker 1: a year later that same time in May, in May 571 00:39:59,076 --> 00:40:02,716 Speaker 1: of this year, and the same thing applied, and so 572 00:40:02,996 --> 00:40:05,676 Speaker 1: it was almost like it was meant to come out 573 00:40:05,756 --> 00:40:08,596 Speaker 1: a year later and not at that time, because we 574 00:40:08,716 --> 00:40:12,316 Speaker 1: had a more hope for the summer this year than 575 00:40:12,396 --> 00:40:15,356 Speaker 1: we did back then. Even songs. It was interesting how 576 00:40:15,676 --> 00:40:19,156 Speaker 1: how songs can maybe be written and not be meant 577 00:40:19,236 --> 00:40:22,476 Speaker 1: to put out until later, which I'm being forced to 578 00:40:22,796 --> 00:40:26,756 Speaker 1: accept that. Listen, thank you so much, it has been 579 00:40:26,916 --> 00:40:33,076 Speaker 1: just fabulous talking to you. Yeah, Tess. Thank you. Thanks 580 00:40:33,076 --> 00:40:35,276 Speaker 1: to Lucas Nelson for playing a couple of songs off 581 00:40:35,356 --> 00:40:38,476 Speaker 1: his new album and sharing his story with Bruce. You 582 00:40:38,516 --> 00:40:40,836 Speaker 1: can check out all our favorite Lucas Nelson and Promise 583 00:40:40,876 --> 00:40:43,876 Speaker 1: of the Real songs at Broken Record podcast dot com. 584 00:40:44,476 --> 00:40:47,116 Speaker 1: Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel at YouTube 585 00:40:47,156 --> 00:40:50,876 Speaker 1: dot com slash broken record Podcast. We can find all 586 00:40:50,916 --> 00:40:53,676 Speaker 1: our new episodes. You can follow us on Twitter at 587 00:40:53,756 --> 00:40:58,156 Speaker 1: broken Record. Broken Record is produced helpful Lea Rose, Jason Gambrell, 588 00:40:58,596 --> 00:41:03,676 Speaker 1: Martin Gonzalez, Eric Sandler, and Jennifer Sanchez, with engineering help 589 00:41:03,716 --> 00:41:06,636 Speaker 1: from Nick Chafee. Our executive producer is Me A Little 590 00:41:06,676 --> 00:41:10,276 Speaker 1: Bit Broken Record is production of Pushkin Industries. If you 591 00:41:10,356 --> 00:41:13,356 Speaker 1: love the show and others from Pushkin Industries, consider becoming 592 00:41:13,396 --> 00:41:17,196 Speaker 1: a push Pushnick is a podcast subscription that offers bonus 593 00:41:17,276 --> 00:41:21,076 Speaker 1: content and uninterrupted ad free listening for four ninety nine 594 00:41:21,076 --> 00:41:25,156 Speaker 1: a month. Look for Pushnick exclusively on Apple Podcasts subscriptions, 595 00:41:25,796 --> 00:41:27,956 Speaker 1: and also remember to share, rate, and review us on 596 00:41:28,076 --> 00:41:31,676 Speaker 1: your podcasting are the Musics by Kenny beats On Justin 597 00:41:31,756 --> 00:41:32,156 Speaker 1: Mirischman