Neil Young had previously announced that he was working on new music with the sons of Willie Nelson—Lukas and Micah—but the world got the first live preview of that album when the performers took to the stage for an unannounced concert in California last Thursday.
The gig at the SLO Brewery Company in San Luis Obispo was labelled as "secret" by Consequence of Sound—no word on whether the audience knew what they were in for—when Young appeared with the pair, as well as Corey McCorkmick and Anthony Logerfo—on bass and drums, respectively—both members of Lukas Nelson's Promise of the Real band.
Young hinted during an interview with Rolling Stone during January that he had been recording with the Nelson boys, although there still hasn't been any announcement of a release date or official title.
"I'm working on another album now that I'm going to do be doing with Willie Nelson's sons," he said. "It's an upbeat review of the situation."
The "situation" he was referring to was his ongoing campaign against the Monsanto Company, a huge agrochemical company based in Missouri. Young also suggested that the album would be titled The Monsanto Years, although it came across as a joke during the interview. The Nelsons are sensible companions for a concept album on farming practice: Farm Aid was founded by their father Willie—as well as Young and John Mellencamp—during 1985.
All in all the band rolled out nine previously unheard tracks, according to a setlist offered on Consequence of Sound. None were given official titles but some were dubbed based on familiar themes, such as "New Day For The Planet," "Too Big to Fail" and "GMO-Starbucks" (citing another company Young has been at odds with).
The set was also mixed with classics such as "Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere" and "Love and Only Love."
