By S. Pulse
Imagine walking into a small country chapel located deep in the Texas Hill Country, but it’s not Sunday and instead of a preacher standing at the altar, it’s Lukas Nelson and he is performing with Tyler Childers. Is it a dream? Was it something you smoked? Or are you at the Luck Reunion? It may sound unbelievable, but this actually happened. An extremely fortunate group of 49 guests watched in awe as Lukas was joined on the Chapel Stage by surprise guest Tyler Childers for a performance of Hank Williams’ venue fitting song “Old Country Church”.
It is unexpected collaborations taking place in intimate venues, exactly like what occurred on the Chapel Stage, which make the Luck Reunion the ultimate music event in Texas. The annual affair takes place just outside of Austin and is literally in Willie Nelson’s backyard. The venue consists of buildings, stages, and tents weaved together amongst an old-Western town on Nelson’s ranch (the leftover film set).
Ticket sales are largely based on a lottery system, and it can take some real luck to secure a pass. However, once you have arrived, it is a music venue nirvana. Drinks are free, crowds are small, each guest receives a commemorative bandana, and fellow guests are remarkably friendly. Guests for this year’s Reunion even saw a wedding take place in front of the Chapel. The whole affair reflects Willie’s outlook. Guests feel like family, and he has only one rule: “Don’t be an asshole.” And guests abide.
While there is always a lot going on at the Luck Reunion, good music remains the heart and soul of the event. Much like Willie’s catalog of songs, the artists selected include a blend of genres and both established and up-and-coming artists.
TOP 10 SETS WE SAW AT LUCK THIS YEAR
Zella Day (and Jesse Woods as “Chaparelle”): Clad in all white, Zella Day appeared angelic at the Revival Tent Stage. She performed her solo material, including a mesmerizing version of “Mushroom Punch” and a crowd-pleasing cover of Paul McCartney’s “Let Me Roll It.” Later, Day shifted gears and flaunted her musical versatility as Jesse Woods joined her to perform as ‘Chaparelle,’ their retro-country project band. Together, they generated old-school country George and Tammy vibes that seem to come from a different era. Day transformed her voice into a warm twang and, staying in character, joined Woods for an innovative country cover of Whiney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”
Red Clay Strays: Their song “Wondering Why” is a chart-topping hit. Remarkably, its’ popularity arose from unconventional means that were largely fan-driven, a fact that makes Red Clay Strays’ meteoric success even more meaningful. Reflective of their success, the Barn Tent filled quickly with fans, many of whom were curious about what other music the band could generate. Well, the answer is Red Clay Strays have a musical depth that extends well beyond their chart-topping song “Wondering Why.” Lead singer and guitarist Brandon Coleman is a prolific performer. He has the looks, the charisma, and the vocal range that fill any venue with excitement. His pompadour hair, jerky dance moves, and lip snarl beg for a comparisons to Elvis, but Coleman is uniquely his own man. By the time the Strays closed out the set with “Wondering Why,” we had almost forgotten about the sweet little song that ignited this band’s popularity. But, of course, we still sang along to every word!
Dawes / Lucius: In a unique arrangement, Dawes and Lucius have joined forces for their current “Tag Team Tour.” Together, they perform as one lovely harmonious band, seamlessly alternating between their own individual catalogs and performing covers as well. Their afternoon set began with an astounding performance of the Pink Floyd classic “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” Other highlights from their set included their joint performance of Dawes’ “All Your Favorite Bands,” Lucius’ “Genevieve,” and their format fitting closing cover of the Beatles’ “With A Little Help from My Friends.”
Tami Neilson: Neilson, a vocal power-house, caused quite a stir in 2022 when she performed an early Luck set and was joined by Willie Nelson for a duet. This year Neilson took a novel approach, performing a set that consisted entirely of Willie Nelson covers (aka “Neilson Sings Nelson”). Earlier in the week, Tami dropped a cover of “Always on My Mind.” We spoke with Neilson about recording that tune, along with other Willie Nelson covers, and look forward to sharing her insights in our forthcoming interview.
Neilson was supported on the Headquarters Stage by her two brothers, Jay and Todd, marking the first time the siblings had performed together in 20 years, harking back to when they toured as The Neilson’s. Tami was also joined on stage by Texas artist Nicky Diamonds for a duet on “Sister’s Coming Home” and, later, by the young and powerful guitar phenomenon Grace Bowers. Bowers tore up the stage with a bluesy solo on “The Sound in Your Mind.”
Lukas Nelson: Traditionally at Luck, Lukas Nelson plays the Headquarters Stage and closes out the show by performing with his dad, but not this year. Instead, Lukas performed at the tiny Chapel Stage venue before dashing off to perform at the Austin Rodeo. Regardless of the circumstances, the resulting show was a set that embodies the Luck experience – small venues and collaborations. As mentioned, his set included an unexpected duet with Tyler Childers on Hank Williams’ “Old Country Church.” He also welcomed to the stage the ethereal voices of Lucius (Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe) to the stage for a performance of his song “Forget About Georgia.” The set was mesmerizing, and each chapel window was filled with folks on tiptoes peering inside to witness Lukas and his once in a lifetime set.
Evan Honer: Just a couple of years ago, Honer was setting records as a collegiate diver. However, even then, he knew music was his passion. He tried out for American Idol only to receive three “no” votes and an icy jab from Luke Bryan suggesting he “stick to diving.” Well, we are glad Evan Honer persevered and stuck with music. His high energy show at the Barn Tent swelled in size as people took notice of this emerging talent. At only 22 years of age, Honer has already carved out a niche in the music industry. Some are calling it emo-country, but we find his music too upbeat for such a title. His set was a party, and his talent was evident.
Texas Wild: Based on the album of the same name, the Texas Wild set featured various artists performing songs created by Texans. Hosted by Walker Lukens and supported by The Texas Gentlemen, the set was a high point of the Reunion. Some of our favorite performances included Kam Franklin’s mic-dropping rendition of Roy Orbison’s “Running Scared”, Toadie’s frontman Vaden Todd Lewis belting out Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone”, Uncle Roy & Spice singing a zesty version of Destiny Child’s “Say My Name”, and Steve Earle covering his late friend Townes Van Zandt’s “White Freight Liner Blues”. Both the crowd and the artists had so much fun at this set. We would love to see Texas Wild become a permanent fixture at Luck!
Dylan LeBlanc: Would you like a smooth serving of Neil Young with a dash of JJ Cale? Yes please. Dylan LeBlanc performed at the Saloon Stage to a full house of fans eager to hear his distinctive brand of Southern Rock. And LeBlanc delivered. He played his popular and bewitching tune “Cautionary Tale” as well as several songs from his newly released album “Coyote” that was recorded at the illustrious Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Keep an eye out for our interview with LeBlanc where we discuss that recording experience.
Tyler Childers: The Kentucky native delivered his Appalachian-infused vocals and fiddle playing to an appreciative crowd at the Headquarters Stage. In typical Childers fashion, he approached the mic stand with a hip-first sideways stance and leaned in to launch each punch of his powerful vocals. He opened with “Old Country Church,” made the crowd go wild with “All Your’n,” and even delivered a Willie cover of “Time of the Preacher.” There was quite a buzz of anticipation leading up to Childers’ set and the guests at Luck were blown away by his stunning performance.
Willie Nelson: His set started with an unannounced and extraordinary collaboration, a duet of “The Rainbow Connection” between Willie Nelson and Kermit the Frog. A hush spread across the previously wild crowd as this song touched many of the revelers. It proved to be the icing on the cake for a day filled with captivating collaborations. Everyone loved it – – including “the lovers, the dreamers, and me.”
Willie’s son Micah Nelson (aka Particle Kid) accompanied his dad throughout the set on vocals and guitar. We particularly enjoyed their father/son performance of Micah’s song “Die When I High (Halfway to Heaven).” Keeping with tradition, Willie called on stage many of the performers from the Luck Reunion for a gospel-infused, family sing-along to close out the show.
As of today, Willie’s duet with Kermit has already made headlines around the globe, proving, once again, that Willie Nelson, who is about to turn 91, remains a relevant and formidable force in the music industry. Further proof of his unremitting importance is that the same week as the Luck Reunion, Willie released the title single from what will be his 75th solo album titled, “The Border”. He continues to create great music and his backyard festival continues to provide guests with an unparalleled experience.
Check out all our photos from this year and past years’ fests on Austin 101. See you next year Willie!
