Archiving The Excesses of The Real

Neil Young embarked on a 2019 European tour with Promise of the Real only two weeks after the passing of Elliot Roberts, his life-long friend and manager. Young viewed this tour as a living tribute to Roberts, claiming in the liner notes to Noise & Flowers – a 2022 document of the 2019 trek – that "Playing in his memory (made it) one of the most special tours ever. We hit the road and took his great spirit with us into every song." Noise & Flowers does indeed have a unique vibe, one that's far removed from the weird, fevered protest of Earth, the previous live album Young recorded with Promise of the Real. Here, he amiably wanders through his back pages, selecting a few standards ("Mr. Soul," "Everybody Know This Is Nowhere," "Helpless," "Rockin' in the Free World") but spending more time playing songs that don't always make their way onto set lists.

Co-produced by John Alagia and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and recorded at Shangri-La in Malibu and The Village Studios in West L.A., Turn Off The News features the band’s most mature and absorbing work of their career. Guest turns include background vocal and instrumental support from: Kesha, Margo Price, Sheryl Crow, Shooter Jennings, Lucius, Willie Nelson and Neil Young. On songs like the Wilburys inspired album opener, “Bad Case,” the poignant and relevant title track, “Turn Off The News,” the 60’s infused R&B of “Save A Little Heartache,” and the vulnerable balladry of “Mystery,” Lukas brings his prodigious gifts to bear, as a songwriter, a singer, a guitarist and band leader – an artist at the peak of his powers, ready to seize the tremendous opportunity at hand.