Willie Nelson Plots Special Project with His Youngest Son
If Willie Nelson has a direct understudy from his family tree, it would probably be his son and fellow musician Lukas Nelson. But Willie’s youngest son Micah (age 34) is also a musician, just perhaps a little more “out there” even than his father, or older brother Lukas. There’s a reason Micah’s nickname is the “Particle Kid.” That also happens to be the name of Micah Nelson’s band.
Over the last few years, Micah has been spelling Lukas at his father’s side in concerts, and it appears the two have continued to grow closer and closer over that period. All the more reason for the two to work together on an album in a more collaborative manner. The results is called Last Leaf on the Tree, and will be released on November 1st.
Instead of consisting of original new songs from Willie and others, this album will be one of the more side project-style releases from Willie that he releases about once a year. Micah Nelson produces the album, as well as plays most of the instrumentation and weighs heavily in the song selections.
The through-line in the album is “facing death with grace”—something the 91-year-old Willie Nelson can relate to. Micah says he took a “sculptor’s approach” to the album, stating, “It’s an approach that I really love and have used a lot over the years—just throwing the clay down and stepping back, then maybe adding a little more, and then maybe shaving down here, and kind of building the tracks that way.”
Song selection is key for the album, with Tom Waits contributing a couple of songs including the title track, Neil Young contributing a couple more including the legendary, “Are You Ready For The Country?,” and Beck’s “Lost Cause” also making the list of anticipated takes on classic songs from the album.
Micah Nelson also contributes the song “Wheels,” Willie Nelson sings the song “The Ghost” he first wrote in 1962, and the two Nelsons collaborate together on the song “The Color of Sound.” Micah is said to play over two dozen instruments total on the album, from guitars and pianos, to “sticks and branches, logs and dead leaves.”
Last Leaf on the Tree is now available for pre-order.
Track Listing:
1. Last Leaf (Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan)
2. If It Wasn’t Broken (Sydney Lyndella Ward)
3. Lost Cause (Beck David Hansen)
4. Come Ye (Nina Simone)
5. Keep Me In Your Heart (Warren Zevon, Jorge Calderon)
6. Robbed Blind (Keith Richards)
7. House Where Nobody Lives (Tom Waits)
8. Are You Ready For The Country? (Neil Young)
9. Do You Realize?? (Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd, Michael Ivins, David Fridmann)
10. Wheels (Micah Nelson)
11. Broken Arrow (Neil Young)
12. Color Of Sound (Willie Nelson & Micah Nelson)
13. The Ghost (Willie Nelson)
August 18, 2024 @ 8:40 am
Lukas is probably the more talented sibling, but give Micah credit, he’s been faithfully playing by Willy’s side for what must be many years now at Outlaw Fest. And sure, probably 99% of the audience is not there to see him, but I’ve been twice and reflecting back on it, he did bring something to the table that helped make Outlaw Fest a success. The family vibes, a little youthful energy.
August 18, 2024 @ 8:51 am
Saw the Outlaw Fest two weeks ago and Micha’s Everything is Bullshit and Die When I’m High (Halfway to Heaven) with Willie were two of the standouts of the night.
August 18, 2024 @ 9:27 am
I’m not surprised to hear that. They’re fun songs, and a lot of the crowd know them by now. Really when you think about it, there probably is no Outlaw Fest with Micah’s support, as Willie is 91 with some health problems.
And I know the big destination festivals get all the attention, but Outlaw always has killer lineups. The first time I went it was Billy Strings and the Avett Brothers. Second time was Gov’t Mule and Sturgill Simpson. I’m not going this year, but it’s Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp.
And you don’t have to travel far to see it unless you live in the boonies. It will come to an arena near you, it will be cheaper than a 3 day festival, you don’t have to bounce around to different stages like a ping pong ball, and it’s just all around more manageable for most people.
August 18, 2024 @ 9:41 am
I just saw them last Saturday, it was incredible! Glad that Lucas made it because that changed it up from what I saw last summer but Micah really does a great job himself. Lucas played 5-6 songs with Dylan too. Money well spent!
August 18, 2024 @ 2:40 pm
Micah is so fucking underrated on what he has contributed to Willie and in his own right
August 18, 2024 @ 4:34 pm
Micha producing should give these songs a fresh take. I love “Last Leaf.”
Micha’s “Everything is Bullshit” provided a bathroom break during Farm Aids and Outlaw Festivals, but “Die When I’m High (Halfway to Heaven)” is a showstopper. We’ve only ever made it in once early to see Micha’s band, Insects vs Robots, at Farm Aid 30. It was trippy.
I’m attending Outlaw Festival next month here in SW PA. We took a hard look at Farm Aid in Saratoga Springs, New York, (mostly because Neil Young is back and Margo Price is out), but that venue looks like one of the worst constructed venues (Broadview Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center) and the reviews for it are horrendous. It’s too far a drive to chance it. I’ll be curious if Young and the Nelsons collaborate on the newly recorded tracks at Farm Aid (I’m talking myself into going).
August 18, 2024 @ 4:54 pm
Got to give some credit to Annie D’Angelo.Willie was 55 and 57 when Lukas and Micah were born, and living moslty on the road. I’ve have to figure she did most of the raising. But Willie must have taught them about playing music.
August 18, 2024 @ 5:18 pm
Big fan of Lukas & Promise of the Real. Such a fun band to see live.
Micah is good. Talented.
Excited for this album especially with a tune written by Keith Richards.
August 18, 2024 @ 6:04 pm
So sad to hear from willie actually being at the point of being the last leaf on the tree
August 18, 2024 @ 6:42 pm
Went to outlaw festival in Los Angeles- very good! Micahs Everything is Bullshit has a good beat and Willie added his touch by singing! after Micah says Bullshit -Willie says Buuull !Shi_ _ _t ! It just made the song,they are so cute singing it! Been seeing Willie since 13yrs.old and soon to be 61- He’s the best!
August 19, 2024 @ 10:37 am
Sounds great.
August 19, 2024 @ 5:19 pm
In my mind, it’s almost impossible to do a Waits song better than Waits. Honestly, harmonically a lot of them aren’t near as inventive as ya might think and they tend to be boring when they get De-Waitsified.
Willie did this Waits song better than Waits.
September 18, 2024 @ 3:42 am
I love Willie Nelson forever ❤️