LUKAS NELSON & PROMISE OF THE REAL PONDER THE FUTURE IN NEW VIDEO FOR “CIVILIZED HELL” WITH HELP FROM LEGENDARY COMIC ARTIST R. CRUMB

Brand-New Animated Clip Features The Legendary Cartoonist’s Illustrated

“A Short History of America”

Today, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Corey McCormick, Anthony LoGerfo, Tato Melgar and Logan Metz shared the official video for the alternate version of “Civilized Hell,” a track from their recently released new album, Naked Garden, watch HERE. The special animated clip features a series of illustrations entitled, “A Short History of America,” by the legendary underground satirist, comic artist, and illustrator, R. Crumb. Depicting the downside of America’s industrial and technological revolutions, the series’ 15 panels were animated and combined with vintage footage to create a vivid and timely portrait of a landscape and people in crisis. It’s the first time that the highly influential, beloved illustrator has officially licensed his work for use in a music video.

Lukas comments on the story behind “Civilized Hell”: “When I was around 19 years old, I was given a book written by Edward Abbey called, The Monkey Wrench Gang, and it was illustrated by R. Crumb. I took a lot of inspiration from that book and wrote the song “Civilized Hell” upon finishing it. I believe it was Gary Burden, the late, great artist responsible for many of Neil Young’s album covers, who gave me the book originally. It’s a cautionary tale of what may happen if we disrespect the environment. It’s such an honor for us that Mr. Crumb agreed to provide the visual companionship to my song. Suffice to say, we’re extremely grateful.”

Produced by Promise of the Real and John Alagia, Naked Garden features 10 brand-new, previously unreleased tracks and five new versions of songs that originally appeared on last year’s Turn Off The News (Build A Garden). Wide-ranging in scope and minimalist in production, Naked Garden embodies the band’s shared spiritual connection and consummate musical chemistry.  A few of the album’s many highlights include the studio version of fan-favorite “Entirely Different Stars,” the plaintive romantic “Movie In My Mind,” a rough and ready early version of “Bad Case,” Lukas’s unearthly falsetto on the classic country waltz, “The Way You Say Goodbye,” and a gritty, alternate version of the aforementioned, “Civilized Hell’. 

Get Naked Garden HERE

Watch the trailer for Naked Garden HERE

Photo: Joey Martinez

NAKED GARDEN

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