Lukas Nelson not like his famous dad, Willie

Lukas Nelson answers his phone from an auto repair shop in New Mexico.

That's not too surprising when you consider he and his band, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, played about 250 shows last year.

"Our bus is getting worked on," he says.

Think of this as the downside of being what the music industry likes to call a "road warrior."

It's that hit-the-road-and-play spirit that brings Nelson and crew to Fresno tonight (in that now-working bus) for a gig at Fulton 55.

"It's fun to be out on the road," says Nelson, 23. "It's really the only way [for a musician] to make a living this day in age. A lot of people have heard us play now, but a lot of people haven't."

A lot of people might know this, but a lot might not: Lukas is the son of outlaw country legend Willie Nelson. It's not the first thing he blurts out. And it's not like his last name is Springsteen -- there are a lot of Nelsons in the world.

Lukas is cut from the same cloth as his dad, but his music is a bit different. There's some country in there, but also classic rock and blues.

"A lot of times people will come to hear something similar to my dad and they'll be pretty surprised that it's different," Nelson says.

He counts Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and, of course, his dad as influences.

Nelson & Promise of the Real are readying their second album, "Wasted," which should be out by April. Nelson also wrote a few songs and appears on Willie Nelson's upcoming album, "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die."

"There are a lot of exciting things happening in 2012," Lukas Nelson says, adding this message to Fresnans thinking about coming to his show tonight: "You're going to have fun. I can personally guarantee it."

Elsewhere

• Clash City Rockers -- a Clash tribute band -- headlines Starline, 833 E. Fern Ave., on Saturday with Born Betty and R.E.M. tribute band You're Not My Stipe. 9 p.m. $10.
• Singer/songwriter Rob Cox performs tonight at Revue Cafe, 620 E. Olive Ave., with guest Jeremy Adamiak. 8 p.m. Free.
• Talkdemonic is an instrumental Portland duo that plays viola and drums. It just got off tour with Modest Mouse and will headline The Cellar Door, 101 W. Main St., Visalia on Thursday. Fresno's Fierce Creatures open. 9:30 p.m. $5.

Also ...

American Head Charge

8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 / Audie's Olympic, 1426 N. Van Ness Ave. / $12 / (559) 233-3733

Re-formed industrial/metal band American Head Charge stops in Fresno on its West Coast tour. The band stopped playing in 2009, but re-launched in September with the addition of former Ministry guitarist Sin Quirin. In its heyday, American Head Charge toured with the likes of Slipknot, Slayer, Mudvayne and System Of A Down, plus recorded with Rick Rubin. Also on the bill Saturday is 9 Electric and local bands Hands That Kill, From the Fallen and This Planet Prelude.

Food Not Bombs

7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 / Full Circle Brewing Co., 620 F St / $10 / (559) 264-6323

The annual Food Not Bombs fundraising concert, held each year at Full Circle Brewing Co., is scheduled for Jan. 27. On the bill, as usual, is Blake Jones & The Trike Shop, a '60s pop-inspired local band. Joining this year is The David Hull Band. Included in the $10 "donation" to get in -- all the money raised helps feed the hungry -- is a free vegetarian dinner, served at 6:30 p.m.

Candye Kane

9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 / Fulton 55, 875 Divisadero St. / $10-$15 / (559) 412-7400, fulton55.com

Well-traveled blues singer Candye Kane returns to Fresno for a Wednesday night performance at Fulton 55. She's had a storied career, just by the numbers: 11 CDs, six record labels, more than a million miles logged on the road. Also on the résumé: being a teenage mom, a pinup girl and a cancer survivor. If that don't give a girl the blues, then what does?

SHOW INFO

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, 9:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at Fulton 55, 875 Divisadero St. Tickets: $10-$15. Details: (559) 412-7400, fulton55.com