Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real have released a music video for “Civilized Hell (Alternate Version)”. The original track comes from the group’s 2020 studio album, Naked Garden.

This marks the first official music video for a track off Naked Garden, and comes nearly two months after the album arrived on Fantasy Records/Concord. The group premiered the video during an Instagram Live session on Friday.

Related: Lukas Nelson Performs Quarantine Cover Of Nathaniel Rateliff’s “Time Stands” [Watch]

According to the caption, the video’s illustrations were inspired by cartoonist Robert Crumb, specifically his work “A Short History of America”. In a Facebook post, Nelson said that “Civilized Hell” was “slightly inspired by another book illustrated by R. Crumb called ‘The Monkey Wrench Gang’ written by Edward R. Abbey, which was given to me when I was around 19 years old. I wrote ‘Civilized Hell’ upon finishing it, so this feels like a full-circle moment.”

The video opens with a multi-panel layout that is reminiscent of the Zoom format video that has become culturally ubiquitous during these past couple months. Alas, this isn’t some video cut together from footage of band members playing in their respective homes. Rather, this video is a world all its own that delivers “A Short History of America”. From the rolling plains that dominated the American landscape to the eventual tide of industrialization, Nelson and company show the march of progress while simultaneously remaining wary of a “Civilized Hell”.

This alternate version of the Naked Garden song lops off the final 90 seconds that mainly consist of a roaring guitar solo and another run through the chorus.

Watch the new video for “Civilized Hell (Alternate Version)” from Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real — “Civilized Hell – Alternate Version (Official Video)

[Video: Lukas Nelson]

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real are due to return to the stage on September 18th when they will provide opening support for Greensky Bluegrass at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Visit Lukas Nelson’s website for announcements and more information.