Eric Lindell

Eric Lindell
Lindell performing at Jazzfest in 2012
Background information
Birth name	Eric Lindell
Born	1969 (age 44–45) San Mateo, California United States
Origin	New Orleans Louisiana United States
Genres	Blues-rock Pop rock Soul rock
Occupations	Guitarist Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Guitar Vocals Bass Harmonica
Years active	1996–present
Labels	M.C. Records Flying Harold Sparco Records Alligator
Associated acts	The Mighty Blue Healers, Ivan Neville, Delbert McClinton
Website	www.ericlindell.com

Eric Lindell (born 1969, San Mateo, California, United States)^[1] is an American singer-songwriter, who came to national prominence after relocating to New Orleans in 1999.^[1] His recording career began in 1996 as a local/regional New Orleans-based artist. Beginning in 2006, when he was picked up by Alligator Records, he has toured nationally and internationally. He recorded three albums for Alligator and has since issued several CDs on smaller indie labels.

Lindell's music has been described by USA Today as “pumping soul into funk, blue and roots-rock.” (April 23, 2009). The Chicago Sun-Times called Lindell “a tremendous raw talent…with a fully realized musical vision.” (January 20, 2008).^[1] The Los Angeles Daily News stated “Lindell serves up bluesy blue-eyed soul smothered with a big heap of New Orleans funk…^[1] The shuffling interplay of electric guitars, percolating organ and Creole horns never fails to make you feel like dancing all the way down Canal Street.” (January 27, 2008)

Lindell's musical style borrows from 1970s blues-rock, soul, and R&B. His style has also been called "blue-eyed soul",^[2] a common shorthand used for Anglo blues singers that has been applied to artists including Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates fame) and Van Morrison, amongst others.

Background

Lindell grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He began playing in bands at the age of 15. Among his early musical influences were Fishbone and Black Flag.^[3]

Lindell started playing in Northern California bars, first with the guitar, and later moving to bass, while working as a baker during the day to make ends meet. After a few years he had decided to move to New York City briefly, then moved in 1999 to New Orleans, where his creativity was able to flourish further. In New Orleans he often played with well-known drummers Johnny Vidacovich and Harold Ray Brown (formerly of War) as well as members of Galactic, including Galactic's Stanton Moore and Ivan Neville^[1] (with whom he now occasionally plays in a side project called Dragon Smoke.) By 2005, he was well-known on the New Orleans music scene, having appeared in local clubs and at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and had gained enough attention to have Alligator Records sign him.

Alligator’s initial release by Lindell was Change In The Weather,^[1] a compilation of tracks from his various self-produced albums and EPs, some released on his own Sparco Records label. Notably the self-titled album and Piety Street Sessions with Marty Joyce on drums, Cass Faulconer on bass and Marc Adams on B3 as well as others. "Change In The Weather' yielded the radio single “Give It Time” which received major play on Adult Album Alternative-formatted stations around the country and was featured in an episode of the Boston Legal TV show. His second Alligator release was produced for the label by Lindell. The radio single, “Lay Back Down,” was again well received by AAA, and also appeared in the TV shows True Blood and Friday Night Lights. Gulf Coast Highway, his third Alligator release (also self-produced), found him accompanied by members of Galactic as well as members of Lindell's touring band. “If Love Can’t Find A Way” was the featured radio track.

He typically performs about 100 live performances a year. He has made recent trips to perform in Europe and made his first Australian appearance in 2007. He made his network television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in February 2008.

Lindell's Change in the Weather was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for Jam Album of the year.

Discography

• 2012 I Still Love You (Sparco Records)
• 2011 West County Drifter (M.C. Records)
• 2011 Cazadero (Sparco Records)
• 2010 Between Motion and Rest (Sparco Records)
• 2009 Gulf Coast Highway (Alligator Records)
• 2008 Low on Cash, Rich in Love (Alligator Records)
• 2006 Change in the Weather (Alligator Records)
• 2005 Tragic Magic (Sparco Records)
• 2003 EP Volume 1 (Sparco Records)
• 2003 Piety Street Session (Sparco Records)
• 2002 Eric Lindell (album) (self-released)
• 1996 Bring it Back (Grizzly Records)^[4]

References

External links

• Eric Lindell Official website
• Eric Lindell's record label Sparco Records
• Eric Lindell at Alligator Records
• Eric Lindell at All Music Guide
• Interview from An Honest Tune