Eric Lindell

Eric Lindell

Eric Lindell is an American singer-songwriter, born in San Mateo, California, who came to national prominence after relocating to New Orleans. His recording career began in 1996. Beginning in 2006, he has grown in popularity from being a local/regional New Orleans-based artist to tour nationally and internationally. His last three releases have been on Alligator Records. They are 2006’s Change In The Weather, 2008’s Low on Cash, Rich In Love and 2009’s Gulf Coast Highway. Eric’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). The Los Angeles Daily News says “Lindell serves up bluesy blue-eyed soul smothered with a big heap of New Orleans funk…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.” (Janauary 27, 2008)

A self-described skate punk, 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.

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 Vidocovich and Harold Brown (formerly of War) as well as members of Galactic, including Galactic's Stanton Moore and Ivan Neville (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, a compilation of tracks from his various self-produced albums and E.P.s, some released on his own Sparco Records label. It 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 Eric’s touring band. “If Love Can’t Find A Way” was the featured radio track.

Eric 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 musical style borrows from 1970s blues-rock, soul, and R&B. His style has also been called "blue-eyed soul", a common short-hand used for Anglo blues singers that has been applied to artists including Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates fame) and Van Morrison, among others.

Discography

• 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 (Flying Harold)

External links

• Eric Lindell Official website
• Eric Lindell at Alligator Records
• Eric Lindell at All Music Guide
• Interview from An Honest Tune