Cali crooner’s season to sing
Eric Lindell rocks Mojo’s
His work has scared, confused and angered millions. Since the 1999 release of The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan has introduced a line of suspenseful supernatural films with tension and winding plot lines.
Every region has its favorite musicians. St. Louis has Nelly, Philadelphia has G-Love and Special Sauce, Northern California has Eric Lindell. Tomorrow night, Mojo’s will experience the cool croonings of Lindell as he makes a stop in Columbia while on his coast-to-coast tour.
Although Lindell has been on the music scene for years, his first nationally released album, Change in the Weather, is finally getting the word out about his music.
“I heard about him through reading online and paying attention to various online resources for new music,” says Peter McDevitt, who books talent for both Mojo’s and The Blue Note. “We wanted him because he has a style that appeals to a broad array of people: older fans of blues as well as college-age kids who are just into groovy jam stuff.
Lindell is also upbeat about performing in Columbia. “We’re excited to hit some new areas and meet some new people,” he says.
Even though the 37-year-old musician is enjoying his time in the spotlight, he can attest to the hardships many artists face as they try to launch their musical careers.
Change in the Weather was seven years in the making. The album is backed by the Chicago-based Alligator Records and combines soul and blues with R&B, swamp pop, reggae, vintage rock ’n’ roll and New Orleans funk. Before the release of the album, he received little national recognition, but now that Lindell is with Alligator and is getting the PR he wants, he sees positive changes in his career.
“Alligator has done a great job getting songs out and on the radio,” he says. This year, Lindell’s songs have hit the airwaves in major cities such as Austin, San Francisco, New York and Chicago. In May, Change in the Weather debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard Blues Chart."
Although his music is just now gaining national recognition, Lindell started strumming his guitar at the age of 12 in his hometown of San Mateo. Eventually his musical curiosity led him to master the harmonica and keyboard as well. In 1993, Lindell formed a self-titled group. It gained a local following, but Lindell wanted more.
Lindell left California in 1998 and cut his East-Coast chops on the New York music scene.
A year later, he ventured to New Orleans to experience the city’s musical culture. There, Lindell explored what he considers the roots of American music: blues and soul. In May of this year — in addition to his appearance on the music charts — he performed at the New Orleans Jazzfest.
When listening to Lindell’s album, it is apparent he allows each place he has lived to influence his music. His music is reminiscent of Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone, and his husky voice has been compared to Van Morrison.
Lindell skillfully fuses varying techniques in a way that leaves no inconsistencies and allows the listener to simply enjoy. The album features well-established members of the music community such as War drummer
Harold Brown, Ivan Neville of the Neville Brothers and Galactic’s Stanton Moore.
In 1999, Lindell won the John
Lennon Songwriting Competition for his song “Kelly Ann.” When he found out, he was astounded. “I thought it was friends calling and messing with me,” he says about the phone call. “On a whim I sent in my $30 and a song, so I didn’t believe it.”
Lindell’s success extends beyond his songwriting skills and into his live performances. Concert-goers will want to dance as well as listen to his eclectic style.
