Biography
New Orleans-based vocalist, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist Eric Lindell fuses West Coast rock, swampy Gulf Coast R&B, hard country, and Memphis soul into a distinctive strain of American roots music that honors its sources while carving an independent path.
Lindell entered the world in San Mateo, California, and passed much of his childhood in the nearby communities of Santa Rosa and Forestville. While holding a daytime job as a baker, he devoted evenings to music, sharpening his skills as a singer and guitarist through regular appearances at Sonoma County clubs. His first album, Bring It Back, appeared in 1996, followed three years later by a win in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition for the original song “Kelly Ann.” Also in 1999, he moved to New Orleans to focus on music full-time. The relocation proved fruitful: Lindell soon connected with Galactic’s Stanton Moore and began performing locally, often joined onstage by drummers Johnny Vidocovich and Harold Brown of War. A self-released, self-titled album came out in 2002; the next year he joined Sparco Records and issued both Piety Street Session and EP Volume 1. Tragic Magic arrived in 2005 and drew the attention of Alligator Records, which signed him and released Change in the Weather in 2006 and Low on Cash, Rich in Love in 2008. He maintained a steady pace with the 2009 album Gulf Coast Highway, another collection of blue-eyed soul and assured guitar playing, before departing the label for several years.
During that period Lindell released two private recordings for sale at shows—Cazadero in 2010 and Between Motion and Rest in 2011—which M.C. Records later combined as the two-disc set West County Drifter. Also in 2011 came Live in New Orleans, the debut recording by his New Orleans supergroup Dragon Smoke, which included Ivan Neville. The following year he delivered the studio album I Still Love You. Dragon Smoke issued another concert document, Live at Wanee 2015, while Lindell’s next major studio effort was Matters of the Heart. Released in spring 2016, the album was partly co-produced by Luther Dickinson and featured guitar contributions from Anson Funderburgh. Lindell returned to Alligator for 2018’s Revolution in Your Heart, recorded with only percussionist Willie McMains.
Lindell entered the world in San Mateo, California, and passed much of his childhood in the nearby communities of Santa Rosa and Forestville. While holding a daytime job as a baker, he devoted evenings to music, sharpening his skills as a singer and guitarist through regular appearances at Sonoma County clubs. His first album, Bring It Back, appeared in 1996, followed three years later by a win in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition for the original song “Kelly Ann.” Also in 1999, he moved to New Orleans to focus on music full-time. The relocation proved fruitful: Lindell soon connected with Galactic’s Stanton Moore and began performing locally, often joined onstage by drummers Johnny Vidocovich and Harold Brown of War. A self-released, self-titled album came out in 2002; the next year he joined Sparco Records and issued both Piety Street Session and EP Volume 1. Tragic Magic arrived in 2005 and drew the attention of Alligator Records, which signed him and released Change in the Weather in 2006 and Low on Cash, Rich in Love in 2008. He maintained a steady pace with the 2009 album Gulf Coast Highway, another collection of blue-eyed soul and assured guitar playing, before departing the label for several years.
During that period Lindell released two private recordings for sale at shows—Cazadero in 2010 and Between Motion and Rest in 2011—which M.C. Records later combined as the two-disc set West County Drifter. Also in 2011 came Live in New Orleans, the debut recording by his New Orleans supergroup Dragon Smoke, which included Ivan Neville. The following year he delivered the studio album I Still Love You. Dragon Smoke issued another concert document, Live at Wanee 2015, while Lindell’s next major studio effort was Matters of the Heart. Released in spring 2016, the album was partly co-produced by Luther Dickinson and featured guitar contributions from Anson Funderburgh. Lindell returned to Alligator for 2018’s Revolution in Your Heart, recorded with only percussionist Willie McMains.
Albums
