Review: Eric Lindell @ Sullivan Hall

Playlist of Marc’s Eric Lindell Videos

The beauty of Eric is that he knows when to play a song and when to jam. He was able to rock out on Josephine in under three minutes. Likewise, he was able to step out and expand on his cover of Gil Scott-Heron’s Lady Day and John Coltrane where Weeks’ bass practically caught on fire. Lindell’s playing has a slinky feel to it. Whether he’s working his band through the Honky Tonk feeling Sentimental Lover from the new album, the soulful If Love Can’t Find A Way or the classic New Orleans style Rock of I Can Get Off On You, his mix of rhythm & lead playing propels the music.

But this is a N’awlins man. And this is one of NYC’s premier venues for music from the Crescent City and the still thriving jamband scene. So what would a night like this be without a special guest to sit in? And who could be better than the man who is fast becoming the NYC’s MVP on the six string? Near the end of the first set, Lindell launched into a cover of the Willie Dixon classic You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover made famous by Bo Diddley. About halfway through the song, Eric Krasno crept out of the shadows at the back of the stage.

Lindell handed his Gibson SG guitar over to Krasno who proceeded to tear it up. Krasno stayed up for one more after that with Lindell singing and clapping with a shit-eating grin on his face. And that’s the thing that really sums this artist up. He can talk about his family or his short-lived but fondly remembered time living in Manhattan. He can sing his heart out and play stinging lead lines or hand over his axe to a local hero and become a spectator at his own show. But no matter what he does, Eric Lindell has proven himself a true survivor in the world of music. And when this man smiles, which he does often throughout his sets, you can feel the love he has for the music and his audience.

To quote a song from his last album Between Motion and Rest, “Leaving Bodega is hard to do.” That may be true about the tiny town in Sonoma County possibly most famous for the church in Hitchcock’s The Birds. But leaving an Eric Lindell show satisfied. That’s easy. However, leaving early to get home to Massapequa? That’s a tough one!

The Statesmen opened up the show for Eric. Over the course of their hour-long set, they played what leader Jonah Smith describes as “high energy Soul music.” The band reminded me at times of the type of music you hear on live soul albums from the ’70s like Donny Hathaway Live. And as opposed to what had been described to me in the past as more of a “coffee house” feel to his music, this band was a tight unit playing rock and soul. They also added hints of psychedelia that will please devotees to the jam scene. And most importantly, they brought out a crowd of their own – a rarity in the world of NYC opening acts.

Scott Metzger on guitar and Ben Rubin on bass amd backing vocals did a great job of playing with Smith. But it was drummer Josh Dion whose energetic playing and enthusiastic vocals really helped to push the set over the top. Dion reminds me of Animal from Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem crossed with Bonzo. Only he can sing instead of just grunt. These guys are worth keeping your eye on.

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2 Responses

  1. I love Eric Lindell! I was sad I had to miss the show but after this review I will be sure to be in the audience the next time he is in town.

  2. I stumbled upon Eric Lindell by way of receiving his Gulf Coast Highway CD in exchange for a donation to my local community radio station. That led to a live show in Tampa at Skppers Smokehouse where he proceeded to play for almost 4-1/2 hours. You can’t help but move to his beat and have a whole lot of fun at the same time. If he is an hour’s drive away, it is one show worth the effort.
    I check him out every chance I get. You won’t be disappointed.

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