There are some special cases in music and rock history where for one reason or another – usually attributed to bullshit marketing politics – various individuals did not, and/or do not receive proper veneration, having fallen short of becoming household names. Nobody scratches their head asking who Eric Clapton is. Sometimes, the only way anybody pays attention to these individuals is when other big names surrounding them are dropped. For example, few people probably have the violinist Papa John Creach sitting in their back pockets, waiting for that perfect chance conversation to pull him out; but when his contributions to Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna are brought up, or his collaborations with Jerry Garcia and Carlos Santana, people become intrigued. The criminal fact is, the only name dropping that should be required when welcoming David Lindley into town is: David Lindley.
Like Clapton, Lindley is a well traveled session musician who has collaborated with more stars than can be seen in the average South Bay night sky. He also, like Clapton, established early roots as a founder of a legendary late-sixties band, Kaleidoscope, and went on to form his own band in the ‘80s, El Rayo X.
Lindley’s brag sheet is nothing to shy away from. His recording and performance roster includes affiliations with Bob Dylan, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Curtis Mayfield, Terry Reid, Warren Zevon, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton; and the list goes on, permeating myriad genres.
But the artist’s name should stand alone. His contributions to the musical lexicon cannot be underrated. Lindley and early band mate Chris Darrow emerged from mid-late ‘60s string bands, the Mad Mountain Ramblers and the Dry City Scat Band, mixing bluegrass, old-timey, jug, and jazz. Lindley and Darrow eventually went on to form one of the most talented bands to blossom from the late ‘60s, the Kaleidoscope (an American band, not to be confused with the UK group of the same name – who stink for the most part). Between ’66 and ’70, Kaleidoscope produced some of the most eclectic, diverse, innovative, interesting, and intelligent music of the era. Jimmy Page himself (Led Zeppelin) was quoted in the pages of ZigZag, Britain’s first rock music magazine, as claiming of the Kaleidoscope, “They’re my favorite band of all time – my ideal band.”
Lindley traditionally employs an array of exotic stringed instruments. He’s known to have a collection of rare, unusual looking and sounding instruments. Referred to as “Mr. Strings,” the multi-instrumentalist pulls from an amalgam of world music influences, rolled into awe-inspiring elector-acoustic performance. He fluidly blends American and Celtic folk, blues, and blue grass, as well as elements of African, Arabic, Asian, Malagasy, and Turkish music. It is said that Lindley actually has no idea how many instruments he owns and plays.
Joining Lindley on tour as direct support and opening act is guitar virtuoso Toulouse Engelhardt. Engelhardt has toured with The Byrds, Jack Bruce (Cream), Kenny Loggins, and loads more. He’s also known as having been the last member of the “Takoma Seven” – an elite club of guitar innovators who produced recordings for Takoma Records between 1964 and ’75, and which included the legendary John Fahey. He is dubbed “The Segovia of Surf”, and is acclaimed as one of the finest finger-style guitarists in the world; perhaps the universe.
Richard Foss of All Music Guide claims, “Toulouse Engelhardt plays guitar with such dexterity that it sounds like he has at least 15 fingers! He is a showcase of technical brilliance and a master in both composition and performance!”
I can see the obvious pairing here, because I’d swear it sounds like David Lindley has 16 fingers on the banjo!
Read an interview with Lindley from last year here.
David Lindley and Toulouse Engelhardt, with Cathy-Anne McClintock and The Valley Boyz, perform on Friday, Jan. 7, at Brixton on the Redondo Beach Pier. Doors open at 6 and the music starts at 8 p.m. (310) 406-1931 or go to brixtonsouthbay.com. For discount tickets, go to toulousemusic.com. ER
