Eric Lindell et John Courage

Eric Lindell's sweet, soul-drenched blues sounds as if it is coming right out of a Louisiana bayou, oozing with laid back grooves yet heavy jams to get your lip curling. His performance at the Empire Control Room in Austin, Texas, was perhaps not the most ideal venue for his music, catering to more electronica/hip hop acts, but nonetheless Lindell's music swooned throughout the venue, immersing the audience with his music. His talents were allowed to shine through a stripped-back band, accompanied by a double bassist, drums and a saxophonist, providing the perfect set up for his roots-blues. It was a captivating performance, featuring a number of songs from his new album "Sunday Morning." "Bayou Country" was a highlight, with heavy rhythm and bus vibes permeating throughout the track. Then Lindell looked to gospel with his hit "Love's Gonna Live Here" which created this communal feel in the crowd, a sense of togetherness as we al looked to enjoy Eric's music. Musically, Lindell is very talented, yet he does not use his music as a platform to show off his virtuosity. Instead it is always tasteful, playing the right notes exactly when needed. His stage presence lit up the venue, garnering a real focus of attention from the crowd upon him as he played through his set. It was a master class in Louisiana-vibe blues with a quintessential southern sound. He is a terrific performer and I would not hesitate to go see one of his shows.