Jon Lindsay (American Musician)
Encyclopedia
Jon Lindsay is an American
rock musician, singer, songwriter
, multi-instrumentalist
, producer
, composer
and musical director born in Portland, Oregon, now residing in North Carolina.
(New West Records
) on keyboards and vocals. He also accompanied Nicole Atkins
(Columbia Records
/Razor and Tie) on shows opening for the Avett Brothers (American Recordings) in the same year. In 2009, Lindsay independently released his debut as a solo artist, the EP Magic Winter & the Dirty South prompting Paste Magazine to call him "One of the most exciting artists we've seen come out of the burgeoning Southeastern Lo-Fi revival scene."
Also in 2009, Lindsay co-founded Charlotte’s Machine Theatre, serving as Music Director and Company Composer. He sound-designed an adaptation of Ionesco's The Bald Soprano and composed an original score for the company-created absurdist musical ThomThom; If That Bird Won’t Sing.
Lindsay made his official debut on Chicago-based label Chocolate Lab Records
, who released his 15-song solo LP, Escape From Plaza-Midwood on August 17, 2010. Concurrent with the album release was the 7-inch EP Coping Strategies, which features four songs from Escape From Plaza-Midwood. Three free-download singles debuted with the album launch: "Frequent Flyer" at Magnet Magazine, "My Blue Angels" at Fuse.TV, and "Futuretown" at AOL Spinner. The album received high critical marks and garnered Lindsay national recognition in the US, bolstered by both solo and full-band tours, television appearances and a Daytrotter
session. The Independent Weekly wrote that the album is a "sprawling opus of pop rock splendor", and Charlotte Magazine, regarding Lindsay's album and title, wrote that "What Sufjan Stevens did for Chicago, Lindsay might just pull off for Charlotte." In December 2010, Performer Magazine called Escape From Plaza-Midwood "One of the best records to come out of the Southeast over the course of the decade", Shuffle Magazine's album review wrote that the album "comes as close as any regional record in recent memory to rendering what it means to be alive" and NPR
praised the song "During The Beauty Shortage" as showing the mastery of composer Aaron Copland
.
Escape From Plaza-Midwood marks the first in a series of forthcoming Jon Lindsay solo albums to be made at Sioux Sioux Studios in Charlotte, NC, a facility owned and operated by producer/engineer Chris Walldorf (A Decent Animal, Pyramid
, Sea of Cortez, Elves). With Lindsay, Walldorf is the primary engineer and co-producer of Lindsay's solo albums. In January, 2011, Lindsay began work on his second LP, entitled Summer Wilderness Program, as well as Rumormill, the debut album for Lindsay's side project The Catch Fire, both slated for release in 2011. Also in January, 2011, Lindsay's record label announced he was joining forces with Vulcan Army Booking, of Nashville, TN. Chocolate Lab Records also announced plans to re-issue Lindsay's independently released EP Magic Winter & the Dirty South in February, 2011. Lindsay then embarked on a solo tour of the US in February and March, including several notable festival appearances at the first annual Savannah SXSW Stop-Over Festival and at SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas, including the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Official Showcase. On June 15, 2011 it was announced that Lindsay signed a music publishing deal with North Star Media, of Los Angeles and Detroit, USA. Lindsay toured again in June, 2011, this time with his backing band, debuting songs from his new album and preparing for its release. Lindsay completed solo show residencies in New York and Los Angeles between July 28 and August 7. On Sept 10, 2011 Lindsay and band played the 2nd annual Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, NC, headlined by The Flaming Lips
. Lindsay and band will play one final 2011 US tour, with 3 weeks of dates in November and December. In September, 2011, Lindsay announced that he is working on a "holiday-ish" album, with tracking taking place in early November in Los Angeles and Detroit.
In late November, 2011, unconfirmed rumors began circulating that Lindsay's forthcoming release Summer Wilderness Program is a double album with 26 tracks. Lindsay has confirmed that Summer Wilderness Program will, in fact, be a double album though it is not known if both volumes will be released simultaneously. No street date has been formally announced yet. Also confirmed: on Nov 29, 2011, he will release an EP entitled Could It Be Christmas?
, Alternative Champs) resulted in the formation of Phillips/Mitschele LLC, a custom music production company and the primary avenue through which Lindsay channels his songwriting for film and television. Most recently, Phillips/Mitschele compositions have been featured in national television campaigns for Sheetz
gas stations, Cree LED Lighting and in films such as "Employee of the Month
" and "The Hollywood Dream."
. He attended Queens University of Charlotte
earning a B.A. in English and Political Science in 2003. While a student at Queens he participated in the International Experience Program, studying Art in Italy in the summer of 2002. In 2005, he received an MFA in Fiction Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His father is a trained organist and Episcopalian minister, and his mother is a teacher and children's book author. Lindsay's childhood was spent between Oregon, Montana and North Carolina. Lindsay has been known to state in interviews that his favorite rock band is Big Star
. His other influences are very wide-ranging, but most prominent are Twentieth-Century pop composers Harry Nilsson
, Brian Wilson
, Warren Zevon
, Randy Newman
, Roger Miller
, Lennon/McCartney
, Ray Davies
, Jeff Lynne
and Jackson Browne
.
)
Escape From Plaza-Midwood LP (August 17, 2010, Chocolate Lab Records
)
Coping Strategies 7-inch EP (August 17, 2010, Chocolate Lab Records
)
Could It Be Christmas? EP (forthcoming, Nov 29, 2011)
Summer Wilderness Program LP (forthcoming, date unknown)
- The Bastard From Tomorrow LP (2008, unreleased)
Raised By Wolves - Return to the House of Ill Repute LP (2009, Giant Panda)
Stephen Warwick & the Secondhand Stories - Talking Machine LP (2010)
Twelve Thousand Armies - North Carolina LP (2011)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock musician, singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musical director born in Portland, Oregon, now residing in North Carolina.
Music career
Lindsay founded the band The Young Sons in June, 2007 and produced its debut LP Hearts Inc. In 2008, Lindsay joined the band Benji HughesBenji Hughes
Benji Hughes is an American artist from Charlotte, North Carolina. On July 22, 2008, Benji Hughes released his debut album, entitled A Love Extreme on New West Records. A Love Extreme is a double-disc album containing 25 songs...
(New West Records
New West Records
New West Records is a record label based in Los Angeles, California, Austin, Texas, and Athens, Georgia. It was established in 1998, and has been home to several indie rock and alternative country bands as well as representing the PBS show Austin City Limits...
) on keyboards and vocals. He also accompanied Nicole Atkins
Nicole Atkins
Nicole Atkins is an American singer-songwriter. She has been compared to Roy Orbison and singers from the Brill Building era.-Early life:...
(Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
/Razor and Tie) on shows opening for the Avett Brothers (American Recordings) in the same year. In 2009, Lindsay independently released his debut as a solo artist, the EP Magic Winter & the Dirty South prompting Paste Magazine to call him "One of the most exciting artists we've seen come out of the burgeoning Southeastern Lo-Fi revival scene."
Also in 2009, Lindsay co-founded Charlotte’s Machine Theatre, serving as Music Director and Company Composer. He sound-designed an adaptation of Ionesco's The Bald Soprano and composed an original score for the company-created absurdist musical ThomThom; If That Bird Won’t Sing.
Lindsay made his official debut on Chicago-based label Chocolate Lab Records
Chocolate Lab Records
Chocolate Lab Records is an American independent record label formed in Los Angeles, California in 2008 and is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. To date they have released records from Andy Yorke , Paper Round Kid, Clock Hands Strangle, The Houston Brothers and Motion Turns It On...
, who released his 15-song solo LP, Escape From Plaza-Midwood on August 17, 2010. Concurrent with the album release was the 7-inch EP Coping Strategies, which features four songs from Escape From Plaza-Midwood. Three free-download singles debuted with the album launch: "Frequent Flyer" at Magnet Magazine, "My Blue Angels" at Fuse.TV, and "Futuretown" at AOL Spinner. The album received high critical marks and garnered Lindsay national recognition in the US, bolstered by both solo and full-band tours, television appearances and a Daytrotter
Daytrotter
Daytrotter is a website for the recording studio Horseshack, which hosts recording sessions with many popular and typically upcoming indie music acts, although it works with local bands in the Illinois area as well. The sessions can be compared to that of a radio station's lounge recordings, where...
session. The Independent Weekly wrote that the album is a "sprawling opus of pop rock splendor", and Charlotte Magazine, regarding Lindsay's album and title, wrote that "What Sufjan Stevens did for Chicago, Lindsay might just pull off for Charlotte." In December 2010, Performer Magazine called Escape From Plaza-Midwood "One of the best records to come out of the Southeast over the course of the decade", Shuffle Magazine's album review wrote that the album "comes as close as any regional record in recent memory to rendering what it means to be alive" and NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
praised the song "During The Beauty Shortage" as showing the mastery of composer Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
.
Escape From Plaza-Midwood marks the first in a series of forthcoming Jon Lindsay solo albums to be made at Sioux Sioux Studios in Charlotte, NC, a facility owned and operated by producer/engineer Chris Walldorf (A Decent Animal, Pyramid
Pyramid (band)
Pyramid is an American experimental, indie-rock band from North Carolina. Music from their self-released album, "The First American", was used in two David Gordon Green films, All the Real Girls and Undertow...
, Sea of Cortez, Elves). With Lindsay, Walldorf is the primary engineer and co-producer of Lindsay's solo albums. In January, 2011, Lindsay began work on his second LP, entitled Summer Wilderness Program, as well as Rumormill, the debut album for Lindsay's side project The Catch Fire, both slated for release in 2011. Also in January, 2011, Lindsay's record label announced he was joining forces with Vulcan Army Booking, of Nashville, TN. Chocolate Lab Records also announced plans to re-issue Lindsay's independently released EP Magic Winter & the Dirty South in February, 2011. Lindsay then embarked on a solo tour of the US in February and March, including several notable festival appearances at the first annual Savannah SXSW Stop-Over Festival and at SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas, including the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Official Showcase. On June 15, 2011 it was announced that Lindsay signed a music publishing deal with North Star Media, of Los Angeles and Detroit, USA. Lindsay toured again in June, 2011, this time with his backing band, debuting songs from his new album and preparing for its release. Lindsay completed solo show residencies in New York and Los Angeles between July 28 and August 7. On Sept 10, 2011 Lindsay and band played the 2nd annual Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, NC, headlined by The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
. Lindsay and band will play one final 2011 US tour, with 3 weeks of dates in November and December. In September, 2011, Lindsay announced that he is working on a "holiday-ish" album, with tracking taking place in early November in Los Angeles and Detroit.
In late November, 2011, unconfirmed rumors began circulating that Lindsay's forthcoming release Summer Wilderness Program is a double album with 26 tracks. Lindsay has confirmed that Summer Wilderness Program will, in fact, be a double album though it is not known if both volumes will be released simultaneously. No street date has been formally announced yet. Also confirmed: on Nov 29, 2011, he will release an EP entitled Could It Be Christmas?
Film/commercial work
In 2009, Lindsay’s songwriting partnership with former The Young Sons bassist and fellow member in The Catch Fire, Mike Mitschele (JoleneJolene
Jolene may refer to:In music:* Jolene , by Dolly Parton** "Jolene" , a song from the album* "Jolene", a song on the 2004 album Trouble by Ray LaMontagne* "Jolene", a song on the 2008 album The Foundation by Zac Brown Band...
, Alternative Champs) resulted in the formation of Phillips/Mitschele LLC, a custom music production company and the primary avenue through which Lindsay channels his songwriting for film and television. Most recently, Phillips/Mitschele compositions have been featured in national television campaigns for Sheetz
Sheetz
Sheetz, Inc. is a chain of gas stations/convenience stores owned by the Sheetz family. Stores are located in Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia....
gas stations, Cree LED Lighting and in films such as "Employee of the Month
Employee of the Month (2006 film)
Employee of the Month is a 2006 American comedy film directed by Greg Coolidge, written by Don Calame, Chris Conroy, and Coolidge, and starring Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson and Dax Shepard. The main plot revolves around two shop employees who compete for the affection of their newest co-worker...
" and "The Hollywood Dream."
Personal life
Lindsay is based out of Charlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. He attended Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte is a private, co-educational, comprehensive university located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has approximately 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students through the College of Arts and Sciences, the McColl School of Business, the Wayland H. Cato, Jr. School...
earning a B.A. in English and Political Science in 2003. While a student at Queens he participated in the International Experience Program, studying Art in Italy in the summer of 2002. In 2005, he received an MFA in Fiction Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His father is a trained organist and Episcopalian minister, and his mother is a teacher and children's book author. Lindsay's childhood was spent between Oregon, Montana and North Carolina. Lindsay has been known to state in interviews that his favorite rock band is Big Star
Big Star
Big Star was an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel. The group broke up in 1974, but reorganized with a new line-up nearly 20 years later...
. His other influences are very wide-ranging, but most prominent are Twentieth-Century pop composers Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
, Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon
Warren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known...
, Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
, Roger Miller
Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
, Lennon/McCartney
Lennon/McCartney
The Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership is one of the best-known and most successful musical collaborations in history...
, Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
, Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
and Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
.
Awards/nominations
- In 2002, Lindsay won Queens University of CharlotteQueens University of CharlotteQueens University of Charlotte is a private, co-educational, comprehensive university located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has approximately 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students through the College of Arts and Sciences, the McColl School of Business, the Wayland H. Cato, Jr. School...
's Marjorie Blankenship Melton Award for his poem "Francis The Cabbie." - In 2004, Lindsay was nominated for Best Musical Director, Best Composer (Original Score), and Newcomer of The Year at Creative Loafing's Theatre Awards for his work on The Farm Theatre's adaptation of Mac WellmanMac WellmanMac Wellman is an American playwright, author, and poet. Wellman is best known for his experimental work in the theater which rebels against theatrical conventions, often abandoning such traditional elements as plot and character altogether...
's Description Beggared or the Allegory of WHITENESS. - In 2010, Lindsay won Creative Loafing Charlotte's categories for Best Male Vocalist and Best Songwriter.
- In 2010, Lindsay's Album Escape From Plaza-Midwood was included on the "Best Albums of 2010" list by Sunset In The Rearview.
- In 2010, Lindsay's Album Escape From Plaza-Midwood was included on the "Best Albums of 2010" list by Power of Pop.
- In 2010, Lindsay's Album Escape From Plaza-Midwood was included on the "Best Albums of 2010 Guest Picks" list by Shuffle Magazine, earning the #1 spot on the list submitted by musician Caitlin Cary (Whiskeytown).
- In 2010, Lindsay's song "Bring the Old You Back" was included in the "Top 10 Tracks of the Year" by Blogcritics.com.
- On February 9, 2011, Lindsay's Album Escape From Plaza-Midwood was included in Goldmine Magazine's "Top 20 CD's of 2010".
- On May 10, 2011, Lindsay was nominated for Best Musical Director and Best Composer for his work on ThomThom, by Machine Theatre. Lindsay composed an original score and was Musical Director for the piece, which was also nominated for Theatre Event of The Year.
Solo
Magic Winter & the Dirty South EP (independently released in 2009, then re-issued February 2011 on Chocolate Lab RecordsChocolate Lab Records
Chocolate Lab Records is an American independent record label formed in Los Angeles, California in 2008 and is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. To date they have released records from Andy Yorke , Paper Round Kid, Clock Hands Strangle, The Houston Brothers and Motion Turns It On...
)
Escape From Plaza-Midwood LP (August 17, 2010, Chocolate Lab Records
Chocolate Lab Records
Chocolate Lab Records is an American independent record label formed in Los Angeles, California in 2008 and is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. To date they have released records from Andy Yorke , Paper Round Kid, Clock Hands Strangle, The Houston Brothers and Motion Turns It On...
)
Coping Strategies 7-inch EP (August 17, 2010, Chocolate Lab Records
Chocolate Lab Records
Chocolate Lab Records is an American independent record label formed in Los Angeles, California in 2008 and is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. To date they have released records from Andy Yorke , Paper Round Kid, Clock Hands Strangle, The Houston Brothers and Motion Turns It On...
)
Could It Be Christmas? EP (forthcoming, Nov 29, 2011)
Summer Wilderness Program LP (forthcoming, date unknown)
The Young Sons
Hearts Inc. LP (2008, independently released)With
Benji HughesBenji Hughes
Benji Hughes is an American artist from Charlotte, North Carolina. On July 22, 2008, Benji Hughes released his debut album, entitled A Love Extreme on New West Records. A Love Extreme is a double-disc album containing 25 songs...
- The Bastard From Tomorrow LP (2008, unreleased)
Raised By Wolves - Return to the House of Ill Repute LP (2009, Giant Panda)
Stephen Warwick & the Secondhand Stories - Talking Machine LP (2010)
Twelve Thousand Armies - North Carolina LP (2011)