Mark Lindsay – Paul Revere & The Raiders Frontman Records New Album In NJ
Mark Lindsay is one of the original founding members of Paul Revere & The Raiders. His rock and roll journey has taken him from worldwide stages and studios to tv and the silver screen over the last five decades. Lindsay is an accomplished writer, producer, vocalist and frontman, and he was considered to be one of rock and roll’s premiere scene stealers during the 1960s heyday of pop music.
Unlike most musical celebrities, Lindsay has never disappeared or taken drastic lengths of time to “rediscover” himself. Even before The Raiders, Mark Lindsay was hustling and making a name on the charts. His band, The Downbeats, gave him his first taste of notoriety when they reached number 38 on the Billboard charts with their instrumental song, “Like, Long Hair.” Since that time, Lindsay has experienced the supremely sweet taste of a long and successful career.
Some of The Raiders’ biggest moments came about from Lindsay’s keen sense of production and sense of picking the right material. His choice of using the John Loudermilk tune “Indian Reservation” in 1970 resulted in the band earning its first (and only) number one song. I have fond memories of playing “Indian Reservation” until the record player needle wore it out. And when that happened, I just got another copy to play. I played that little 45 record until I finally traded it for Elvis Presley’s “Burning Love,” which came out late the following year.
You might be wondering why I’m actually discussing this rock and roll pioneer in my column this week. Well, it’s kind of like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon. Lindsay has either worked with or is in the process of working with several groups and individuals that have been written about here in Shoreworld. Like a mysterious box of puzzle pieces, Lindsay’s detailed journey has taken a logical form. It’s taken him from his far-off birth place of Eugene, Oregon, to the gritty backstreets of New York City in his quest for success. And now, it’s put him right in the middle of Jersey rock royalty.
Lindsay’s first foray into familiar, East Coast faces started back in the early ‘90s, when he met The Chesterfield Kings. Lindsay ended up performing on their song, “Where Do We Go From Here?” He also appeared in the 2000 film, Where Is The Chesterfield King? The Chesterfield Kings are an iconic rock/punk band that I’ve mentioned in Shoreworld, and that eventually wound up in the crosshairs of guitarist/producer and all-around underground music aficionado “Little” Steven Van Zandt. Van Zandt eventually signed them to his label, Wicked Cool, for an incredible and ongoing run.
The second and closer encounter with the shrinking degrees of separation comes now with Lindsay’s next phase in his long and illustrious career. He just turned 70 on March 9, and is hard at work finishing up his next full-length record with none other than Gar Francis (another Shoreworld alumni) and members of The Doughboys. The first peek at that project comes in the form of the single “Like Nothing That You’ve Seen” on Bongo Boy. Once again, the separation closes with the track being recorded at Shoreworld compatriot Kurt Reil’s House Of Vibes in Highland Park, NJ. And I should also mention that it comes full circle with Little Steven performing background vocals on the track.
Mark Lindsay’s journey into the Shoreworld territory and collaboration with Francis and friends has resulted in a wicked taste of things to come. The pair are hard at work as we speak, whittling a burgeoning amount of material down to the final 12 songs that will make up the disc. But this single sample they sent me screams garage ‘60s grunge at its classiest. The addition of Kurt Reil (The Grip Weeds) on drums and Gar Francis on guitar lays a memorable backbeat sound that literally yanks this tune into the 21st century, putting it alongside current heavyweights The Killers while retaining the rattlesnake bite of “(You’re) Pushin’ Too Hard” by The Seeds.
Mark Lindsay is in the midst of what he likes to call his “wandering minstrel” experience. Living in his motor home and driving to destinations with his wife (and cats) and calling New Jersey home for the foreseeable future. Bongo Boy head Monique Grimme sums up Lindsay’s enthusiastic rebirth in the studio and on the live stage when she says, “After everything he’s been through, he stills wants to play to the crowd, he wants to be on stage and wear the clothes. He still wants to be the rock star.”
Mark Lindsay’s new single, “Like Nothing That You’ve Seen,” can be heard on the Bongo Boy home page. Stay tuned for more information on the six degrees of Aquarian separation that comes together right here at the Shoreworld. For more information on Mark Lindsay, Bongo Boy, The Doughboys, Kurt Reil and Gar Francis, head over to bongoboyrecords.com.
The Strand Theater Presents The Backstage Pass Series – An Intimate, Up Close Evening With New Jersey Rock And Roll – March 22
You’ve read my reviews on Kevin John Allen and Tommy Fuller. Great musicians do their own thing without relying on the Asbury Hollywood scene. Unique and presented in a manner that makes you want to stay just a little bit longer, the two musical statesmen will be joined by Slim Chance & The Gamblers.
The group’s website explains that Slim Chance & The Gamblers are an eight-piece band that mix the inspirational sounds of The Black Keys, J. Geils and War. Their sound is as diversified in the blues realm as Joe Bonamassa, Bonnie Raitt, or Delbert McClinton.
This Friday, March 22, the magnificent Strand Theater in Lakewood brings you an evening of unique musical presentation. I say unique because this will be a limited, 175-seat show where the audience will be right on stage with the performers. They call it their Backstage Pass Series, and it’s about as close as you can get to a performer without standing on stage next to them. I know that many of you want to do that, but let’s take baby steps for now.
Other joyous highlights of the Strand are the remarkable acoustic properties that have made this room famous, as well as a fully staffed cash bar. Tickets are available through the various artist website links as well as the main Strand website at strand.org.
If you prefer to buy your tickets from a live person and the theater box office is not open, you can dial the call center from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday,
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday at 732-730-5925.
So instead of barreling up the Parkway all week as I do, relax right here in Ocean County for a change. The Strand is located in Lakewood and directions are listed on the website.
For information on the performers for the night, check out Slim Chance & The Gamblers at slimchanceandthegamblers.com, Tommy Fuller at reverbnation.com/tommyfuller, and KJA And The Lonely Teardrops Band over at bandmix.com/kja283.
