Brandy Lindsey

Spartanburg musicians raised the bar in 2006.

Not only bolstering the local music scene by filling area venues with a variety of styles and unique approaches, several Spartanburg artists made it into the studio with fresh and creative ideas, emerging with CDs that not only signify the robust state of local music talent, but epitomize our local musical heritage and illuminate its future.

Here in no particular order are the five most noteworthy recordings Spartanburg musicians released in 2006:

1. David Ezell, "The Back Shop Live"

Perhaps the most anticipated local release of the year, Ezell finally appeased longtime fans, and allured those curious about his music with a CD of original music recorded during a performance at The Back Shop, literally a private back shop utilized for house concerts.

The atmosphere of the performance and the strength of Ezell's songs and voice successfully encapsulate an artist who has been active in the region for nearly four decades. Ezell has influenced generations of Spartanburg songwriters, and the new CD demonstrates effectively why this musical jewel is so prized.

Visit www.davidezell.net for more information.

2. Marc Higgins Band, "Change Is Good"

An original Spartanburg act with musical momentum, Marc Higgins Band released its debut during the summer, striking powerfully with songs such as "Subway Song" and "I Know What You Know." But perhaps even more impressive is the group's rapid progression in performance and prolific production.

With vocalist and guitarist Marc Higgins at the helm, the group has practically completed its follow-up, "Slow Moving Train," due out as early as January, and sessions for that album reveal songs that not only assert the band's solidifying sonic identity, but also continue to unfold as-yet-unseen areas of lyrical and melodic explorations.

Visit www.marchiggins band.com for more information.

3. Brandy Lindsey, "Who Am I This Time"

Despite the title, Lindsey obviously knows exactly who she is. Possessing an extraordinary voice, Lindsey has been exciting to watch since she began honing her craft in the early 1990s. On her newest CD, her first solo effort, she has perfected the means to utilize her immense vocal range and versatility in a way that is both subtle and powerful.

Visit www.brandylindsey. com for more information.

4. The Antibodies, "Senses"

Crafted by a quartet of seasoned local musicians who have been associated musically for nearly 20 years, perhaps what's most striking about "Senses" is that it sounds so fresh.

Along with the freshness, however, the band's experience shines through in the sureness of its musical chemistry, as well as its intelligent approach to crafting intriguing songs.

Visit www.myspace.com/ antibodiestheband for more information.

5. Headsnap, "To Phoenix and Back"

Representing the top of the class of Spartanburg's vibrant hard-rocking counterculture, Headsnap hit the scene full-throttle with this CD.

Although the album has all the ultra-tight guitar and rhythm section crunch and punch you might expect, vocalist Ricky Shuler's compelling vocal melodies set Headsnap apart, as does the band's ability to explore inventive musical twists and turns without overindulging.

Visit www.myspace.com/ headsnap for more information. - Spartanburg Herald-Journal (12/28/06)

Friday night, Herald-Journal music writer Tad Taylor hosts the third installment of Tad's Picks, a monthly concert series featuring some of Spartanburg's most promising and creative musical acts at the recently opened multi-use arts venue, The Showroom.

Concerts are presented in a smoke-free listening room environment and feature interviews with the artists. Songs by the artists can be heard on the Herald-Journal's GoTunes online jukebox at www.GoUpstate.com.

The series resumes Friday night with a performance by Brandy Lindsey and The Punch, featuring material from Lindsey's debut album, "Who Am I This Time," performed with her freshly formed band.

Brandy Lindsey: vocals and acoustic guitar
Lindsey honed her voice and performance presence on the rock 'n' roll stage beginning at jam nights at Dawg Gone's in the early 1990s. She went on to form Peephole. The band joined with Spartanburg artists The Antibodies and Guy Workman to release a collaborative CD in 2005 titled "Circus Freaks." After the release, Peephole disbanded and Lindsey pursued writing and performing her own material exclusively, resulting in the CD "Who Am I This Time."

Eric Lindsey: bass
As Brandy Lindsey puts it, Eric Lindsey is a great bass player who just happens to be her husband. Not only a constructive musical confidante, Eric is a rock-steady bassist in the tradition of his icon, The Who's late John Entwistle, and provides a sturdy undercurrent for Brandy's songs on the CD and on stage.

Steven Bailey: guitar
In a manner completely new to Brandy's musical experience, she discovered Bailey this summer through an ad he placed on networking Web site MySpace. The Georgia-born guitarist and Raleigh, N.C., transplant had recently relocated to Lexington and was looking to form a band.

Kevin Heuer: drums
Brandy had been long aware of drummer Heuer, dating back to his work with Spartanburg songwriter and guitarist Matthew Knights in the fabled Dawg Gone's nightclub days. She tracked him down to his Greenville home, where he is a drum instructor at Eastside Guitars and Drums, and he became the final piece of The Punch.

What do they sound like?
Utilizing a range of songwriting approaches from straight-ahead rock 'n' roll guitar riffs, to complex harmonic structures, Brandy's inventive melodies give her songs a freshness that lends them pop allure, and she infuses her tunes with enough musical surprises to satisfy even the most sophisticated music lovers.

Why they were selected:
Although Brandy Lindsey has long demonstrated an amazing vocal range, as well as a distinctive tone and an uncanny ability to shift vocal textures seamlessly, now that she has been honing her solo songwriting craft, she seems to have perfected cementing her voice to the song, in a manner that seems not restrained, but rather deliciously discriminate. - Spartanburg Herald-Journal (10/19/06)

This Spartanburg singer-songwriter changes gears on her latest album, "Who I Am This Time," more than Paris Hilton changes boyfriends. From the sweet and somber "Somebody to Love" (no, it's not a Jefferson Airplane cover) to the raucous, poppy hooks of "All the Boys," Lindsey has crafted a debut that blends rock and Americana with great success. Oh yeah, she's got a terrific set of pipes, too, drawing comparisons to (of all people) Gwen Stefani. - Columbia Free Times (Published 8/30/06)

Spartanburg songwriter Brandy Lindsey, has just released, “Who Am I This Time.”

“To finally have it all together in a package, it felt real for the first time,” she says. “I feel like I’ve been talking about it for months, but to actually get it in my hands was a real accomplishment.”

She started writing songs and learned to play guitar “out of necessity,” she says.
This new record - a collection of personal songs with a catchy pop sensibility - started out as a side project that quickly became a focus.

“There’s always a learning curve,” she says, “but I would say with this record it’s probably the first time that where I’m coming from has been expressed musically. And I’m proud of it.” - The Link (Posted 7/20/06)

1. “Midnight Moonlight,” Bushy Valley Boys
2. “Salt Creek,’’ Bushy Valley Boys
3. “Fatback & Egg,” Baker Maultsby
4. “All the Boys,” Brandy Lindsey
5. “Four Wal-Marts,’’ Baker Maultsby - GoUpstate’s GoTunes (Posted 3/17/06)

What a difference a year makes. With nary enough local releases to even compile a Top 10 list last year, in 2005 Spartanburg musicians were busy doing what they do best -- playing it like it is.

The following is a list of the 10 best CD releases by Spartanburg musical artists who did it, dare I say, the old-fashioned way in 2005:

1. DesChamps Band

2. Shane Pruitt

3. The Sheriff’s Daughter

4. Dezeray’s Hammer

5. ‘Circus Freaks: Introducing a Compilation of Spartanburg Artists’ …exploratory rock band Peephole, led by Brandy Lindsey’s stunning vocal acrobatics…

6. The Catfish Brothers

7. Carmella White

8. Alvin ‘Little Pink’ Anderson

9. Laurel and The Lads

10. Silver Travis - Spartanburg Herald-Journal (Posted 12/30/05)

A while back on this very website, I made the statement that I hadn’t heard a good album all year. Well, that was before Pearl Jam and Jurassic 5 dropped theirs...and Bruce Springsteen did Pete Seeger...and we found The Lonely Hearts...and Fair...and before we finally let the critics have their way and picked up The Raconteurs.

That was also before my wife slipped Brandy Lindsey into the Civic for one of my road trips. And I’ve got to honestly tell you, road trippin' with Brandy Lindsey makes for a pretty good time!

I’ve never met Ms. Brandy. Never shook her hand. But her voice joined me recently all the way through the back roads and small towns of North Carolina and for that experience, I owe her a bit of thanks. Her stories, words and vocals saw me through the fog and the heat on that trip, as we descended upon Winston Salem in a mad fury. Music critics often dig for the technical qualities of musicianship in reviews or try to find how many mediocre points there are on a record and bring them to light in every way possible. Critics forget the fact that if music moves you (and it is okay to let music move you) the songwriter and musician have done their job. On Brandy Lindsey’s debut album, she holds her own as a musician and should pacify most of the critics, but she more than does her job in taking the listener on a journey. The journey’s full direction is up to the listener, but Brandy makes sure the listener spends equal time with some old photographs, sorry boys, the TV Guide, fairy tales, small favors, selling doom, and all of the best songs and scenes.

As they say in the bars, “The girl can sing.” More importantly than that fact is that the girl can write songs that truly fit her. That may sound like a dumb statement at first glance, but if you start thinking of all the bands you’ve witnessed in bars over the years who could do excellent covers of songs that fit their style, but couldn’t write even one original song to fit their style...you’ll understand my point. The sequencing on the album flows well. Brandy rips into the record (All the Boys) with a fiery passion and closes with quiet abandon (The Best), letting all types of merriment and heartache fall in between.

Grasping touches of rock (All the Boys), jazz smoke (Foolin’ You, The Best) or Americana (Somebody to Love, I Do), Brandy touches it all and touches it very well. She is inevitably going to draw comparisons to Gwen Stefani. It’s even mentioned on her own website. And yes, she does have some of Gwen’s vocal inflections and hints of similarities in her sound, but really...it stops there for me. Brandy’s voice has a real weight to it and on her debut, she does a marvelous job of showcasing its pure power. It makes you forget Gwen and concentrate on the matter at hand, namely Brandy's view of the road.

Brandy Lindsey’s album title asks the question: who am I this time? Well, Brandy, let me tell you. You are the reason independent records are so damn good. A voice coming from out of nowhere, teetering on the edge and laying down a melody any foot or ear could groove. A new companion that assures she will always be with you for the journey. Low or high. Soft or hard. Warm or brisk. Whatever path you are on, Brandy lets you know that she is someone to share the load.

In short, I’m back on the road tomorrow...and Brandy Lindsey's coming with me. - Gigatracks.com (Posted 8/21/06)