Lynda Lucas singer/songwriter

Eva Harrison, Lynda Lucas and Spirit Riders

D.C.C. Club


10/12/’09

By Angela Macari O’Looney

Lynda Lucas and I go back a long way. I met her many years ago when we were both involved with Tops of the Town in an amateur Variety Show. I bumped into her again at a charity gig last summer and discovered she had an act which might be worth checking out.
So on hearing that she was performing at a Christmas night in the D.C.C. Club in Camden Row, I ventured down.
Lynda’s singer/songwriter career began in 1994. In 2000 she joined Dublin Bluegrass band The Cherry Pickers and has since played many major venues, including Vicar Street and last year featured at The Midlands Festival. I personally have admired her voice since first hearing her over 20 years ago and was confident this would be an interesting night. I wasn’t wrong!

Kicking off the show was a female singer/songwriter Eva Harrison, who possesses a crisp voice and excellent guitar playing ability. I liked the sense of movement in her first number and the easy to sing along to refrain; every soul passes my way.

Her second number Mozart mentions an Argentinean tango and to add a dramatic feel to it, she plays lots of minor chords. Her vocals have a soulful quality a little reminiscent of American songwriter Janis Ian. Guitar plucking in this song is intricate. I like the line you too were born in minor but we could walk out in major.

Eva’s performance was inspiring and the small crowd now gathering gave her a positive reaction.

Lynda Lucas

I looked around and felt really at home in this cosy hideaway among like minded music lovers. I could hear an excited buzz around me while the audience awaited the appearance of my friend Lynda and I myself felt intrigued, when so much time has passed since I actually heard her sing.

From the little snippets of information I picked up, this lady has come a long way, developing her style and refining her act, having broken out of the Chrysalis that lay beneath during her spate with The Cherry Pickers. Now arriving on the Dublin circuit as an independent singer/songwriter, she takes something fresh and combines a touch of the old and a splash of the new with influences from Gram Parsons, Emmie Lou Harris, Hank Williams, and The Carter Family.

She appeared on Balcony T.V. with the Lisa Janes performing Wayfaring Stranger. With their harmony and her powerful vocals it’s an impressive piece of online footage. She can also be seen on You Tube performing Ode to Someone.

With beauty to match her talent, Lynda took to the small stage accompanied by Brendan Priestly on guitar. A delicious guitar intro was followed by a heartfelt rendition of The Lord’s burning rain. A sad three four time number, it involves delightful close harmony sung by Brendan behind Lynda’s fluent country vocals.

Make me down a palette

This song has a real Blue grass style to it. It’s a laid back piece with Brendan taking a solo on his acoustic guitar. Here, Lynda’s vocals have real clarity as she effortlessly glides up and down tricky octaves.

The Dimming of the day

This ballad with lovely lyrics has a sweet melody line and involves trickling guitar notes. Here Lynda’s own guitar prowess comes to the fore and my earlier faith in the fact I’d not be disappointed in what she has to offer, was rewarded a hundredfold!

A pretty song by Gillian Welch called Valley of Tears was next.

Then Lynda went on to perform a song written for her by a friend with sad lyrics, but a wonderful combination of sevenths and major to minor chords that lifted the number up.
As she sang the poignant lyrics there was a lot of emotion, the audience hanging on every line!

Hank Williams cover Long gone lonesome blues followed, with delicious harmony and a tricky chorus which involves going from higher notes to a lower octave and is really effective.

River boat gambling song

In a three four tempo this song paints a scene on a Mississippi river boat that’s a casino. You picture cowboys around a poker table, chewing tobacco. Brendan takes the lead for the verse of this number, Lynda doing the chorus.

I got a lump in my throat when I heard the intro to the next song, since it’s a number I’ve often sung in my own harmony act with my sisters.
Jambalaya went down a treat with its lively beat and cheerful chorus.
Lynda and Brendan got a huge applause and were asked to do an encore. They did a pretty number called Motherland.

Spirit Riders

With lots of pluck, this act consists of six members who with their music take you from Camden Row, Dublin to Nashville U.S.A. as each note is sung. They are a big change from the style of band I usually review, playing Alternative Country with an urban twang, but definitely are the best at what they do. Totally committed to their songs, each is sung with conviction and is top standard.

Band members are Satch Wright – Electric lead guitar/Vox, Alan Begley – Acoustic guitar/ Vox, Colin Griffith- Bass, Arty Lorigan- Drums, Joe Ryan – Pedal Steel/Mandolin and Kevin Strong – Keyboards/Vox.

They did a long set beginning with a Richard Thompson cover. They have a big sound and after a long day of Christmas shopping, I sat back and truly enjoyed myself. This band is easy on the ears, with lovely harmonies and a mix of half original songs and half covers.They included Jambalaya in their set and I sang along as did all the folk present.

Lynda is only recently back from Nashville after doing some recording there and with a vocal talent to match her beauty and a calm charismatic style that’s soothing to the soul, I hope this is the beginning of a successful journey for her!