Lynda Lucas

Lynda Lucas demo

Angela Macari O’Looney

Lynda Lucas has been on the singer/songwriter circuit since 1994. In 2000 she joined Dublin Bluegrass band The Cherry Pickers and appeared in high profile venues such as Vicar St., Thomas Reads, The Baggot Inn and Whelan’s.

Lynda has an impressive repertoire, which includes covers from Gram Parsons, Emmy Lou Harris, Hank Williams and The Carter Family. On this demo there are samples of her own songwriting skills, which are quite special and involve wonderful chords and charming melodies.

In 2009 she travelled to Nashville, where she did some recording and is currently working on her debut album. This velvet voiced lady has an unbelievable range and plucks her guitar with the touch of someone who is in love with her music.

Rusty Rings

A sad song, this begins with just acoustic guitar in the first verse. Lyrics are poignant as Lynda tells the story. The melody line is beautiful, with major to minors that add to the sense of sorrow. An electric guitar comes in with sliding notes, as she sings this number which really showcases her voice. Patsy Cline is mentioned in the lyrics; A singer I’d definitely compare Lynda with, along with the likes of Crystal Gale and Emmy Lou.

Walk Away

Yet another slow trickling song, this is one of Lynda’s best numbers and was written by her friend Jane Stradwick. It features electric and acoustic guitars once again and has an amazing melody line. I like the lyrics, which tell a very real life tale; Everyone is looking at us tonight, saying we look just right. Oh what a lie! Hand in hand and both gritting our teeth, hiding what’s underneath and I don’t know why.
Her delivery here is everything, plus the sliding guitar notes which help the mood.

Ode to Someone

A song about an aspiring singing star (Alice), who headed for the bright lights, but never made the grade, this track is a tribute and goes on to tell her sad story;Well she traded her sweet life for a cheap glass of wine and she never got to see her name in lights.
It gets even sadder, as Lynda sings this mournful lament about Alice’s passing. Now it’s been twenty years since Alice left her friends and kin back home. The same old sea it carries home her bones. And all the people said how sad it was, the way she had to go and there’s a crimson sky lights up for you tonight. Though sad, this track is sweet and sung from the heart!

Things become a bit more upbeat for track four; Thinking of you (written by Seamus Moran for Dervish). Lynda starts this with a chorus sung slowly. It then picks up with banjo and mandolin joining in. Marion McEvoy on mandolin does a sweet solo and backing Vox. A key change for the last chorus is just perfect, with that clarity that Ms. Lucas has in her voice making it memorable.

A slinky beat in The Flying Burrito Brothers cover High Fashion Queen makes me feel like jumping up and doing a line dance. Harmony gives this song a little pinch of spice. This track features Gerry Fitzpatrick on Dubro and adds to the sound, which also includes sliding guitar notes. It’s another cheerful track after the earlier moody ones.

Weeping Willow, performed with members of The Cherry Pickers and Lynda doing backing vocals is a country number with a ‘Hillbilly’ feel. But the chorus is fun and easy to sing along to. I like the short but sweet guitar solo here.

Lovesick Blues (Hank Williams cover)

With an acoustic intro and a very bluegrass feel to it, this gorgeous number is addictive. Lynda’s voice glides effortlessly over the candy sweet melody, going from higher to lower octaves in a really seductive style. A closely sung harmony comes in, slinky guitar chords strumming out the rhythm and it sounds like she adores performing this song, which doesn’t surprise me. With a wonderful baseline featuring in this last track too, it is by far the catchiest of the entire CD.