David Lindley is perhaps the greatest sideman of all time, and it’s nearly time to pay tribute to the man once again. GP Presents is proud to re-team with roots guitar maestro Papa Mali along with former Lindley drummer/percussionist Wally Ingram at the hip Chickie Wah Wah club in New Orleans during the Jazz & Heritage Festival to throw a Lindley-themed hootenanny.
“Mr. Dave” was a master of myriad stringed instruments and a lap steel slide virtuoso. His multi-faceted talents as a player and vocalist made Lindley the sideman to the stars including Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Ry Cooder and Bonnie Raitt. His slide playing was a huge influence on Ben Harper and Sonny Landreth. All gave heartfelt praise and glorious anecdotes about Lindley in GP’s November 2024 tribute feature.
Lindley also founded and fronted the pioneering world rock band El Rayo-X, and he eventually logged lots of miles touring his Twango Bongo duo with Ingram. He’ll provide the heartbeat for this evening of Lindley tunes spearheaded by reggae and blues guru Papa Mali. The event is also Papa's birthday bash, and a who's who of his funky NOLA krewe will pass through what’s become an annual tradition.
When Lindley passed on March 3, 2023, Mali and Ingram quickly decided to turn Papa’s birthday party gig into a Lindley tribute at the newly renovated Chickie Wah Wah. GP Presents got involved in 2024 when a parade of Lindley lovers brought his diverse catalog to life.
Featured guest artists for the 2026 celebration include: Bernie Larsen of El Rayo-X, Jordan Zevon performing the songs of Warren Zevon with pianist Jordan Summers (Wild Honey Orchestra), Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz (ALO), the Iguanas, Dave Easely, Lindley student Kota Kato, Lindley disciple Lorenzo Piccone, bass ace Casandra Faulconer and more TBA.
Lindley mastered everything from violin to banjo, mandolin, dobro and bouzouki, to name just a few. He was an expert in Hawaiian-style slide blues, and Piccone honors him in that style playing lap steel on a Weissenborn.
Lindley was most renowned for his searing electric lap-steel slide as heard on Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty” and featured on many El Rayo-X favorites including his signature tune, “Mercury Blues.”
Here’s a classic live video of Lindley ripping “Mercury Blues” live with El Rayo-X in 1981.
El Rayo-X was one of the first rock bands with a heavy reggae influence. Papa Mali carried that inspiration forward with his work in the Killer Bees as well as the cosmic, rhythmic blues that underlies his extensive solo career.
“Wally and I go back to the early ’80s when we both were playing in reggae bands,” Mali recalls. “He is the reason I knew Lindley as anything other than a fan. My first personal encounter with Mr. Dave was the day after I witnessed a now-legendary performance by he and Ry Cooder at Jazz Fest in May of 1994.
“Wally started playing with Dave some years later and introduced me at a show,” Mali continues. “After that he would always say hello and want to talk about guitar stuff. I once asked if he’d sign a ’60s Airline guitar. His reply was, ‘Now, why would you want to mess up this perfectly nice guitar?’ But he obliged.
“Wally and I plan to keep doing this annual tribute show as long as artists and fans keep supporting it.”
If you’re planning to be in the New Orleans area during the second weekend of Jazz Fest, which happens over the first weekend in May, be sure to show your support for David Lindley by coming to see Papa Mali, Wally Ingram, and a fabulous lineup of talents playing his music on a wide variety of stringed instruments.
WIN TICKETS!
For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see the David Lindley tribute in New Orleans, send an email with “Lindley Tribute” in the subject and simply include a sentence about yourself and why you want to go.
Phone contact greatly appreciated for confirmation.
Winner must provide his or her own transportation to Chickie Wah Wah in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday, May 3, and have his or her own accommodations in the area.
Best of luck!
EVENT DETAILS
Guitar Player Presents David Lindley Tribute at Papa Mali’s Birthday Bash
Sunday, May 3
Chickie Wah Wah
2828 Canal StreetPhone: (504) 541-2050
10 pm doors, 10:30 pm show; Ages 21+
Free Martin strings
