What: Lindsay Beaver and the 24th Street Wailers
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
Where: Hermann鈥檚 Jazz Club, 753 View Street
Tickets: $22/$25
More information: jazzvictoria.ca
Lindsay Beaver is a rhythm and blues musician and stand-up drummer from Halifax, living in Austin, who sings like a cross between Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse. The 33-year-old just finished her latest album, produced by the blues legend Jimmie Vaughan, brother to the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan, and is on tour with her band, the 24th聽Street Wailers.
We caught up with her through some spotty cell service while she was travelling through northern California. She said she鈥檚 excited to be back in Victoria on Friday to play Hermann鈥檚 Jazz Club with her band.
Q: Tell us about your new record and working with Jimmie Vaughan.
A: I鈥檓 super-excited to put this record out. This will be the first time I鈥檝e been able to feature some of my favourite blues and R&B artists from across North America. I was blessed to have so many of my favourite artists sit in, especially Jimmie Vaughan. We met while I opened one of his shows. He liked the show and we kept in touch over the years. He encouraged me to start spending [more] time in Austin.
Q: What are the songs about?
A: I鈥檝e recently gone through a聽lot of changes in my life, both professionally and personally, so聽much of the material is about that. Heartbreak, loss, accepting changes in your life.
Q: Have you had some surprise guests or any legends show up to jam at shows?
A: I do love jamming with others. Jimmie, of course, is a longstanding favourite, but being in Austin, there are so many great musicians guesting. Paul Oscher was a cool one to get to jam with. Also, on tour, a lot of up-and-coming as well as established blues artists sat in.
Q: How does stand-drumming help you connect with the band? Is that why you like it?
A: First and foremost, I stand because I always felt like sitting and being in the middle wasn鈥檛 enough of a lead position. Plus, it made singing much easier. Being able to have a full breath in is nice.
Q: What is your touring life like? In a van with a bunch of dudes? Singalongs? Road snacks?
A: This lineup of musicians (my Austin guys) are a real delight on the road. Very fun. Very professional. That makes or breaks a tour, personalities gelling. That doesn鈥檛 always happen. So far so good with these guys.
Q: You鈥檙e from Halifax. What got you into music?
A: Halifax has a lot of talented musicians of all genres. So it was good for me to be around that my whole life. But I always seemed drawn to being a musician and making music.
Q: Who have been your life-long influences as a musician and as a singer?
A: I wouldn鈥檛 say I have life-long influences, but I have some who have changed my life. Billie Holiday, Queens of the Stone Age, Nick Curran, the Ramones, Sam Cooke. I really like music that has drive and passion. It鈥檚 not genre specific.
Q: How do you describe your style?
A: I鈥檇 say it鈥檚 Texas blues meets little Richard meets Hollywood Fats meets the Ramones or misfits.
Q: You鈥檙e playing at Victoria鈥檚 only longstanding jazz club. Have聽you found this in other places, where you鈥檙e playing somewhere legendary and last of聽its kind? How does that feel?
A: Yes. In Austin, I have a weekly gig at Antone鈥檚 Night Club, one of the most legendary clubs in the world. Same with the Continental Club (in Austin). It鈥檚 got legendary status. The beauty of playing blues and soul聽is so many of the clubs have聽a long history, so you feel聽like you are carrying on a聽tradition.
