To SPOT & David Lindley, a Fond Farewell

Alright folks, I'm going to level with you: it's been a tough year for music lovers. Just when we think we've caught our breath from one devastating loss, another hits us like a ton of bricks. It's like a cruel game of whack-a-mole, with our beloved icons popping up only to disappear again all too soon.

But here's the thing: we can't let our grief consume us. As painful as it is to say goodbye, we owe it to these legends to celebrate their lives and their contributions to the world of music. And today, we're going to do just that.

So take a deep breath, grab a tissue if you need one, and join me in paying tribute to two titans of the industry who have left an indelible mark on our musical landscape.

SPOT: The Legendary Producer Behind Some of Punk Rock's Most Iconic Albums

I still remember the first time I saw the name SPOT on the back of Husker Du's Zen Arcade record sleeve. I was in high school, and something about the all caps with the dot in the middle of the "O" made me think that this guy was someone important. Little did I know that he was the mastermind behind some of the most iconic punk rock albums of all time.

As I started collecting records, I kept seeing SPOT's name on them - Black Flag's Damaged, Meat Puppets' S/T, the Misfits' Earth A.D., and more. Even though these bands had different sounds, there was something distinctive about the way these albums sounded. It wasn't until later that I realized it was SPOT's unique production style that tied them all together.

Where Nirvana, the Pixies, and more nicked their sound (also the soundtrack to the author’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd breakups)

Fast forward a decade or so, and I found myself hanging out at the Hole in the Wall in Austin, my new city and watering hole of choice. A friend introduced me to a group of people, and one of them was SPOT himself. I played it cool, but inside I was freaking out: this was the guy who had produced some of my favorite albums of all time! Fortunately, he was a really nice and laid-back person, and we all had a nice conversation about music. Over time, I learned to contain the inner giddiness whenever his and my paths would cross, as tempting as it was to pepper him with questions about what it was like working with Glenn Danzig, Bob Mould, etc.

As a producer myself, I STILL don't always know exactly what that word means. But one thing is for sure: SPOT was a producer who knew exactly how to bring out the best in his artists. His unique production style was a huge part of what made those albums so iconic. And even though he's no longer with us, his musical legacy lives on. We're all better off for the gifts he left behind.

So if you're looking for a way to honor SPOT's memory, do yourself a favor and put on Zen Arcade. Crank it up to 10. Let the raw energy and power of the music wash over you. And remember the man behind the sound - the one and only SPOT.

DAVID LINDLEY: the Indelible Master of Stringed Instruments

I’m not a virtuoso on any one instrument, but I’ve been known to play several. As a guitarist in a world of monster guitar players, I figured out pretty early on in my professional music life that I’d be well-served to know my way around multiple instruments. Hence, my picking up lap steel, pedal steel, banjo, bass mandolin, keyboards, dobro, fiddle (only a little), harp (even less), and any other string instrument I could get my hands on. Being able to sing super-solid background harmonies has also been a tremendous career asset.

Speaking of actual virtuosos, one musician who has inspired me greatly in my exploration of different instruments is David Lindley. I first encountered his work through his most frequent collaborator, Jackson Browne. Running on Empty was a radio staple when I was very young, and it ended up coming back around to me in my late teens when I was playing a lot of slide guitar. I heard the song played at a friend’s house, and I froze up when I heard THAT SOUND. Oh dang… this lead player is freaking amazing. I grabbed the record sleeve and saw that this wasn’t slide guitar at all, but lap steel. And this musician was named David Lindley.

I ended up digging into his solo output and work with other artists, such as Warren Zevon and Bob Dylan. He really could play seemingly anything, from the violin to the oud. As one who also plays multiple instruments and has a good reputation for doing so in my musical circles, I owe it to David for opening my eyes to the infinite possibilities. I only dare dream, however, of coming close to his inimitable talent. And not just for the variety of instruments either: Lindley knew how to serve the SONG better than nearly anyone.

Listen to Running on Empty. Without his contributions, it would inarguably be a really great song, but lacking a special ingredient that elevates its incredible sound. Like everything he did, Lindley served the song serenely, without ever once getting in its way.

RIP David Lindley. Thank you for sharing your incredible sound with us.

IN CLOSING

Our heroes are dying, y’all. And it’s killing me.