Music INSIGHT
The guitar became her constant companion . A trip to the grocery store with her mother meant a day trip for the Strat , too , and she usually stayed in the car to keep playing .
When there was no doubt that Hinkle meant to be a musician , her parents took her to Nashville . She recorded a demo that ended up in the hands of Fleetwood Mac ’ s former tour manager , Phil McDonnell , who was so impressed that he took her under his wing .
From there she went to Europe , where she recorded a second demo , this time with McDonnell . “ It was amazing ,” she says , recalling that at the time she didn ’ t understand how big of a deal being taken overseas , all expenses paid , to record a demo really was . She took first place in the Eddie ’ s Attic Open Mic Shootout in Atlanta during this same period , when she was 17 .
If you ’ re not familiar , Eddie ’ s Attic is a place where John Mayer played before he got big , and where an army of musicians who already made it big still take the stage , like the Indigo Girls and Sheryl Crow . What would be a major accomplishment for even a middle-aged , established songwriter , Hinkle won before she could legally buy cigarettes .
Unfortunately , things weren ’ t moving forward very quickly during the process of getting label attention to the demo . Things didn ’ t seem to be coming together . And then the unthinkable : McDonnell ’ s daughter , one of Hinkle ’ s close friends , was killed in a senseless assault while on a walk . Distraught , McDonnell dropped most of his projects , including Hinkle , who had just moved into her own apartment at 18 .
The years since haven ’ t been easy , and Hinkle has experienced ups and downs . Stepping back from the verge of stardom is a step that many aren ’ t equipped to make . Hinkle cites her parents , who have always provided an endless supply of support , as being a big part of her growing into the woman she is today .
“ I don ’ t know what I ’ d do without my parents . If I ever make it big , it ’ ll be thanks to them and God ,” she says .
Where many would have given up , Hinkle persists , continuing to write and play live , which has made her a strong touring force . Her calendar is packed with dates , further testament to Freeman ’ s devotion as a manager . The Noble Street Festival is only one of four shows she ’ s playing over the weekend .
Former WLJS DJ Brad Sewell recalls bringing Hinkle into the studio a few times when he still attended Jacksonville State University , after seeing her play live for the first time at Pelham ’ s in Jacksonville .
“ With a lot of music I don ’ t think about the lyrics so much , but hers really resonate with me ,” says Sewell . His favorite of Hinkle ’ s songs is Wrong With Me , from the Work in Progress album . “ She ’ s easy to relate to . I think we ’ ve all had those past relationships that make us question ourselves .”
Hinkle ’ s lyrics are strong , often because they can make the listener feel as vulnerable as she did when she wrote them . She ’ s unafraid of being honest , even when the truth is ugly and horrible to confront , like in her song Whole , which deals with the loss of two sons at the end of a relationship :
A Spiderman sock rolled out of my jeans too bad he can ’ t save me now . There are crayons and Fruit Loops in my backseat guess I should probably clean them out . It was bad enough losing you but it ’ s unbearable losing the other two … though it ’ s not my blood running through their veins , I hope they know I ’ m not to blame and that I loved and love them more than life itself
Lately , though , her lyrics have been coming from a happier , more hopeful place , which she says has ironically made songs a bit harder to write . The stability of a day job as a dental assistant with Dr . Bernardi in Oxford , starting college and getting a house with a dedicated studio room shines through in her material . In fact , Catch the Rain ’ s lyrics refer to the new home , and the train tracks nearby .
Hinkle wraps up her set , smiles and introduces the next act , before unplugging her guitar and heading over to the table where Freeman sits with friends and fans , and she starts giving out hugs and saying hello to faces she recognizes from crowds all over . Even on a frigid day in April , Lindsey Hinkle knows how to catch the rain .
“ I ’ ve got my health , a really good family and friends . I ’ ve got possibilities . There ’ s not really a lot more anybody can ask for in life ,” she says . •
INSIGHT
April 2013 8