Aynsley Lister
“Superb” – THE TIMES
Aynsley has never been an artist to
reheat the music of yesteryear. Influenced from an early age by the 60’s
RnB era, Lister takes these key elements and mixes them with a more
current and melodic lyrical approach.
He is one of very few artists playing rocking blues with
a modern edge -tangible, heartfelt, soul searching and full of fine songwriting; played with passion and vitality. His hard hitting rhythms
and guitar work are reminiscent of a young Clapton.
Aynsley picked up the guitar at 8 and
played his first gig at 13. One year later on a family trip to San
Francisco, he was jamming at ‘Lou’s Bar’ on Pier 49. Brought up on his
father’s record collection, he had learned to play by ear and would sit
for hours in his bedroom playing along to old 45s of Freddie King , John
Mayall and Eric Clapton . He spent the next few years honing his craft
and would play with anyone, anywhere. By the time he was 18, he had
worked his way through various bands and decided to form his own. The
band recorded two albums, but it was the second of these two that
started things happening. Aynsley had begun writing and it was the three
original numbers of this album that attracted the attention of Ruf
Records ’ head honcho Thomas Ruf. In the summer of 1998, they signed a
deal. Armed with an album worth of original songs and a handful of
covers, Aynsley went into the studio with Producer Jim Gaines and set to
work of his first major album, ‘Aynsley Lister’, featuring a guest
appearance by Walter Trout
It would prove to be the start of a long and fruitful career taking him
over the next few years all over Europe and working with some of the top
names on the circuit. While Lister’s roots may be the blues, his own
material incorporates more contemporary influences. His hard-hitting
rhythms and guitar work are reminiscent of a young Clapton.
In those early years since his first album. Aynsley was already opening
for artists such as Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, John Mayall and
contemporaries such as Bryan Adams and Fun Lovin Criminals .
Now Aynsley headlines many of the major festivals in mainland Europe. He
has twice played the Heitere Open Air in Switzerland to 12,000 people
and 2006 saw him play the main stage at The Bayfront Blues Festival, MN.
Later that year he was invited to sit in with Delbert McClinton during
his second appearance (the first being in 2002) at The Pinedale Blues
Festival in Wyoming, resulting in Delbert keeping Aynsley on stage for
the whole second half of his show. September 2006 saw the US debut
release of his 2000 album ‘Everything I Need’ in preparation for
Aynsley’s plan to tour the America. Getting plenty of airplay it
received critical acclaim.
Aynsley’s recorded work, he has sold over 75,000 records, has seen him
working with Jesse Davey from legendary English blues band The Hoax on
‘Everything I Need’ in 2000; producer Greg Haver (Manic Street
Preachers, Catatonia) on his 2002 release ‘All Or Nothing’, and taking
the production reins himself for 2007’s ‘Upside Down’. ‘Upside Down’ was
Lister’s fourth studio album and his first to contain all originals
The only British artist to be featured in Classic Rocks 2007 review: TOP
10 CONTEMPORARY BLUES ARTISTS….......alongside The White Stripes, The
Black Keys, John Mayer, Jon Spencer, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd ,
Joe Bonamassa , Derek Trucks and the North Mississippi Allstars
In June of 2008 Aynsley began working with ARM Management. ARM has
worked with many successful artists, including The Hoax and more
recently Eric Bibb. He signed to Manhaton Records in August 2008 and
‘Equilibrium’ was released in March 2009. ‘Equilibrium’ was produced by
Steve Darrel Smith and features appearances by Robbie McIntosh(John
Mayer) and also heralds a new direction for Lister.
Equilibrium has received tremendous reviews. Bob Harris claims it to be
Aynsley’s best album so far. Classic Rock has listed in the top 50
albums released so far this year.
http://www.aynsleylister.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/aynsleylister |
