David Lindley at the Cactus Cafe A Rare Intimate Performance by a String Master
On April 18, 2013, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist David Lindley delivered a remarkable live set at the Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas, capturing an intimate side of a performer widely respected across American roots, blues, and world music traditions. Lindley was not only a session legend whose work can be heard on recordings by Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, and Warren Zevon, he was also a deeply original live artist whose concerts brought together an extraordinary range of influences and instruments with a singularly personal voice.
Lindley’s performance at the Cactus Cafe was part of a long career defined by musical breadth and genuine curiosity. Born in San Marino, California in 1944, Lindley grew up immersed in music, first mastering banjo and fiddle before expanding into a vast array of stringed instruments and styles. His command of the lap steel guitar became a recognizable signature, particularly on classic Jackson Browne records, where his playing contributed significantly to the emotional and sonic identity of hits such as Running on Empty.
The Cactus Cafe show highlighted Lindley’s ability to move comfortably between genres and textures. Known for blending American folk, blues, world music, and more, his sets often felt like a journey rather than a conventional rock concert. At the Cactus Cafe, fans witnessed this breadth in a close-quarters setting that underscored Lindley’s rapport with his audience and his attentive musicianship. Rather than relying on volume or flash, he emphasized tone, phrasing, and emotional honesty in every performance choice.
Long before the Cactus Cafe appearance, Lindley had built his reputation on both sides of the stage. His work as a founding member of the psychedelic and world-influenced band Kaleidoscope in the late nineteen sixties set the stage for a career that would defy easy categorization. After that phase, he became one of the most sought after session players in the industry, contributing to thousands of recordings while also leading his own band El Rayo-X and touring as a solo artist.
The Cactus Cafe performance represents an important chapter in Lindley’s live legacy. Intimate venues like this allowed him to showcase not only his technical skill, but his deep engagement with the emotional core of the music he played. For listeners and viewers of the April 2013 recording, the performance is a rare opportunity to witness the nuance and thoughtfulness of one of America’s most distinctive guitar voices in a pure live context.
As Lindley’s career spanned more than five decades, this appearance at the Cactus Cafe stands not simply as a moment in time, but as a reminder of his enduring commitment to musical exploration and authentic performance.