David Lindley Delivers a Mesmerizing “Minglewood Blues” Performance in Sioux City (2015)
On March 4, 2015, audiences at the Vangarde Arts Center in Sioux City, Iowa witnessed a rare and unforgettable live performance from the late David Lindley, one of American music’s most inventive multi instrumentalists. Performing a striking rendition of “Minglewood Blues,” Lindley transformed a traditional blues standard into a deeply personal and sonically adventurous experience.
What immediately set this performance apart was Lindley’s choice of instrument. Rather than a conventional guitar, he played a modified 11 string fretless oud, an instrument rooted in Middle Eastern music but radically adapted to suit his boundary defying musical vision. In Lindley’s hands, the oud became a blues instrument, capable of sliding microtones, vocal like phrasing, and rhythmic subtleties that few Western instruments can replicate.
“Minglewood Blues,” a song with origins in early 20th century blues and folk traditions, has been interpreted by countless artists over the decades. Lindley’s version stood out not through volume or showmanship, but through texture, nuance, and emotional gravity. His fretless approach allowed notes to bend and breathe, giving the performance an almost conversational quality, as if the instrument itself were telling the story.
By 2015, Lindley was already celebrated for his legendary session work with artists such as Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, and Warren Zevon, as well as for leading his own band El Rayo X. This Sioux City performance served as a powerful reminder of why he was revered not just as a sideman, but as a singular artist with a fearless approach to sound.
The intimate setting of the Vangarde Arts Center amplified the impact. Without studio polish or production gloss, the audience experienced Lindley’s artistry in its purest form. Every slide, every rhythmic pulse, and every tonal shift reinforced his lifelong commitment to musical exploration.
Today, this performance stands as a valuable document of David Lindley’s late period brilliance. It captures a master musician still pushing boundaries, honoring tradition while reshaping it in his own unmistakable voice.