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Reviews:
True grit
Don Lampson and Friends (Eric Brittain and Charlie Kleemann) had a CD release party at Painted Sky Studios in Cambria at 8 p.m. It’s a fitting location since the album, Take Part of Me With You, was recorded there, formerly a watering hole called the Bucket of Blood Saloon. Lampson’s narrative tunes explore life’s roiling sea of ups and downs, loves and losses, and Brittain’s accompaniment on everything from guitar to fiddle to dobro to mandolin perfectly accents these tales of triumph and tragedy. Kleemann keeps the rhythm thumping on his standup bass. Thu, Oct. 04, 2007 Local CD Pick: Don LampsonDon Lampson — ‘Heart of the Chaparral’ Lampson’s last album, “Years & Miles,” featuring just Lampson and his guitar, had a haunting, lonely feel. Here he invites other musicians, whose fiddle, steel guitar and backing vocals help create a backwater blues and country mix. Lampson’s voice, sounding like an amalgam of Willie Nelson and John Prine, tells the stories of his life, including his relationship with partner Peg, a painter who created the cover art. The single “Dead Man Walking” is fitting of a Willie Nelson outlaw song. But most songs here are more subdued, with less attitude. Lampson, who won Best Song at the West Coast Songwriter’s contest at Linnaea’s last spring, has been making music for 50 years. — Patrick S. Pemberton 10/02/2007 BY GLEN STARKEY Old dog,new tunes. Don Lampson is a crusty old dog, a former prison guard (among other blue collar jobs) who traded in his rough-and-tumble experiences for a big ol' bag of songs that seem to have grown right out of the dirt. His newest CD, Heart of the Chaparral, will be released to the public during a party on Sunday, Oct. 7, at Porch Cafe in Santa Margarita from 3 to 6 p.m. The title song from his album was written about the place where he lives, "out in the hills above the Cuesta Grade," and Lampson will be joined for this concert with a few of his "pickin' partners." Hors d'oeuvres will be served, and beer and wine from local vineyards will be available. Let Lampson take you on a musical travelogue of the places he's seen and the people he's met, who populate his songs to tell their stories through his words. The show is free. March 2007 Local CD Pick
DON LAMPSON -- 'YEARS & MILES'
This CD's focal point is Lampson's Travis-style fingerpicking. Named after the '40s and '50s country singer Merle Travis, Travis style features a melody line played over an independent, alternating bass line. While Lampson's fingerpicking guitar is the lone instrument featured on this CD, his vocals are more focused on storytelling than melody, creating a lonely, longing feel. Lampson, who has worked as a factory hand, lumberjack and prison guard, writes of loves lost, railroad hobos and the big House in this collection of folksy country numbers. - Patrick S. Pemberton Home | About Don | Photo Gallery | Music/Lyrics | Reviews | GuestBook |
Don Lampson is to Americana music what John Wayne was to Westerns—larger-than-life, authentic, and 100 percent heart and soul. In fact, the only difference between Lampson and Wayne is that Lampson’s still alive (For now! Watch your back, Lampson!), and he has bigger feet (Wayne wore a size 6, which at 6’ 3” explains why he walked funny, eh?).