It’s all about high energy when Lindstrom and The Limit hits the stage.
With a host of Mercer Island High School (MIHS) graduates delivering the band’s vocals, guitars, drums, horns and keyboards, the eight- and sometimes nine-piece unit delves into a plethora of musical styles that gets the crowd jumping.
“It’s fun, that’s the main thing. We just have a blast with each other and interacting with each other,” said main man and band founder Aaron Lindstrom, who serves up songwriting, vocals and acoustic and electric guitar playing.
The MIHS grad and his bandmates — who have been tearing up stages in Seattle and the surrounding areas for the last seven years — will unleash their inaugural performance at the historic Chateau Ste. Michelle Courtyard in Woodinville from 5:30-7 p.m. on July 26.
As Lindstrom rested up before his solo acoustic gig at The Shanty distillery in Brooklyn, New York, on a recent afternoon, he discussed what his robust band brings to the musical table.
“Everything from funk to soul to folk, punk. Even if we’re playing different genres, people say it still sounds like one cohesive band that just shape shifts from playing a six-minute-long jazz song to covering Justin Timberlake and Led Zeppelin at the same time,” he said over the phone as the sounds of the bustling New York streets could be heard in the background.
When performing, Lindstrom said he feeds off his top three influences of Eddie Vedder, James Brown and Dave Matthews. In the band arena, The Limit plays mostly originals and tosses in a cover song every once in a while. In addition to rocking out in clubs, they’ve provided the tunes for two of the members’ weddings.
Joining Lindstrom in the band are fellow MIHS grads Eric Stevens on drums, Tyler Stevens on trumpet, Quinn Christopherson on trombone and vocals and Evan Captain on keys and guitar. Tyler has remained in the Mercer Island School District as the current Lakeridge Elementary School music teacher.
Rounding out the band are lead guitarist Dave Thurston — whose wife Kate Gunby is an MIHS grad — Evan Lorbecki on saxophone, Nikki Pope on vocals and Shaun Crawford thumping the bass.
The band released its debut record, “Estate Sale!,” in 2019 and plans to send a second record into the music world in November.
Playing solo or with the band, Lindstrom said that nothing in the world beats making music. It’s a full-on team effort in bringing a song to life in the band realm, said Lindstrom, adding that what he initially perceived as a quiet folk song can morph into a heavy funk tune when everyone adds their touch to the number.
Some of the MIHS grads cut their musical teeth in the marching band and Lindstrom said that current director Parker Bixby and other teachers were instrumental in molding the students into solid musicians.
“They just instilled that passion for music and that you should love what you’re doing,” said Lindstrom, adding that Limit listeners can hear marching band-like horn lines flowing through their tunes.
Lindstrom, who has been playing guitar for 18 years and songwriting for the last decade, is glad that the local grads have remained tight over the years and continued their musical path together.
“The friendships all come first, and then the fact that we also get to play really good music and have fun playing is just icing on the cake,” said Lindstrom, who lives in the Eastlake area of Seattle and works a chocolatier at Theo Chocolate in Fremont.
For concert information, visit https://www.ste-michelle.com/chateau-ste-michelle/csm-events/events/chateau-tuesdays/5637456581.p
ISLAND MUSIC SERIES
Mostly Music in the Park will keep rocking from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Mercerdale Park with Great American Trainwreck on July 21, Outside The Lines on July 28, Portage Bay Big Band on Aug. 4 and No Rules on Aug. 11. For more information, visit www.mercerisland.gov/mmip.
Lindstrom and The Limit in action, from left to right, Evan Lorbecki, Tyler Stevens, Quinn Christopherson, Nikki Pope, Aaron Lindstrom and Dave Thurston. Courtesy photo
