With the acoustic scene saturated with artists these days, Steve's music has carved out its own special niche. Beginning with his debut CD, Among the Weeds and Wheat, and his second recent release, While I'm Here, Steve successfully weaves his unique hybrid of acoustic folk and alternative into every song. He has been described as "...a versatile singer/songwriter whose music conveys his heart and soul."

A native North Carolinian, Steve learned music by ear and took to the guitar and piano at an early age. He began writing songs in adolescence and honed his skills during his college years at Wake Forest. After enduring the cover gig scene for a couple of years, Steve withdrew from performing and concentrated on expressing himself through his own music.

"It had gotten to the point where playing other people's songs wasn't that gratifying for me. I had never really felt confident about my own stuff, but I began to realize that if I were going to develop as a musician I would need to focus more on my songwriting."

Stints in Richmond, VA and Atlanta gave Steve the chance to meet other people and experience a wide diversity of musical influences. Particularly impactful were the two years Steve lived in Decatur, an Atlanta suburb known for its strong acoustic scene. "I felt very much at home there musically. I met people like Shawn Mullins who were doing exciting things with acoustic music. For me, that was the catalyst that brought about some major changes."

In the spring of 1997, Steve co-produced and released his first CD, Among the Weeds and Wheat, containing 10 original songs. He continued with his second release, While I'm Here. For this CD he enlisted the help of some significant "movers and shakers" in the music business, including co-producer Chris Rosser (who has worked with David Lamotte) and CD graphics designer Carol Norton (Shawn Mullins). The project was mastered by Grammy-award winner David Glasser, whose resume includes the likes of Woody Guthrie and the Dave Matthews Band.

Things continue to stay busy for Steve, as he compiles new material for his first CD in eight years. Since the fall of 1999, Steve has performed in a duo act named Acoustic Blend with Ken Davis. Steve also enjoys playing with Jerry Chapman and some other fellow Mayberrians in a little band called Mediocre Bad Guys.

Steve and his wife live in Mount Airy, NC - otherwise known as Mayberry from "The Andy Griffith Show." Together they reside with their two sons and an assortment of dogs, cats, and one hamster.

We thought we'd just get together and play songs for our friends, but what do we know?

This is how good music comes about – when the focus is not on egos or image; on who gets to solo or who gets to sing lead. Good music is made when it's always about the music. For the Mediocre Bad Guys, this is not only what brought them together, but what has kept them going strong.

Mediocre Bad Guys began in the fall of 2005 when three friends and music buffs in Mount Airy NC – drummer Les Slate, bassist Jerry Chapman, and guitarist Gary Manfredi – started jamming on some Jack Johnson tunes (because, as someone once said, they're loads of fun to play). At the time there was no plan to take the music outside of their little practice space on Market Street. Eventually, though, the small following of friends who came to hear them while enjoying a beer or two got them thinking.....why not? Soon MBG secured a few gigs at a local coffee house, attracting larger crowds and a steadier following. With Slate's vocals hinting convincingly at Johnson's without appearing to imitate, Mediocre Bad Guys were on their way.

Around 2006 the band added keyboards, as well as a desire to play some songs outside the Jack Johnson box (wonderful as that box is). Cover songs were chosen that played into the band's lineup, as well as tunes that merged well with Slate's pure vocals and the more rock-leaning vocals of Chapman. Working meticulously on the tunes, MBG sought not to just “play” others' songs but to recreate them in a style that pays homage to the original while remaining uniquely their own. Some of MBG's favorite artists to cover are: Ryan Adams, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, Sister Hazel, and countless classics from the 60's and 70's. Where else, pray tell, can you hear The Monkees' Stepping Stone immediately followed by The Replacements' Banditos?

Over the years the band's lineup has evolved, with Slate and Chapman remaining at the foundation (as, any musician would argue, the rhythm section should). David Dixon was the first to join the fold on guitar, mandolin and vocals. Two others came on board soon after: Steve Lindsley on keyboard, guitar/mandolin and vocals; and Doug Davis on guitar, keyboard and vocals. Because all members have day jobs and families, the lineup may change slightly from one gig to the next. The quality of music, however, does not.

To date MBG has delighted audiences at both premier nightclubs, festivals, and private parties all across the Triad of North Carolina and beyond. They've shared the stage with the Little River Band as well as Bobby Keys, sax player for the Rolling Stones. At the same time, they've played in living rooms and in quarters so cramped that the keyboardist had to climb over the railing with a ladder. But that's okay – because when it comes to the Mediocre Bad Guys, it's always about the music. As it well should be.

Mediocre Bad Guys (2009)
Les Slate - Vocals & Drums
Jerry Chapman - Vocals & Bass Guitar
Dave Dixon - Guitar, Mandolin & Vocals
Steve Lindsley - Piano, Organ, Guitar/Mandolin & Vocals
Doug Davis - Guitar, Keys & Vocals