by Jordan Green Of YES Weekly In Greensboro, NC

Bryan Smith remembers meeting Lee Tyler Post sometime around 2004 when Smith and his brother performed security detail for a concert Lee was playing to benefit the Victory Junction Gang, a charity organization set up by car racing legend Richard Petty. Soaking it all in, he knew he was hooked. Now some four years later, Smith sits onstage with Post at a spot called Bistro 150 in Oak Ridge - plucking leads on his acoustic that might have pleased David Crosby back in the day.

The draw, all will agree, is Post, a 40-year-old salt-of the-earth kind of cat, former construction worker, progeny of a Spanish New Mexican mother and half-Cherokee-half-white father whose own mother left the reservation in Oklahoma to seek her fortune in the southern base of California’s Central Valley. His thick, black hair hangs nearly to his bottom, longer than any woman’s in this haute-bubba joint, even as a black cap and sideburns affirm his dudeness. The only thing that’s not black in his ensemble is a turquoise arrowhead his parents brought back from an anniversary trip to Santa Fe. The hair and the hat obscure his face as he leans over his acoustic guitar and tears into the soulful marrow of the lyric in his songs.

Post and wife Jackie have driven three hours from Asheville to be here, and it’s an event to the 40-some fans packed into the bistro: staid couples enjoying glasses of chardonnay, aging couples in the second flush of youth, young families with rambunctious toddlers, classy women wearing summer dresses and shorts. Bill Hunt, a DJ at NC A&T University’s campus station who hosts a blues show and goes by the moniker "Billy the Kid," reclines on a brown Naugahyde couch beside the stage. He’s been a fan since he caught Post at the Reidsville Lake Music Festival last fall. The singer-songwriter puts them all at ease. That, in part, explains why Post has been asked to play a benefit in New Jersey in September for a veteran who suffered a brain injury during combat operations in Iraq , why he draws crowds from the Bitter End in New York City to his hometown of San Diego. He has a knack for keeping track of people so that when fans come back to see him a second time it’s like they’re old friends. It’s Bryan, spelled B-R-Y- A-N, he notes when identifying his guest guitarist. And the woman singing harmony with him is Andi, spelled A-N-D-I, Reese. No, take that back, for print she prefers Andrea, A-N- D-R-E-A. Lee checks the spelling of the writer’s name. Is it G-R-E-E-N-E or G-R-E-E-N? Jackie is similarly conscientious, noting the song titles as Lee plays, in case an audience member likes a particular song and wants to purchase it on any of the five CDs she’s selling.

Smith and Reese usually accompany him at these monthly Bistro 150 shows. That’s the way he always does it when other musicians show up for his gigs. With no rehearsal, he invites them to sit in. "If you did it as much as I do, you jump at the chance to get others onstage to jam. If they can follow along. Some amazing moments happen that way!" Post says.

Lee came late to music, only developing an interest after his next door neighbor heard him singing along with a record in his early twentys. He joined a band with his cousin that emulated the grunge bands in the Seattle scene of the early 1990s, but still worked construction. Then, at the age of 31 he and Jackie packed the car and drove to Nashville. They also took up residency in Seattle and Austin, Texas before moving to Asheville in April. Self-described "gypsies," they cycle through music towns and systematically tour the country, gradually building a network of fans for Post’s music.

"I always wanted to be a blue-collar guy like my dad," he says. "Get up and go to work. You’re accountable, and you get up and work ten hours a day, six days a week. I wanted to be a man. I never thought about having a talent. When I decided to go into music, I said, ‘Okay, I have to figure out how to make this into a job.’ I applied that same discipline. To be a man about it. I burn my own CDs. Hand put together each one. I have my own studio."

Post has a big, gentle stage presence as he performs his songs. The music smolders with intensity – all propulsive power chords and smoky, vocal growls commanding his audience’s attention.

During a break a little after 9 p.m. Hunt is raving on the sidewalk about his hero in an emphatic and laughing voice: "Sultry ...Sultry. He fell off the soul tree."

ImproviJAZZationNation Magazine
CD Review of Emancipate;
Though the songs Lee croons are definitely not jazz (& there is NOTHING wrong with that - we all need a change of pace once in a while), they are filled with the kind of raw soul and lyrical power many of us in this country grew up on! I hear snatches of singers like Gregg Allman, Springsteen, even a taste of Dylan at his zenith. His all-original compositions speak to every one of us... our foibles, intrigues, joys & pains, and they do it without coming across (in the least) as "cry in yer' beer" cheapos.

One thing you can rest assured of, you'll be hearing about this gent for a long time to come... his talent for digging down deep into your deepest memories & helping you reflect on them will (believe it or not) free you from the chains you may have enshrouded your psyche with. His guitar-playing shows clear talent (& love of playing), but it's not all gooped up with high-tech wizardry that focuses the listener away from his message... the best e xample of that for me was "Thunderclap", but the track that turned out to be my favorite was "Hurricane"... nice swirling guitars, solid bass lines and beautiful lyrical descriptions of what happens when the winds of change are blowing... his vocal just SOARS on this one!

I'm mightily impressed & very happy to have made his acquaintance through his REVERBNATION page "Emancipate" gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from my ears! http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z90Reviews.htm>Review By Rotcod Zzaj


Buy The CD "Emancipate" for only $7
 

To those of you waiting on "Half Painted Windows" to be completed, I have put together a 6 song 'bootleg' CD to tie you over. A few live tunes & old demos.
 
I'm selling it for only $5 bucks in the US. $7 overseas.

Here's the song list.

Lords Of Grace (recorded live in NYC)
Wonderless (recorded live in Nashville, TN)
Daylight (recorded in San Diego in 06)
Just Cant Stop (recorded in 2000 - San Diego)
Kindred *acoustic* (recorded in Bozeman, MT in 2006)
Arms Around The Wind (recorded in 2000 in San Diego)

Click here to purchase "Credence" (you'll be taken to my products page on my site)



I'll be making many of these little 6 song bootlegs as i go through old tapes etc.

"Half Painted Windows" is heading for the final mixes, and shooting for end of Feb. to be sent for mastering. Almost there ;-)

Again, those of you who pre-ordered the next CD, they'll be shipped ASAP ok! Thanks for your patience.

Thanks in advance and hope you enjoy the vault demos !!!
Lee

Just sending out an update on the musical journey & CD status.

After a long thought-out process regarding my career, Jackie and I have decided to settle down. We have relocated back to Seattle for good. This will be home base from here on out. Soon I will be playing locally, as well as trips around the state, and into Canada. As far as Touring goes, I plan to make one giant loop around the country each year. Most likely late summer time. I will try and get to as many of you as I can. I probably wont head East of TX this year, since I just worked the East Coast the past year. But for sure summer of 2010.

I will be focusing on making albums now. 'Half Painted Windows' is nearly completed. I still have over 200 songs not recorded. And that total is rising as I write new tunes, and dont record the old ones ... ha ha. The madness ;-) Doesn't help when you have A.D.D let me tell yeh!

I should have some Seattle dates here shortly in March. I'm working with Jenaferre James and her sister April's "Scorpio Rising" Promotion Company. They'll be handling most of my shows in Seattle. Jens a sweet soul, and our dear friend. It's good to be back in the Great North West. Feels like home to us. So peaceful.

Finally, I would like to Thank everyone for your support, and kind words to this point. We've met some amazing people while Touring. Many of you have become life-long friends. Thats been the best part of this whole journey. Made it all worth it. And we will be back to see you, I promise.

Thanks for your time!
Lee

Side Note; Those who have pre-ordered the next cd, as soon as its done it will be shipped ok. THANK YOU!