"Springsteen vibe fuels album."
(July 21, 2005) — The Crossing is not quite The River-era Bruce Springsteen; not too many records are. But songs like "East Side of the River" have that sound. And maybe there's a debt to the non-political side of Steve Earle as well.

"I definitely listen to tons of Springsteen," says Brian Lindsay, who celebrates the release of his album, The Crossing, at 9 p.m. July 30 at the Newport House, 500 Newport Road, Irondequoit. "The Stones, the Who. I'm a classic-rock guy."

The big push to get his songs heard also includes appearances on two local radio shows Sunday, Whole Lotta Shakin' at 3 p.m. on WITR-FM (89.7) and Sunday Night Shakedown at 9 p.m. on WBZA-FM (98.9).

The Crossing sounds ambitious, and it draws on a vast array of local studio studs such as guitarist Don Mancuso and Jimmy Richmond, supplying the Clarence Clemons-style sax on "Forever Yours (Marianne)."

It's also loaded with "a ton of local references," says the 47-year-old Lindsay. You'll find Sea Breeze, Keuka Lake, Kings Highway and the Genesee tucked among his lyrics. "I live on Irondequoit Bay," he says, pointing out the convenience of a show at the Newport House. "I can take my boat to the gig."

The Crossing ends on a slightly different note. "American Justice" began as a song about avenging the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Over time, it changed. "I didn't want it to be another, 'Let's go over there and freakin' dust somebody' song."

Influenced by Springsteen's own thoughtful response, The Rising, "it became," Lindsay says, "'Let's think more about why people are doing this.'"

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