A Handstamp Interview with Annabelle Chairlegs

Springsteen, life in Austin, evacuations, new music and one very special birthday

It has rained every single day of 2026 in the UK and it’s showing no signs of stopping, as I look out of my apartment window at the balcony furniture taking a beating. Naturally, this winter bleakness can dampen spirits and make you hark back to times of sunshine and carelessness, such as a trip I made to Austin, Texas in 2013, armed with nothing but a backpack, a dream and a vest that I was far too skinny to pull off.

So, when connecting with Lindsey Mackin of rock band Annabelle Chairlegs, I relished the opportunity to discuss the city and its transformation over the last decade. But first, I wanted to know more about her musical upbringing in the sweet spot between New Jersey and New York City.

Lindsey Mackin: “I feel like I went to a lot of bigger shows growing up. My first concert ever was actually Bruce Springsteen..”

Handstamp: That’s sort of a rite of passage in New Jersey, right?

Lindsey Mackin: “Exactly. In the earlier years, there were shows at the VFW shows, DIY shows and things like that. But I don’t think I really started going to rock shows until I went to college in Santa Fe. But before that in New Jersey, there was a lot of going into New York City, going to Broadway, going to bigger concerts. It was cool to have access to so much for that, for sure.”

Handstamp: Quite a unique situation to have a scene in New Jersey, but then New York City is on your doorstep, so you had a lot of options. Where did you see Springsteen for your first show?

Lindsey Mackin: “I saw him at Continental Airlines Arena, which is where the New Jersey Devils played. I don’t know if it’s still there, honestly. Its right next to MetLife Stadium, where the Giants and Jets play. I have such vivid memories of it, where we were sitting and how great the energy was. It was insane. He would sell out like 10 shows in a row, you know?”

Handstamp: Was it a family trip?

Lindsey Mackin: “Yeah, well it was with my sister, my dad, some friends. A big group, maybe 10 of us.”

Handstamp: Sounds like a great day out. Having that as your first show also sets an incredibly high bar for any future performances.

Lindsey Mackin: “For sure. Are you a Bruce fan?”

Handstamp: Big time, love him. You said that the DIY shows started in your teenage years, can you tell me about that?

“When I got to college, joined a band and started throwing shows, I thought back at how cool it was that people were building music communities around me.”

Lindsey Mackin: “I remember just going with my friends, I wasn’t necessarily in the scene as much as they were but would tag along to a lot of them. There were a lot of emo shows, which honestly weren’t my cup of tea at the time. Then when I got to college, joined a band and started throwing shows, I thought back at how cool it was that people were building music communities around me.”

Handstamp: It feels as though half of my guests have had an emo or pop punk phase and it really bridged a gap on what they’ve eventually become. So, you went to Santa Fe for college; how did that compare to life in New Jersey?

Lindsey Mackin: “I grew up right outside of New York, about seven miles from downtown Manhattan. Then when I was in New Mexico, I really was in the middle of nowhere, out in the desert. There was not much going on there, at all, except from within the college atmosphere. I think it was a cool shift though, because I was able to go from insanity to chill, which gave me some air to breathe, be inspired and become creative. I was studying acting, while also singing a bit, then some friends asked me if I wanted to join their band and I initially thought I’d just sing their songs and play the tambourine, you know? Once I was doing it, I realised it was what I wanted to be doing, it made me excited and hyper-focused. I met all these great musicians, who helped me learn how to play, introduced me to underground artists I didn’t know about.”

Handstamp: Great, so you’re in Austin now, did you end up there right out of Sante Fe?

Lindsey Mackin: “I did four years at school, then stayed for an additional year because our band was going to tour and see where we ended up. I was going to move back to New Jersey, then the band proposed moving to Austin. Initially I didn’t want to move to Texas, but sure enough, I stuck with it and I’ve been in Austin for 13 years. Everybody I moved with left after about a year, so it’s crazy how long I’ve stayed and I enjoy it so much.”

Handstamp: You love it now, but you were initially resistant to the idea of living in Texas?

Lindsey Mackin: “Oh, absolutely. I didn’t know what it would be like, because I was kind of naïve to anything happening outside of New York City, New Jersey and I guess Santa Fe. I was imagining it a lot more country, but it’s a city, albeit a smaller city than I was used to. But yeah, I moved out, I learned to use the 4-track and started my own project, right after I got to Austin.”

Handstamp: Right, so Annabelle Chairlegs started around 2013?

Lindsey Mackin: “Yeah.”

Handstamp: I’ve been to Austin once and it was around that time. I understand the tech boom and other outside forces have changed the city quite dramatically since then.

Lindsey Mackin: “There’s still so much going on, but it has changed quite a bit. When I first pulled into the city, I saw four big buildings and it looked like more of a town, but now there are 25 big buildings that have totally transformed the skyline. The music scene is still thriving and bigger than most places, but it has become more difficult for artists to exist, compared to 2013 when everybody was making stuff. Back in 2013, during SXSW there would be concerts in parking lots and stuff like that, which was so welcomed. Nobody got in trouble for throwing shows anywhere, but now it is more strict.”

Handstamp: Right, more guardrails. From what I’ve heard, the essence of SXSW has changed from the commercial influx over the last decade. Speaking of Austin, I make music with my friends under the name Chief Springs and we are named that due to a great day we had at Barton Springs.

Lindsey Mackin: “That’s so cool. That just gave me a little chill, that’s awesome. I remember before I moved here and visited on tour, somebody took me to Barton Springs and I thought it was crazy. It felt magical that day.”

Handstamp: Yeah. It’s hard to explain why though, because it’s not really a conventional space, it’s not like going to the beach or anything.

Lindsey Mackin: “It’s funny you say that, because I was just thinking that I cant even pinpoint why it felt so great to me. It isn’t the craziest place, it’s just some water and grass, but there’s something about it.”

Handstamp: We also had a great time at Fun Fun Fun Festival, but I think that’s dead.

Lindsey Mackin: “Yeah, that died after a year or two, became another thing and then that died. It always had a great line-up though.”

Handstamp: I was there when Explosions in the Sky did a homecoming headline show. It was special. Anyway, less nostalgia, back to current day, where are the best places to see shows in Austin now?

Lindsey Mackin: “That’s a great question. There are still some cool places. Hotel Vegas is still somewhat cool, but on the weekends has become a sort of DJ patio situation, while it used to be rock shows filled with creatives, rather than tech people out for the night. It sucks that the question is so much harder to answer now. 29^th Street Ballroom just opened up, which used to be a classic spot called The Spider House. But there are still great venues, Mohawk is still putting on great shows, but its just different.”

Handstamp: What is the most memorable show you’ve seen in the city?

Lindsey Mackin: “I work in a bar and I saw Ronnie Spector there on New Year’s Eve. It was insane. It was crowded, in a small intimate venue. I just couldn’t believe I was seeing her live. One of my favourites, for sure.”

Handstamp: I understand you’ve spent some time in LA, even recently to record the new record with Ty (Segall). How did that environment suit you creatively?

Lindsey Mackin: “Well, we recorded the album out in Topanga Canyon and it felt like we were in the hills of Tuscany, so beautiful, hilly and quiet. It was actually very chilled and relaxing, which felt perfect for that process. We stayed at an Airbnb and reported to record every day. It was the perfect way to remove ourselves from home. We were buying groceries, cooking together and talking about everything, then waking up and going back to the studio. We really were in a our own little bubble.”

“I remember thinking it was a scary place to drive, but luckily I didn’t have to.”

Handstamp: That sounds wholesome and productive. So, there was no going back and forth into the city proper then?

Lindsey Mackin: “Oh actually, it’s funny you should say that. There was a big storm that came through one day, we were in the middle of recording and there was an evacuation order for Topanga, so we checked the map and had to evacuate the Airbnb, because of mud slides. After we wrapped up in the studio, all of the roads to the Airbnb were blocked off. So, we were headed back to Ty’s house and more roads were blocked off, with boulders in the road, which was insane. So, we were stuck in this loop and ended up having to drive into town to stay in a hotel. Then when we woke up in the morning, we still couldn’t get to our Airbnb so had to go into the studio with the same clothes on and keep working. We’d been in the rain that day too, so we had to just stay in those wet clothes all day. So yeah, that was our only day in the city.”

Handstamp: That sounds like a pretty scary experience.

Lindsey Mackin: “There were so many weird things that happened to us. We have a 16-passenger van that we drove with all of our gear from Austin. All of the hills were so crazy, I remember thinking it was a scary place to drive, but luckily I didn’t have to.”

Handstamp: Character building. Speaking of which, can you name a show that has had the biggest impact on you?

Lindsey Mackin: “On my birthday a few years ago, I saw Patti Smith in a small theatre in Austin. I was on the standing floor with a couple hundred people and was able to stand right at the front. She was older, I was so moved by it, I want to cry just thinking about it. I remember thinking that I want to do that, I want to be that age and still doing it with that kind of passion.”

Handstamp: Singular experience, really inspiring. Funny that you mentioned her age. I’ve been thinking about this since seeing a few aging legends in the summer. The general school of thought is that you’re seeing a sub-par version of the artist, but in some cases, the life they’ve lived and the experience they bring to the stage could enhance the experience. It feels like that could be the case with Patti?

Lindsey Mackin: “Exactly, you’re right. It was out of this world. We even opened for The Zombies and I just couldn’t believe I was standing backstage watching them.”

“I remember thinking that I want to do that, I want to be that age and still doing it with that kind of passion.”

Handstamp: Amazing. So, the album is out now, how do you feel about sharing the songs in a live environment?

Lindsey Mackin: “I feel great about it, I’m so excited. We have expanded the band a little bit and are back to having four people. There is a new energy. We haven’t been playing a lot of shows in the last year, so its exciting. I love performing so I’m excited to get back on the road.”

Annabelle Chairlegs released the latest record ‘Waking Up’ via TODO Records on January 30^th. Subscribe to Handstamp Substack for future interviews, follow @itshandstamp on social media and just bloody listen to Chief Springs on your chosen platform, will you? Illustrations by the excellent Alice Bowsher.