On January 25, Anita, Garrett, and I went to a concert for headlining act the Old 97s. They are an old and groundbreaking band formed in 1993, essentially starting a budding alt-country scene that came to be dominated by the likes of Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Son Volt, Blue Mountain, and Drive-By Truckers. The scene is thriving today with acts like Band of Horses, My Morning Jacket, and The Avett Brothers. There's definitely nothing nerdy about wielding a banjo in hip towns like San Francisco and Portland, and it's in large part to bands like the Old 97s. That's about the extent of my praise. The Old 97s were a bundle of high energy, but they amount to sloppy, drunken, and out-of-tune antics with shallow lyrics. They were bad, and Anita nearly killed me for not leaving the show early, making her endure the whole 2-hour set. With enough beer, I'm sure it could be considered a stellar performance, but we were not drunk.
But... the reason we went to this show was for the opening act, Langhorne Slim. His band did not disappoint one bit. In fact, they killed! This guy is the real deal: his high pitched, scratchy, and thoroughly taxed voice is going to be the stuff of legend. His songs are thoughtful and very well crafted with brilliant lyrics, his stage performance is energetic and very connected with the audience (he loves going into the audience and belting his songs), and the musicianship of the band is top rate. I've been a big fan since a friend passed on two of his albums, "Langhorne Slim" and "When the Sun's Gone Down". But there were several times during his performance when I sat back and thought, "A recording studio can't capture this - it has to be experienced live." Langhorne has one of those bands that knows how to play quiet and build it up from there. Keyboard/Banjo player David Moore is a great example. When jamming on the banjo, he was slapping so hard you worried his fingers would start to bleed, but behind the keyboard, he'd make you cry the way notes would subtly sneak into your subconscious. The man has soul, and at times stole the spotlight away from Langhorne. But never for long: Langhorne's voice was passionate, distinctive, gritty, and powerful the entire set. I don't know how he does it every night as he half-screams his notes, making it sounds like his throat is tearing apart. All combined, it served the audience a powerful and soulful experience. It won't be long before the Old 97s are opening for him.
Take a moment to check out these great music videos, and I've posted a live performance as well, so you could at least get a glimpse. But believe me, nothing beats the experience of hearing this man belt it out with a full PA system to back him up. Youtube will give you a taste, but not the meal.
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