There is nothing like the challenges and camaraderie of the road to inspire a songwriter. Some singers are devoted to the pursuit of perpetual motion through touring, and Langhorne Slim is a great example; he releases his wild soul in ways that come out of the discipline of live performance.
The 13 songs that compose Langhorne Slim & The Law’s new 'The Way We Move' are road-tested and rollicking rock ‘n’ rolling tunes that the songwriter perfected with his loyal band; they come out of the kind of good times and bad experiences that songwriters of Langhorne’s lofty stature can turn into life-affirming rock ‘n’ roll. You could also call what Langhorne Slim does folk music, but then there’s his sly, charming and open-hearted feel for pop music — those summertime melodies that nudge you into a grin even when the song is about something bad.
Road-tested as the band is, the new music also shows just how far Langhorne Slim has come as a singer. He croons, exults, and sings the blues throughout 'The Way We Move'. And there are his lyrics, which are about strange dreams featuring women who want him dead even as he desires them, the pressures of small-town life, ambition, and how much he appreciates his mother’s love and support.
From time to time, Langhorne's singing puts you in mind of John Lennon’s — it’s not exact, but it’s something in the timbre, and the openness of his vocals. It’s worth repeating here that Langhorne learned Nirvana songs as he began to explore the guitar and songwriting, and Kurt Cobain’s intense singing is another reference point.
But these guys like to keep it raw. The new record moves in ways that are fresh for Langhorne Slim & The Law, and demonstrates many ways to go forward while keeping an eye on the mirror. They’re laying down the law. And when Langhorne Slim contemplates whether or not he fits in to any narrow-cast definition of America's music, he replies with a perfect, laconic joke: “I think we fit in most places that would take us.”
~ Summarized version of a BIO by Ed Hurt
Saturday July 5, 2014 4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT
River Stage
