Kemado Records singer/songwriter Langhorne Slim has a bit of talent. Not only is he a classically trained musician with a versatile voice, he just released a complex, beautiful little album called Be Set Free.
Produced by Chris Funk of the Decemberists, Be Set Free is a rich effort that allows Slim's excellent band just as much prominence as his soulful Cat Stevens-esque voice.
Slim, born Sean Scolnick, took his name from his hometown of Langhorne, Penn. After graduating from SUNY's Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, he cut his teeth with the "indie-vaudeville conceptual art-rock pop band" the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. A 2007 appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival put Slim on the map, and in 2008 he released a self-titled album on Kemado Records. In September 2009, Slim released its follow-up, Be Set Free.
Langhorne Slim will bring his five-piece band -- which now includes saxophone and banjo -- to the Casbah on Monday. He's known to put on a great show, so this one's a don't-miss. If you're not up for a late night at the Casbah, Slim and his crew will also make a free appearance at M-Theory Records (915 West Washington St.) at 7:30 that same evening. It's a great little space that is perfect for intimate performances. For those who don't like to leave the house, SoundDiego will be shooting video of the M-Theory event.
Opening for Langhorne Slim at the Casbah will be April Smith and the Great Picture Show. Smith is a multi-instrumentalist from Toms River, N.J., whose inspirations include Tom Waits and Kinky Friedman. Her music is informed by 1930s and '40s juke joints and cabaret. Get your tickets here.
