in the belly of the whale / in my bedroom i can’t sleep

Lately when I cue up music, I find myself craving something rollicking and urgent that will completely take me away for a few minutes from thinking about my past-due grad school paper I have been wrestling vigorously with this week. Did I say wrestling? Oh, I meant beating into bloody submission.

So I keep reaching over and over for the new Langhorne Slim record like a drug because it is a smart, tightly-wound explosion of howl and clatter that I so love Sean and his music for consistently delivering. I’ve been waiting for the follow-up from 2009′s Be Set Free (one of my favorite albums that year), and it’s out this week and it is terrific.

The Way We Move is Langhorne Slim & The Law’s first release on the top-notch Ramseur Records label, most famous for being the historical home of the Avett Brothers, and this record forges a good sonic kinship with their efforts. Man, they can both let out that rootsy, anachronistic howl.

A theme song of Summer 2012, this one:

The Way We Move – Langhorne Slim

I like this video for it because it captures the frenetic, bouyant energy of a Langhorne Slim show (which I missed last night in Denver, Idontwannatalkaboutit).

LANGHORNE SLIM & THE LAW TOUR
#with Ha Ha Tonka
*with Jessica Lea Mayfield

June 7 – Lawrence, KS /// Jackpot Music Hall #
June 8 – St. Louis, MO /// Twangfest @ Duck Room #
June 9 – Nashville, TN /// Mercy Lounge #
June 11 – Atlanta, GA /// The Earl #
June 12 – Durham, NC /// The Casbah #
June 13 – Washington, DC /// Rock And Roll Hotel #
June 14 – New York, NY /// Bowery Ballroom #
June 15 – Philadelphia, PA /// Union Transfer #
June 16 – Philadelphia, PA /// Main St Music (solo in-store 2pm)
July 20 – Pittsburgh, PA /// Club Café
July 21 – Indianapolis, IN /// Radio Radio
July 22 – Madison, WI /// High Noon Saloon
July 24 – Boulder, CO /// Boulder Theater
July 25 – Telluride, CO /// Telluride Mtn Village Sunset Series
July 27 – Stanley, ID /// Sawtooth Music Festival
July 28 – Bozeman, MT /// The Filling Station
July 29 – Missoula, MT /// The Palace
July 31 – Bellingham, WA /// Wild Buffalo House of Music
August 2 – Vancouver, BC /// The Media Club
August 3 – Seattle, WA /// Tractor Tavern
August 3-5 – Happy Valley, OR /// Pickathon Festival
August 7 – San Francisco, CA /// The Independent*
August 8 – Los Angeles, CA /// Troubadour*
August 9 – Santa Ana, CA /// The Constellation Room*
August 10 – San Diego, CA /// Casbah*
August 11 – Phoenix, AZ /// Crescent Ballroom*
August 14 – Austin, TX /// The Parish*
August 15 – Denton, TX /// Dan’s Silverleaf*
August 16 – Memphis, TN /// Hi-Tone Café*
August 17 – Louisville, KY /// Headliners Music Hall*

[top photo by my wonderful friend Todd Roeth, who is also responsible for the purdiest images from any interview I’ve ever conducted]