Category: Reviews

Armed with an acoustic guitar, a natural gift for telling stories, and a charismatic way of connecting with people, Langhorne Slim’s sold-out performance at Levon Helm Studios on July 18^th, 2024 was nothing short of superb. Drenched in emotion and musical authenticity, it was the type of show that’s both intimidating to write about and impossible to forget.

One that made you feel like you were having a brief brush with greatness and that you were witnessing one of the best performers of our time.  Interactive and spontaneous, vulnerable yet hilarious and thought-provoking, anyone who was there will tell you this was about as good as a night of live folk music gets. Complete with a surprise sit-in from Sawyer Fredericks, an impromptu fan-led duet and a veritable reunion with the extended Siegal family, you could simply feel the love inside the cozy confines of Levon’s barn – and it was pure magic.

Before things officially got started, the house announcer took a moment to reflect on the recent passing of Woodstock folk icon Happy Traum.  Noting his longtime connection with the area, both as a frequent participant in the venue’s legendary Midnight Ramble series, as well as collaborations with his famous friends Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger, the entire evening was dedicated to him.

From there we were treated to a short-but-lovely set by the husband-and-wife folk duo of Zach Schmidt and Jackie Berkley, collectively known as Golden Everything. Built on the interplay between Jackie’s uplifting voice and Zach’s seasoned pipes, songs like “No One But You,” and “Remedy” captivated the crowd.  Making the most of their allotted time, the couple was also happy to announce they are soon-to-be-parents, while also making a point of thanking their friend, Langhorne Slim, for including them on this run of shows.

Posting on social media prior to kicking off his ‘Politics of Love Summertime Shows,” Langhorne Slim would boldly declare “Take a stand, f*ck the man, explode yer television and go see yer favorite bands.” With his intentions clear, Levon Helm Studios was sold out weeks in advance. Taking the carpeted portion of the floor to a rousing ovation, Langhorne Slim would take a second to adjust to his surroundings. Somehow appearing to make eye contact with just about everyone in the barn before playing a single note, you were drawn to him almost instantly.

Noticing a couple empty seats in the front row, he would joke with the crowd and ask “if we should wait for them?” before starting off with his song “Better Now.”  Born Sean Scolnick in Langhorne, Pennsylvania in 1980, he adopted the stage name of Langhorne Slim to keep close to his roots, despite now living in Nashville.  Now with seven full-length albums under his belt, Slim would take a moment between songs to talk about his writing process. Mentioning how he typically tries not to use foul language on the records for various reasons, it was a little funny that the last two songs he’s written are laced with “F” bombs. One that particularly struck a chord was called “WTF Is Going On.”

Tell me someone what the fuck is going on,
because were living in some fucked up times.
We all know we’ve been had and I mean really bad
and we all keep coming back for more. 
Everyone seems sure, but I ain’t sure
and I don’t know what the hell is going on anymore.
Tell me someone what the fuck is going on,
because were living in some fucked up times.

-Langhorne Slim

While it was likely the first time hearing this song for many in the sold-out crowd, nearly everyone knew the next one, “Changes.”  Settled in and feeling relaxed, Langhorne Slim would continue peeling back the layers of his life, sharing personal anecdotes and reflections, creating a space that felt less like a concert and more like a gathering of friends. This level of engagement transformed the performance into a shared experience, making every person in the room feel seen and heard.

Speaking off-the-cuff and recounting tales of life on the road and a series of paranormal occurrences at one particular Airbnb, Slim would have the crowd in stiches just by being himself and talking about his journey to get to this moment.  After “House of My Soul (You Light the Rooms), Slim would invite his old friend Sawyer Fredericks to the stage for help on the next song, “On the Attack.” A familiar face for many, Fredericks first made a name for himself on the popular NBC hit show The Voice by covering this same song. Coming full circle and performing it together in this Woodstock atmosphere felt special, while Slim would exude after that “the boy still has it!”

Throughout the set, Langhorne Slim laid bare his soul. In a performance full of tender moments, a pair of tunes that stuck out as particularly moving were “Song For Silver,” a new one describing how the clichés of becoming a Dad are actually real and “Song for Sid,” about his own beloved father. Noting that “I will play this one any chance I get,” the room felt particularly gripped as Slim’s gravelly and heartfelt voice reverberated through the storied barn with gusto and passion. The perfect acoustics even allowing him to step away from the microphone and still be heard while dancing about the stage.

I called a healthcare professional
Wanna speak to someone confidentially
Don’t know just how I’m feelin’
But I’m feelin’ feelings exponentially

Calm voice started asking questions
Said, “Ma’am I was hoping for advice
I’m feelin’ lots of feelings
Not a single one of ’em feels nice”

She said, “Do you ever think about dying”
Said, “No but sometimes I lie”

-Lyrics from ‘Panic Attack’

Another moment that stuck out was Slim’s introduction to the song “Panic Attack.” Written during a bleak time when he found himself alone at age 40 with only his cat, Mr. Beautiful, by his side, Slim talked openly about seeking professional counseling, getting sober, relapsing and the gift of getting sober for a second time. Captured brilliantly on his 2021 album Strawberry Mansion, Slim would also play the albums opening track, “Mighty Soul” before telling a story about meeting a lovely couple in the parking lot earlier that day who claimed they were about to walk the aisle to one of his songs, “Sea of Love.” 

So touched by this, and knowing how expensive weddings can be these days, Slim suggested we use this occasion to be the ‘real’ celebration.  Then inviting Becca, the bride to be, up to the stage, the two would duet on a beautiful rendition of “Sea of Love.” The shock and smile on her face saying it all, it was surely a moment the young lady will never forget.  Slim would joke, “When you invite a stranger up to the stage, you never know if they can actually sing.” Luckily for us, Becca nailed it. Afterwards another couple would speak up and say “Sea of Love” was also their wedding song.

It was around this time Langhorne Slim took the pulse of the room once again and asked if there was anything people were hoping to hear that he hadn’t played yet.  With seven records of material to choose from, there was still plenty on the table and the requests instantly started raining down from the balcony in waves.  A bit overwhelmed by the response, Slim would do his best to please everyone. Working his way through staples like “Wolves,” “Never Break,” and “Past Lives,” Slim would teach the audience the call and response chorus to “Cinderella,” from 2009’s Be Set Free album which had the whole barn howling with delight to the lyrics of “Do you feel good (I feel alight) / That makes me feel good (outta sight).

After commenting on how silly it would be to walk off stage just to come right back for an obligatory encore, Slim had one more surprise up his sleeve. Inviting some very special guests up to join him instead, Slim welcomed local Grammy nominated record producer and multi-instrumentalist Kenny Siegal, along with his extended family, to the stage.

The history here running deep, as Langhorne Slim’s breakthrough album, 2012’s The Way We Move was recorded just down the road at Siegal’s Old Soul Studio in Catskill, a 100-year-old Greek Revival house retooled for recording. Co-produced by Siegal, an astonishing 26 songs were completed in just four days.  With the album now considered by many to be a modern masterpiece, it was another magical, full-circle moment when the Siegal’s joined Slim for the cathartic show closer and title track from that album, “The Way We Move.” 

So caught up in the moment, Slim would unplug his guitar and dance around with the youngest member of the Siegal family before wandering all the way up into the balcony to sing along with the ‘standing room only’ crowd.  Going out of his way to make sure everyone had a special moment of connection with him, there wasn’t a person there who didn’t walk away from the concert smiling about their brush with greatness.

The evening at Levon Helm Studios was more than just a musical performance; it was an intimate exchange of stories and emotions. Delivering both classic hits and new tracks with a fervor that revealed his deep commitment to his craft along with the personal struggles and triumphs that fuel it, when he told the crowd that “he didn’t come all this way to lie to them,” you believed it. Slim’s ability to connect so deeply with people, coupled with his passionate delivery, powerful and distinct voice and thought-provoking lyrics created the perfect recipe for an unforgettable night of music and soul-searching.

Made even more special by the surprise sit-ins and the venue’s rich history, it’s easy to see why Langhorne Slim considers Woodstock one of his favorite places to play. Standing at the door on the way out, I wasn’t quite sure what to say to the man. After shaking hands and sheepishly thanking him for all the great music over the years, I think he knew where I was coming from and he went in for a big ‘ol bear hug. Trading compliments and sweat on a hot summer night at Levon’s barn; the perfect ending to a night I won’t soon forget.      

Langhorne Slim | July 18, 2024 | Levon Helm Studios | Woodstock, NY

Setlist: (partial) Better Now, WTF Is Going On, Stealin’ Time, Changes, House of My Soul (You Light the Rooms), On The Attack , Sugar Plum, Song for Silver, Wolves, Panic Attack, Song for Sidney, Long Live Time,  Never Break, Mighty Soul, Sea of Love, Get My Kicks, Cinderella, Past Lives.

Encore: The Way We Move (featuring the Siegal Family).

Golden Everything