Ferraby Lionheart - The Ballad of Gus and Sam
Langhorne Slim - Loretta Lee Jones

The air is hot in San Francisco, but yet so is the stage. Thanks to a free ticket at the door from my new friends Susanna and Diedre, I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Langhorne Slim and Ferraby Lionheart at The Independent for free, though I would’ve gladly paid the $14 cover. Having record temperatures on the West Coast, a crowded venue is not the place you want to be.

As I walked in, Lionheart was just beginning his set, the slow melodic sweetness of just a guy and his guitar. Seeing as how most of the crowd had come for the bluegrass punk Slim, there would be much noise. As the crowd talked above the level of Ferraby, his songs were drowned in conversation and the humidity that a 400 person crowd can bring. Most had never heard of Lionheart, and probably will never enjoy his heartfelt, honest songs. I got the chance to exchange a few words with him after the set, and he didn’t seemed too bummed. He’s on the tour until Seattle, and if you’re a fan, the cheap door charges are worth seeing this LA singer songwriter.

Then came Langhorne. It’s easy to see that he’s a showmnan, though you would never pin point his Brooklyn roots. A bowler style hat (feather included), with a blue wife beater, and tight orange pants, it’s obvious that his style translates his music. It is out-of-the-box, and unconventional, yet a blast.

Through his set, Slim took a tequila shot, drank a couple of Heinekens, and brought up half the crowd to dance with him and the War Eagles as he closed. If you do not know of Langhorne Slim (Sean Scolnick), you must check out his music. Live. His album is very good, but it’s really hard to appreciate the brilliance of his music, unless you have beer in hand, dancing your ass off.