Langhorne Slim & The War Eagles/Deer Tick @ Maxwell's

Saturday night was hoe down night at Maxwell's, as it should be every night. My boy Langhorne Slim, fresh from an appearance on Late Show with David Letterman, took to the stage for an epic performance. The usual one hour show was stretched to 90 minutes tour de force of howling choruses, guitar thrashing and boot kicking, good time songs. The spirit was definitely moving him.

Having introduced to me via Atkins and the Avett Brothers, Langhorne is finally getting his moment to make it happen. Since I've known him, he's always given everything he's got into his performance -- sweating through a vintage suit with his hat cocked over his eyes. Even when he was getting yelled at by a bunch of drunken punks a Pogues show last year, he just hits every song like it's the most important song ever played.

I think if I had musical talent and was heavy into freak folk, country and hillbilly music, I would want to be like Langhorne. He dances around the stage in his little shuffle style he has and then jumps around like he's the Paul Weller of American music. He's a peculiar guy to say the least, during his show, he would chug cartons of cheap Tree Ripe orange juice, the kind you get at a dollar store and that IS from concentrate. I asked him if wanted a beer, he replied, "I don't touch that stuff." I guess the temperament league got to him (it's all part of the act).

In any event, he'll be criss-crossing the country at end of April after his self-titled album is released on April 28th -- the album that was suppose to be released last year until V2 folded. I highly suggest you see him on his trek.

As a side note, he gave a shout out to Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies, who are ready to make a run this year. Ah yes. Always setting up for disappointment. Langy is from Langhorne, PA which is just outside Philly and is best known for Sesame Place amusement park, one of the most lame amusement parks in existence.

Opening on Saturday was the normally threesome, down to a twosome called Deer Tick from Rhode Island. Lacking a bass player who was filming a movie, the two did a quick set of folky tunes about cocaine and other no good deeds. The lead singer, John McCauley, looks just like Wooderson from Dazed & Confused. Alright, Alright, Alright. He was a quiet, funny guy. He said, "I've had strep throat this week ... apparently beer doesn't help that." Then he would go into a Leadbelly cover.