Too Slim & the Taildraggers
The Fortune Teller
Some people might get bored eating at the same restaurant despite its delicious and diverse menu, but Too Slim and The
Taildraggers’ reliable musical offerings have always appealed to me, without exception, and in whichever genre they explore.
Prolific composer, vocalist, blues harpist, guitarist (slide, acoustic and electric) Tim “Too Slim” Langford strikes me as a sort
of mystic southern cowpoke, even though his real roots are in Spokane, Washington. That being said, he’s equally at home
rockin’ your plimsoul as he is when playing country blues. Longtime drummer John “Midnight” Cage has stepped out on this
recording, replaced here by the equally adept and perky Zach T. Cooper. Solid bassist Dave Nordstrom, who replaced Tom
"The Stomp" Brimm a couple of CDs ago, completes Tim’s core playing team. Bonus instrumentation comes courtesy of guests
Oleg Schramm on accordion and keyboards, and Robert Greenidge on steel drums, Lauren Evans and Amanda Tsubo on backing
vocals, and D. Cernile also provides guitar and percussion.
The Taildraggers’ super-forte lies in Mr. Langford’s introspective and comprehensive lyrics. Although his vocals have always
been strong and masculine, he’s a masterful storyteller, creating vivid portraits of a motley crew of characters – the fortuneteller,
the unremorseful snake oil seller, the pacifist-turned-vigilante, the guilty heartbreaker, the lonely and the lonesome….
Veering away from the blues-rock anthem feel of the album is "Mexico", a happy-go-lucky, enchanting holiday song. Another example
of standout musical fare is the “Lonesome Alone” ballad, gently strummed on acoustic guitar with subtle accompaniment on accordion. It recites a classic lovers’ conflict, ‘I’d rather be lonesome alone than lonesome with the one I love,’ but with a plea to reach out and communicate rather than call it quits.
"Cowboy Boot" and "The Fortune Teller" are already receiving airplay on KKZX 98.9 FM in Spokane, but the hard-driving "Big Guns”",
"She Gives Me Money" or "Spell on Me" would probably be even better received on a mainstream classic rock station. Still, each
and every track on The Fortune Teller would blow a hole in most other “new classic rock” songs I’ve heard lately.
How many more awards does a band have to win to get international recognition for their talent?
- Diane Wells -
Southwest Blues CD Review - July 2007
Current Reviews - 2007 Reviews - available at our store
