Spokane native Tim “Too Slim” Langford is returning to the Pacific Northwest after a year in Nashville, Tenn., and with him comes his band Too Slim and the Taildraggers.
The band will play 9:30 p.m. Thursday at John’s Alley Tavern in Moscow.
Langford started the original blues rock band in 1986, naming it after Howlin Wolf’s “Tail Dragger” song. Langford, guitar and lead vocals, had the nickname “Too Slim” from years before.
“We’ve had people say we’re either a cross between Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and ZZ Top or Hank Williams and Jimi Hendrix,” Langford said. “It’s a high-energy blues rock band.”
Moving to Tennessee last October, Langford joined with new band members Jeff “Shakey” Fowlkes, a drummer who has played for Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker, and bass guitarist E. Scott Esbeck.
“We have 11 studio albums now, and various live and solo acoustic albums,” Langford said, fast forwarding through the years.
Their “Blue Heart” album was released four weeks ago, and debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s top blues album chart. The album “Shiver” was nominated for the 2012 Blues Music Association Blues Rock Album of The Year.
“We’re touring and trying to sell that record until we make it No. 1,” Langford said, laughing.
“Blue Heart” got a good start, and was No. 1 on Amazon’s Contemporary Blues sales chart. It now sits at No. 7 and No. 8 for Modern Blues.
Langford said although his band buddies haven’t played John's Alley before, he has played there multiple times and is excited to return.
Treffry can be contacted at (208) 883-4640 or ltreffry@inland360.com. Follow her on Twitter at: @LindseyTreffry.
->if you go: WHAT: Too Slim and the Taildraggers perform WHEN: 9:30 p.m. Thursday WHERE: John’s Alley Tavern, 114 E Sixth St., Moscow COST: $5-10. Call (208) 883-7662 for price information.
