Too Slim and the Taildraggers
10.10.2010 – BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups
The mission here at Blues City Review is to pick a few shows that stand out of the usual good fare which makes up the St. Louis Blues scene. At this point in my developing this blog, I try to find the best combination of local and out of town acts with a consideration given to balancing venues presented. When possible I try to get to a few of the shows if only to confirm that my “judging” criteria, a combination of suspicion and research, is coming up with great suggestions.
Too Slim rocking at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups
Sunday night at BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups suggested I got it right and some. Too Slim and his Taildraggers, pulled me out of my end-of-the-week doldrums with a fun, energetic, entertaining and musical show. What many bands forget is that the key word is “entertainment”. I have seen plenty of very technically proficient bands that were forgettable or at least not worth chasing down again. Too Slim and the Taildraggers made me want to catch them the next time they are within 100 miles of wherever I am. They made me want to go to Seattle to see them on their home turf because if they were fun in foreign lands (St. Louis), they must have crazy energy when among their local friends. In other words, to say they were entertaining is an understatement.
Too Slim & The Taildraggers at BB's in St. Louis
The band consisting of Tim “Too Slim” Langford on guitar/vocals, Polly O’Keary on bass/ vocals and Tommy Cook on drums, performed to my expectations of a “power trio”. They rocked it on stage to the end with a lot of energy. Like most lead guitarists, Tim was putting everything into it. I swear his toes came up and played along a few strums. Tim put his guitar in a few different delicious modes including some nice slide work. (I think that is where his big toe came in!) There was the “in your face” Blues stylings, cut with plenty of straight up rock and roll. I did mention “power trio” for a reason. To achieve this status you have to have a great guitarist, willing to be in charge all the time without diminishing the rest of the band. Tim’s balance of lead, rhythm, vocals, and entertainment “energy” as well as his interaction with Polly on bass made the band fun to watch.
Polly O'Keary getting down with the bass!
About that bass player, Polly is all about “high energy and a good backing groove. My initial post suggested that one of the reason to see this band was because it has a lady bass player which I also suggested was sort of “sexyhotcool”. Well I have to apologize because that was my “biased guy” side speaking. My even handed reviewer self would suggest all my initial adjectives were sort of “limp”. Polly was like extra chocolate liquor on Mississippi Mud cake, (which you can eat while watching the music at BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soup) tasty in everything she did on stage. She and Tim had a connection on stage till the last note. When she wasn’t wrapping her bass playing around Tim’s guitar, she was doing her best to use every inch of her side of the stage. About the only time she wasn’t jumping, sliding or doing some kind of dance was when she was backing up the vocals. All I can say is God bless lady bass players.
Tommy on drums was cool efficiency even when one of his sticks blew a chip in his eye. He reminded me that there are drummers out there that don’t need two bass drums, to be the loudest or be the center of the band’s universe. He admittedly was quite relaxed the whole gig, but you could not have sensed that from his tight drumming.
All in all, a fun show at BB’s Jazz Blues & Soups on Broadway., a great way to work out of a Sunday night into Monday. If you missed them last night, run up to Springfield, IL and catch them at the Alamo II* on 5th and Madison. Having been to the Alamo II recently, I can vouch for it being a nice place to listen to the Blues during the “Blues Monday” events. For you footballers, there are a few televisions at the bar so you can watch the game as well, but it is likely you will remain focused on the many assets this band brings when it comes to play and it comes to play!
The band’s play list included a good mix of Blues and Rock, delivered in the fashion you would expect of people having fun till the last harmonics fade.
J. “Wudman” Wood