Roots-rocker Langhorne Slim has a way with classic hooks. Whether shading into alt-country, Dylanesque folk-rock, Celtic-style drinking songs, or street-corner soul, his songcraft often clicks and his vocally delivery is richly active. Only later, after bobbing along with him, do you wonder if the songs suggest more than they deliver. But there are worse things in pop music than rousing surfaces that don’t run quite as deep as you’d like. And, in concert, energy and hooks might be enough. A former tour-mate with Memphis faves Lucero, Langhorne Slim has made Memphis a semi-regular tour stop over the past few years. He returns this week, along with Oklahoma-bred songwriter Samantha Crain. Langhorne Slim plays the Hi-Tone Café Monday, April 18th. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $10.
— Chris Herrington
