Too Slim & the Taildraggers / John Hammond February 25, 2011

The 11 songs that appear on Free Your Mind, the 10th studio album from Seattle-based Too Slim and the Taildraggers, are the result of a touring hiatus in December 2007 and January 2008. "It was the first time I actually took time off specifically to write songs," remembers band leader Tim Langford (AKA Too Slim), "and I'm very pleased with the results." The songs on Free Your Mind are a slice of American roots music, with blues, Americana and rock influences. "The songwriting process is something that I really enjoy, but it can also drive you a little crazy," says the lead singer/guitarist. "I always try to write down ideas or phrases that I hear in everyday life that could be song titles. Some songs are inspired by personal experiences and some are just observations of life as I see it. For instance, the lyrics on the song 'Last Train' were inspired by reading stories from one day of the Seattle Times newspaper. I was actually laughing out loud - and was appalled at the same time - by the articles I was reading. The chorus just came out of me as I was running through a rough draft of the song: 'Feel like I'm riding on the last train, with cracks in the wheels, headed for a big bang. Feel like I'm riding on the last train and Hunter S. Thompson is the engineer.'

The band's last CD The Fortune Teller, charted as high as #9 on the Billboard magazine Top Blues Album sales chart in 2007 and 2008. The Fortune Teller was also nominated for "Best Contemporary Blues Album" at the 2008 "Blues Blast Music Awards" in Chicago. This award-winning band has been voted "Best Regional Act" 11 times by the Cascade Blues Association, the largest organization of its kind in the USA. Too Slim and the Taildraggers have received multiple awards from various North West Reader's polls and other North West blues societies for "Best Band" and "Best Album." Founding member Langford has won multiple individual awards as "Best Guitarist," "Best Slide Guitarist" and "Best Songwriter." Too Slim and the Taildraggers are also in the Hall of Fame of three North West blues societies. Their devoted fan base has grown over the years into a national and international following. As one reviewer explained the band, "experiencing a Too Slim and the Taildraggers concert is like taking a journey through the history of American music. Too Slim's musical style ranges from down home blues, funky blues rock, Americana, southern swamp rock and instrumental guitar styles."

Friday, February 25
Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM