Taildraggers Do What They Like, And Good Luck Trying To Label It

It seems some folks don’t quite know what to do with Too Slim and the Taildraggers.

“All the blues purist guys listen to us and go, ‘Awww they’re rock, they’re not a blues band, how dare they,”’ says singer/guitarist Tim “Too Slim” Langford.

“And all the alternative people think we’re too bluesy,” says bassist Tom “The Stomp” Brimm.

“Yep, nobody likes us any more,” drummer John “Midnight” Cage adds.

And then he starts laughing.

Those familiar with the trio called Too Slim and the Taildraggers will recognize that the self-deprecating humor couldn’t be farther from the truth.

But for those unfamiliar with this spitfire Spokane band, here’s a quick lesson: Too Slim and the Taildraggers are, together, among the best talents to come out of Spokane - not to mention the Northwest.

And it’s the diversity of their sound - their dextrous refusal to remain in any single musical box - that makes them such outstanding artists.

But hey, don’t believe your Nightwatch maven? Then just ask the Inland Empire Blues Society which last week named Too Slim and the Taildraggers the Best Blues Band for the third year in a row. The society also awarded Langford the Best Blues Guitarist and Cage the Best Blues Drummer.

And be assured, these are just a fraction of the accolades they’ve received.

Don’t expect the guys in Too Slim to brag about themselves or their awards, however. They just aren’t those kind of folks. Instead, they’d rather talk about those who helped them out on their new CD - the follow-up to their highly praised 1995 “Swamp Opera” album.

Just released this week, “Blues for EB,” finds the likes of Curtis Salgado, Peter Boe and D.K. Stewart lending their talents to a CD that deftly maneuvers among blues, rockabilly, swing and Cajun stylings. It is their fifth album and one in which each element bolsters - rather than takes away from - the other.

Too Slim and the Taildraggers was formed in 1985 from the remains of an early 1980s Spokane band called The Studebakers.

“We wanted to do original music but we wanted to do it in a more bluesy direction … mixing blues and roots rock,” Langford says, explaining that he was impressed by the likes of Robert Cray, the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Duke Robillard.

Over the course of five albums and years of tireless touring, the trio has molded and developed a sound that is uniquely their own.

“We’re kind of a schizophrenic band,” Langford says during an interview at the band’s neighborhood hangout - Gertrude’s Deli.

“It seems like everybody wants to pigeonhole everything. It’s like you’re a blues band so you’ve got to play 14 shuffles and a slow blues. It’s getting old I think. We’re not really like the definition of a blues band. We don’t play shuffles all night and have a harmonica guy.”

“Blues for EB” is a good example of how the Taildraggers manage to steer clear of the same tired rut without losing that root blues essence.

Their cover of Al Hopson’s “Uranium Rock” swings with retro fire while “My Load” is cooly soulful in its contemplativeness. “You & Me” and “Drinkin’ Blues” romp along with a joyous Cajun spirit (with help from guest accordion man Frank Ruffolo) while “One More Shot” rocks and rolls with a hip-swiveling piano salvo.

In addition to the upbeat blues-love licks of “A Girl Like Mine,” “Blues for EB” also visits some darker places.

“Have to Let You Go,” penned by Brimm, is about learning to get over the death of his good friend. “Blues for EB,” the mournfully melodic instrumental title track, pays beautiful homage to the man for whom the album is a tribute to: Wayne Eberspecher.

Eberspecher was a good friend who helped finance the band’s early recordings and died last year.

“This album I think is an extension of “Swamp Opera” but I think it’s more cohesive,” Langford says.

“We got to do everything we wanted to on this one,” Cage says, his arms wrapped around a box full of the new CDs. “We got to add stuff we wanted to add that we didn’t have time to do on the last one.”

Langford puts it this way, “It’s definitely very diversified but I think it works.”

We’d have to agree.

Too Slim and the Taildraggers celebrate their new album at a CD release party tonight and Saturday at the Fort Spokane Brewery. Show starts at 9:30 both nights. Cover is $6.

Wig

Clark Nova writes songs, sings and plays a rather unique instrument for his band Wig.

It’s called a theremin.

Invented in the 1920s, the sounds that come from this electric instrument are created by moving your hands in the air at various distances away from the device’s two antennas.

Sound like science fiction? Well, this is the instrument used to create some of the music for the early “Star Trek” TV show.

“People always freak out when I bust it out at shows,” Nova says.

And yes, he will bust it out tonight when his band Wig performs at Outback Jack’s.

Nova is joined by Fran Falls on bass, John Burke on drums and Schurgin on guitar to form this Southern California-based group with a sound that feels like part dreamy hallucination and part rock and roll.

“I’m definitely into playful existentialism,” Nova says.

From talking to Nova and listening to their latest CD “Wireland” (Island) it’s clear that the band greatly admires Jane’s Addiction.

“They were freaks and it scared some people. But some people just understood it and got into it,” Nova says.

Where Wig’s music often times seems pretty on CD, it is more chaotic live, Nova says. “I think people want to go to shows to be shaken out of their daily world a little bit,” he says. “Often bands you see are just doing kind of what other bands do. It’s real homogenized. We’re kind of sticking our character out on a limb.”

Wig plays the middle slot at Outback Jack’s with Seattle power pop rockers, the Amateur Lovers, headlining. Petal opens the show tonight at 9:30. Cover is $4.

Ska country

Here are a few other entertainment options:

In the mood for some music to dance to? Spokane’s ska band Petting Zulu headlines a show at Ichabod’s North tonight. Civilized Animal and Charlie Starkweather open. Cover is $4. Show starts at 9:30 p.m.

The Liberty Country Band will offer up a free performance tonight at Shadle Park High School Auditorium. Their music incorporates modern country sounds with western swing, bluegrass, gospel and even some reggae.

The six-man Spokane band includes singer/guitarist Joe Smart (a former Washington State fiddle champion) and fiddle/mandolin player Andrew Wilson (currently Washington State Fiddle Grand Champion and Western Music Association Junior National Champion.)

Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

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