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Langhorne Slim Delivers a 10/10 Rock ’n’ Roll Revival at Asheville’s Grey Eagle

Updated: 23 hours ago

A sold-out crowd, blistering guitars, and an unforgettable performance made Langhorne Slim’s February 7 show at Asheville’s Grey Eagle an incredible live set.

Story and photos by Casey Nicholson.


Langhorne Slim in a hat sings and plays guitar on stage with a purple-lit backdrop, drum set visible, "THE KIND" text partially shown.
Langhorne Slim addresses the crowd during his sold-out show at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, North Carolina.

If you’ve never been to a Langhorne Slim concert, you’re missing out. I say this because I myself have been missing out all these years–until last Saturday night in Asheville.


I first encountered the artist at the tail end of his set at Bristol Rhythm & Roots in 2017. The show was winding down, and I only caught a song or two. From what I remember, it was a solo acoustic set, and for the final song he came down and sat on the edge of the stage, singing to the audience without a microphone. I couldn’t tell you what song it was, but I do remember the crowd gathering around him, clearly enthusiastic. That moment stuck with me as a fun concert memory.


I mostly forgot about him after that, largely because I’d seen only a brief snippet of his set. Fast forward to late last year, when I noticed a new song from Langhorne Slim climbing the Americana charts. I gave it a listen and immediately found it catchy. The song, “Rock N Roll,” is the title track from Langhorne Slim’s new album, The Dreamin’ Kind, released last month. It quickly became an earworm, which led me to check his tour dates—only to discover he’d be playing Asheville on February 7.


Even then, I wasn’t sure how much of a priority to make it. The song I’d heard online was a driving rock track with electric guitar and piano. Would that be the vibe for a Langhorne Slim show at Asheville's Grey Eagle? Or would it lean more toward a solo acoustic performance, like the Bristol set from nearly a decade ago? I slept on it until the night before the show, finally buying tickets just before midnight to avoid the venue’s “day of” markup.


As it turns out, that last-minute decision was both lucky and wise.


I’ve attended well over 300 concerts in the past three years, and somewhere around 800 in my lifetime. With that perspective, I can confidently say that Langhorne Slim delivered one of the strongest performances I’ve seen from any artist in that time. Not that music is a competition—but there are concerts, and then there are concerts. This one was off the charts: 10 out of 10, two thumbs up, incredible from start to finish. The show sold out in the hours leading up to Saturday evening, and by the time Slim took the stage, roughly 500 people were packed shoulder to shoulder in the intimate venue.


Laney Jones playing guitar on stage with plaid pants, surrounded by equipment. Jones is jumping off the ground while playing. Background features "Grey Eagle" sign and ice cream cone prop.
Laney Jones leaps into the air mid-song during her opening set at the Grey Eagle in Asheville, North Carolina

The night opened with music from Laney Jones & The Spirits, a band I’d never heard of before walking through the door. Laney absolutely killed it, playing a Silvertone semi-hollow electric guitar before switching to a Gibson Banner acoustic toward the end of her set. Backed by drums and bass, her sound recalled a ’90s garage band—in all the best ways. Her playing is complex yet raw, full of energy and the kind of music that makes you want to jump.


That energy carried over into her stage presence, which featured Laney jumping and gyrating throughout the set. I didn’t walk away knowing the words to her songs, but I did leave with the clear impression that I’d just watched an incredible musician at work. As her set wrapped up, I genuinely wondered if she might have stolen the show.


As good as Laney was, the show refused to be stolen once Langhorne Slim stepped on stage. He opened with the very song that prompted me to buy a ticket—“Rock N Roll”—which I was fortunate enough to capture on video:



As you can see, the song set a high bar and established the tone for the night. Langhorne Slim—born Sean Scolnick in Langhorne, Pennsylvania—has a commanding stage presence rooted firmly in the troubadour tradition, starting with his look. From his felt fedora and polka-dot shirt to his ankle-high boots and gold-crowned tooth, he looks every bit the traveling poet.


Then the dancing begins, as chords ring out from his fire-engine-red Gibson SG. Before you know it, the show is in full swing. By the second song, Slim was already off the stage and weaving through the crowd, determined to be face to face with the sold-out room.


Much of the set matched the high energy of the opener, featuring fast-paced songs driven by blistering guitar tones fed with just the right amount of distortion—not punk, but far from crystal clear. This was a rock ’n’ roll show in every sense of the phrase. "On Fire" and "Loyalty" showcased other new music from The Dreamin' Kind, matching the energy of the opening track.


Toward the end of the night, however, the crowd was treated to a handful of solo acoustic moments. For the finale, Slim pulled a piano bench into the crowd, standing above the audience to perform an unamplified version of “We the People.”


Langhorne Slim in a hat plays guitar surrounded by a lively crowd under warm string lights in a bar. A disco ball hangs above, creating a vibrant mood.
Langhorne Slim peers above the crowd at his show at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC.

The show made for a memorable night at The Grey Eagle, an intimate venue in Asheville’s River Arts District, perched atop Clingman Avenue just above where floodwaters raged during Hurricane Helene some seventeen months ago. The club originally opened in nearby Black Mountain in 1994 before relocating to Asheville in 1999. Over the years, it has hosted a wide range of notable performers, including Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, Band of Horses, Todd Snider, and Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys. The venue is distinctly bohemian, with colorful walls in the foyer and canopy lights strung throughout the show room.


People socializing in a colorful hallway with cafe seating, poster-adorned walls, and checkered floor at The Grey Eagle in Asheville. A man stands with a drink, others sit chatting.

The Grey Eagle also operates a taqueria, and my wife and I took advantage of it. We split a Clingman’s Corner salad with added carnitas, along with an order of chips and queso. The carnitas are outstanding and can be added to several menu items. The loaded nachos are another favorite, and the taqueria keeps Cholula on hand for those who like a little heat. I find it adds just the right balance of flavor—spicy without being overwhelming, mixed with a hint of sweetness.


The Clingman's Corner Salad, with carnitas and Cholula sauce.
The Clingman's Corner Salad at The Grey Eagle Taqueria, with carnitas and Cholula sauce.

All in all, this was a fantastic night out, and we were more than glad we grabbed those last-minute tickets. Langhorne Slim and Laney Jones & The Spirits are currently on the front end of a nationwide tour, with plenty of dates ahead. Folks in and around the Appalachian Mountains can catch them in Charlottesville, Virginia, on February 13, followed by shows in Pennsylvania and New England later in the month. Be sure to check the tour schedule for dates near you—this is a show you won’t want to miss.



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