Jon Langford and Sally Timms at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on October 6, 2023

Both Jon Langford and Sally Timms have long histories in popular music. Langford helped form the Mekons in 1997, and Sally (after collaborating on an album at the age of 19 with Pete Shelley) joined the band in 1985. They both now live and work in Chicago where they front an array of projects.

Chicago was where they met the Handsome Family in the early 1990s, and so it was fitting that they performed an extended opening set for the Sparkses in October last year. 

This was an audience capture from the first row of the balcony in this acoustically perfect auditorium.

Buy Jon Langford albums here.
Buy Sally Timms albums here.

    

Recording information:

JON LANGFORD and SALLY TIMMS
2023-10-06


Chicago, IL
Old Town School of Folk Music
(Opening for the Handsome Family)

Jon Langford: guitar and voice
Sally Timms: voice
John Szymanski: guitar
Martin Billheimer: harmonica

Tracklist:
01 Natchez Trace (4:27)
02 Dark Sun (3:55)
03 Losers (4:13)
04 Butcher’s Boy (4:07)
05 Slightly South of the Border (3:49)
06 Drunk By Noon (Handsome Family) (2:43)
07 Strange Birds (3:43)
08 Dora (5:21)
09 Abernant 1984-85 (2:22)
10 Banter - CDs in My Closet (2:33)
11 Junk Barge (3:12)
12 Hard to Be Human Again (4:25)

Total time = 44:50

Microphones: Audio-technica AT 843 omni pair
Preamplifier: Church Audio CA9200
Recorder: Roland R-07 at 24/48
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

24bit, 48kHz FLAC files (513 MB)

these are high resolution lossless files

320 kbps mp3 files (119 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Handsome Family at Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on October 6, 2023

There were a few years between 2019-2021 where I was wondering if we would ever be able to see the Handsome Family tour again. There were several tours cancelled because of Covid and the couple of times I asked the band about the chance of a tour, the answers were disconcertingly vague -- as they had to be given the uncertain nature of the pandemic.

Luckily the husband and wife songwriting team of Brett and Rennie Sparks finally were able to book and complete a EU/UK tour in the Fall of 2022. I took this tour as an opportunity to follow them around for a little bit in England, catching their shows in Brighton, Birmingham, Exeter, and Oxford (the first two were recorded by me from the audience). Because they were debuting new and unreleased songs on that tour, I chose not to share those recordings at the time. We'll be seeing the Brighton and Birmingham shows on the blog soon.

Since then the Handsome Family has released the new album, Hollow, and travelled through the midwest in October with a memorable show at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

The sound system at the Old Town School is incredibly clear, which is reflected in this audience capture. There was plenty of the usual banter here, often with references to Chicago (the Sparks lived and performed in the world's coolest city for several years).

Buy their new album here.

Recording information:

Handsome Family
2023-10-06
Chicago, IL
Old Town School of Folk Music

Brett Sparks: guitar, vocals
Rennie Sparks: banjo, bass, vocals
Alex MacMahon: guitar, baritone guitar, pedal steel
Jason Toth: drums

Tracklist:
01 Banter (7:36)
02 Bottomless Hole (3:48)
03 Banter - Amanda Palmer Added A Verse (0:56)
04 So Much Wine (4:22)
05 Banter - A Song About Maggots (0:58)
06 The Loneliness of Magnets (3:58)
07 Banter - Big Block of Wood (1:12)
08 The King of Everything (3:34)
09 Banter - There’s An Honor Among Musicians (0:38)
10 My Sister’s Tiny Hands (4:04)
11 Banter - Colonel Mustard (1:46)
12 Weightless Again (4:08)
13 Banter - Naperville (3:30)
14 Joseph (3:43)
15 Banter - We Tried to Make 8-tracks (1:28)
16 Back in My Day (5:43)
17 Shady Lake (3:42)
18 Banter- The Commish (0:51)
19 Far From Any Road (4:22)
20 Banter - I Lost Mine at the Dogs (2:47)
21 24-Hour Store (4:35)
22 Banter - A Punishment for High School Students (1:58)
23 Frogs (4:41)
24 Banter - If You Cut An Arm Off (0:56)
25 The Octopus (3:34)
26 Banter - I Have A Harmonium at Home (0:55)
27 Two Black Shoes (6:38)
28 Banter - That Was a Pretty Long Set (0:59)
29 The Saint of Illinois (3:35)
30 Banter - Everyone Is Happy Now, Sort Of (1:33)
31 Good Night (4:27)

Total time = 96:57

Microphones: Audio-technica AT853 omni stereo pair
Preamplifier: Church CA9200
Recorder: Roland R-07
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

24bit, 48kHz FLAC files (998 MB)

These are high resolution lossless audio files -- better than CD quality

320 kbps mp3 files 225 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible