AllMusic calls them “the hillbilly Pink Floyd,” and that comparison holds, up to a point. Add Bowie’s conceptual ambition, Celtic folk weavings, a theremin, and a six-piece capable of moving from flamenco guitar to Dylan-inflected psychedelia inside a single set, and you’re getting closer. The Slambovian Circus of Dreams plays The Falcon in Marlboro on Friday, August 14.
About the Show
The Slambovians are built around Joziah Longo (vocals, guitar, harmonica) and Tink Lloyd (accordion, cello, mandolin, flute), who have collaborated since the 1980s. Sharkey McEwen (guitars, mandolin), RJ McCarty (bass, keys, sax), Bob Torsello (bass), and Matthew Abourezk (drums) complete the lineup. Based in the Woodstock area, the band has spent more than two decades building “Slambovia,” a rootsy, psychedelic universe with a devoted fanbase known as the Jellies and a steampunk aesthetic that carries into their live show. Press comparisons run from Dylan to Syd Barrett to The Band. The New York Times called it simply: “They take the stage by storm.” WFUV’s John Platt went with “Longo, a god of the rock underworld.” Maverick Magazine (UK) settled on “the cool end of Americana.” Their live shows are known for pulling audiences in — people sing along, people dance, some travel hundreds of miles for a set. WAMC Northeast Public Radio broadcast a performance from The Linda in Albany earlier this year, which put the band back in upstate rotation for anyone who needed the reminder.
Their sixth studio album, A Very Unusual Head (Storm King Records, 2022), was recorded over four years across five studios in two countries, with Anthony Thistlethwaite (founding member of The Waterboys) and Dar Williams as contributors. Rock’n’Reel called it “their finest work to date.” Chronogram Magazine’s readers voted them Best Band of 2022, and Garth Hudson of The Band has described Longo as “an awesome songwriter.” This Falcon date lands right before the band heads overseas for a UK run that includes the Shrewsbury Folk Festival. Catching them in a 150-seat room in Marlboro days before that trip is part of the appeal.
Venue & Logistics
The Falcon is a live music venue and restaurant perched above Marlboro Falls on Route 9W in Marlboro, a consistently well-programmed room and one of the better spots in the Hudson Valley for a show like this. Dinner runs 5:30–9 p.m. Music starts at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets
This is a donation-driven show — no set price, no reservations required, and 100% of proceeds go directly to the performers. Buy tickets