Hollywood, California – The tiny Hotel Café could hardly contain the energy last Thursday, when folk troubadour Langhorne Slim took the stage in advance of the release of his latest LP, Be Set Free, which dropped September 29th. Slim was a force to be reckoned with from the beginning, jumping and bouncing across the small stage as he previewed the new album and mixed in a few of his older songs.

Equal parts boogier and balladeer, Slim plays early ‘70s-era singer/songwriter folk, drenched in the embellishments of his very able backing band. Within the first minute, it was easy to see why he has been compared to Cat Stevens. Not only does his music hearken back to those simpler times, his voice bears an uncanny resemblance to Stevens’s.

The show began the same way as the album, with “Back to the Wild,” a romp of an anthem that wouldn’t be out of place on the Into the Wild soundtrack. Slim’s driving acoustic guitar was augmented by the symphonic sounds of new edition David Moore’s keyboard. Along with longtime partners Malachi DeLorenzo and Paul Defiglia on drums and upright bass, respectively, the band recreated the album’s sound nicely. That’s not to say that the live experience is identical to the studio recordings, but too often, great folk recordings get the “acoustic” treatment live, peeling away all the musical layers that often add new dimensions and depth. Luckily for Slim and co., that wasn’t the case.

The set-list represented a fairly comprehensive cross-section of the album. Slower piano ballads, like the title track, showcased Slim’s soulful side, albeit lacking the charm of the album’s country slide guitar. A top caliber crooner, Slim poured passion into simple lyrics like, “Every garden can grow / Every mouth can form a smile.” It’s just a matter of letting go in this song — the emotional release reflected in the pained vocals.

On the other side of the spectrum, honky-tonk powerhouses like “Cinderella” created a frenetic celebration. Replete with rollicking piano lines and shouted backing vocals, songs like this helped buoy the more emotive aspects of the show. Despite all the mood changes, it never felt disingenuous; Slim looked just as comfortable wearing a pained expression as he did jumping for joy.

Mixed in with the new songs were some older Slim standards, like love song “Colette” and blues rocker “Honey Pie.” Noticeably absent from the set list, however, was the heartrending “I Love You But Goodbye.” A standout track on the album, it came as a bit of a shock when Slim forewent it in favor of songs from previous albums, especially at an industry showcase. But I guess a song like that doesn’t really need any promotion; it stands out all by itself.

The band wrapped up the show with the album’s other inescapable single, “Say Yes.” A consummate pop masterpiece, this song made use of all the band’s talents. DeLorenzo’s play with the brush and stick created the perfect dynamic backdrop for Slim’s acoustic roots. The bass and piano rounded out the sound, highlighting the simple shifts that make this song stand out.

Be Set Free is a great folk album with all the charm of a Cat Stevens classic, if not quite the emotional poignancy. Live or recorded, Slim and his band are an impressive musical force. They’ll be back in town this November at The Troubadour in support of the new album. Even if you own all their albums, this is a band worth seeing live.