The title of the piece is “Break Your Heart Until It Opens”. It’s inspired by a quote I heard Langhorne use in an interview by the 13th century poet and mystic, Rumi. The focus of the piece is a wooden and weathered heart floating in the middle of Horsetooth Reservoir. The heart has been broken open and out of that brokenness has sprouted both life as well as ghosts from the past (ghosts of love, past innocence, and past pain). The burning bush represents an act of revelation, a beacon to others whose hearts have been opened and also to those who have still built up columns around their hearts. There’s other symbolism in here too, but I’ll leave the rest for you to ruminate on.
Langhorne is a unique and uniquely talented dude who un-ironically wears his heart outside of his chest and invites others to do the same. He has a knack for being aware of his own brokenness and humanity and he uses that self-awareness to show compassion and empathy towards others, regardless of who they are or what they believe. There is a commonality in our human struggle that we too often throw aside in the name of being outwardly “right”. Last night, also happened to be my wife, Virginia, and my 15th wedding anniversary. At dinner before the show, she asked me if I could go back to that hard first year of our marriage and tell myself anything, what would I say. The thing I would say to myself is “Give her more grace, and give yourself more grace.” Langhorne’s music and show last night felt like a continuation of that proclamation. We all live in a broken world so give others more grace and give yourself more grace. Also, don’t leave your Hertz rental car unlocked in the mountains when it has a to-go container of Whole Foods olives in it. Words to live by.
